4 



by the keeper of the island, who seemed to have a personal 

 and familiar acquaintance with each of his flock, pointing 

 them out to us, and even stroking them on the back. 



Many of the smaller birds will allow themselves to be taken 

 in the hand, rather than leave their nests. Some have been 

 even known, upon having their young ones taken from them, 

 to follow them into captivity. 



The obstinate perseverance with which the Blue Titmouse 

 continues to rebuild its nest, although it has been time after 

 time destroyed, is very remarkable ; and still more so the per- 

 tinacity with which it continues to sit its eggs, in defiance of 

 all intrusion; and to retain possession of the hole in which 

 they were placed, sometimes for days after they have been 

 taken from it. 



I am not prepared to argue the point, whether or not the 

 ovarium of a bird is supplied, at its first creation, with the 

 germs of all those eggs which it is to lay through life. Against 

 this opinion may be stated, the number of eggs laid by the 

 common Fowl, and other birds, in a state of domestication; 

 but these are not fair examples, as they may have been ren- 

 dered thus prolific, either by the mode of life to which we 

 have subjected them, or by some peculiar organization. I 

 have often observed upon the coast of those extensive breed- 

 ing places of the sea birds, where the eggs are constantly 

 plundered, numbers of the various species of Gulls, Oyster 

 Catchers, and Sandpipers, which, though quite matured, were 

 yet in flocks, and unemployed. These might be birds the 

 ovariums of which were exhausted. Notwithstanding the 

 numerous accounts we hear of the fecunditv of some of our 



