60 CAROLINA GRAY SQUIRREL. 



that if the little snake had " charmed" the Squirrel, the same " fascinat- 

 ing " influence was exercised by our tin box ! 



Quadrupeds and birds have certain antipathies, they are capable of 

 experiencing many of the feelings that appertain to mankind ; they are 

 susceptible of passion, are sometimes spiteful and revengeful, and are 

 wise enough to know their " natural enemies," without a formal introduc- 

 tion. The blue jay, brown thrush, white-eyed fly-catcher, and other little 

 birds are often to be heard scolding, and fluttering about a thicket, in 

 which some animal is concealed ; and on going to examine into the cause 

 of their unwonted excitement, you will probably see a wild cat or fox 

 spring forth from the covert. Every one familiar with the habits of our 

 feathered tribes must have seen at times the owl or buzzard chased by 

 the smallest birds, which unite on such occasions for the purpose of driv- 

 ing off a common enemy ; in these cases, the birds sometimes approach 

 too near, and are seized by the owl. We once observed some night-hawks 

 {Chordeiles Virginianus) darting round a tree upon which an owl was 

 perched. "Whilst looking on, we perceived the owl make a sudden move- 

 ment, and found that he had caught one of them in his sharp claws, and 

 notwithstanding the cries and menaces of the others, he instantly de- 

 voured it. 



Birds dart in the same manner at snakes, and no doubt are often caught 

 bypassing too near — shall we, therefore, conclude that they are fascinated? 



One of the most powerful " attractions " which remain to be consider- 

 ed, is the love of offspring. This feeling, which is so deeply rooted in 

 the system of nature, as to be a rule, almost without an exception, is 

 manifested strongly by birds and quadrupeds ; and snakes are among 

 the most to be dreaded destroyers of eggs and young birds, and of the 

 young of small species of viviparous animals ; is it not likely there- 

 fore, that many of the (supposed) cases of fascination that are related, 

 may be referred to the intrepidity of the animals or birds, manifested in 

 trying to defend their yotmg, or drive away their enemy from their vi- 

 cinity 1 In our work, the " Birds of America," we represented a mock- 

 ing-bird's nest attacked by a rattle-snake, and the nest of a red thrush 

 invaded by a black snake ; these two plates each exhibit several birds 

 assisting the pair whose nest has been robbed by the snake, and also 

 show the mocking-bird and thrush courageously advancing to the jaws 

 even of their enemy. These pictures were dravvTi after the actual oc- 

 currence before our eyes, of the scenes which we endeavoured to repre- 

 sent in them, and supposing a person but little acquainted with natural 

 history, to have seen the birds, as we did, he might readily have fancied 

 that some of them at least were fascinated, as he could not probably have 



