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natural enemies and the snares of Man. Mild and inoffensive 

 in their nature, Man (ever attentive to his personal interest,) 

 has not failed to avail himself of these dispositions ; and has 

 selected from the different genera, such individuals as con- 

 tribute most to his comfort and convenience. Of these, the 

 most conspicuous are the Gallinaceous tribe, as also that of 

 the Duck; both of which contribute to supply our boards, 

 with a variety of light nutritious food ; whilst their feathers 

 and down are otherwise applicable to our uses. 



Of the smaller kind of Birds (the Passeres of Linnaeus) 

 some delight us by the melody of their notes, others by their 

 brilliancy of colour, whilst the instinctive powers many 

 kinds exert in the construction of their nests, and the arti- 

 fices they practise to allure the obtruder from their young, 

 evince a degree of fore-thought bordering upon reason. 

 Such kinds as build their nests in holes in trees, are generally 

 of a colour nearly corresponding with that of the tree ia 

 which they build, which circumslance alone affords them 

 great personal security ; and for the preservation of their 

 eggs and young, their nests are constructed of such materials 

 as are least likely to excite or attract attention; if the tree 

 be covered with ivy or moss, the nest is externally composed 

 of green moss ; but should the tree be overgrown with 

 Lichens, or what is usually termed white moss ; this material 

 is used in lieu of the other. 



Some kinds have the ingenuity to construct pendant nests, 

 which are attached to the extreme tip of a branch, and have 

 the entrance either from the underside, or laterally, by which 

 contrivance the nests are secure from the attacks of va- 

 rious kinds of Monkeys and Snakes. 



