OF NATURAL HISTORY. 279 



increafe with his years and debility, till a premature and comfortlefs 

 old age puts a period to his infignificant and liftlefs exiftence. 



In genera], it is to be remarked, that all thofe fpecies of animals, 

 •whofe offspring require, for fome time, the induftry and fupport of 

 both parents, are endowed with the inftindl of feledion, or of pair- 

 ing. With regard to the feathered tribes, pairing is almoft univer- 

 fal. A diftindlion, however, as to the duration and circumftances 

 of their pairing is to be obferved. The young of all the fmall birds, 

 as well as of moft of the larger kinds, continue for fome weeks in a 

 weak and helplefs condition. The mother is not, like quadrupeds, 

 provided with organs fitted to fecrete milk ; of courfe, fhe is unable 

 to nourifh them out of her own body. She is therefore obliged to 

 go abroad in queft of food for them. But the progeny are fo nu- 

 merous, that all her induftry, if not afTifted by the father, would be 

 ineffeftual for their fupport and protedion. In all birds whofe young 

 are in this condition, the males and females not only pair, but each 

 of them is endowed with the ftrongeft parental affedion. Both are 

 ■equally anxious and induftrious in procuring food for their mutual 

 offspring. This parental care and attachment uniformly continues 

 till the young are fledged, and have acquired fufEcient ftrength to 

 provide for themfelves. Eagles, and fome other birds of prey, con- 

 tinue faithfully in pairs for years, and perhaps during life. Thefe 

 fadts afford a ftrong argument in favour of marriage among man- 

 kind. No animal remains fo long in the infant and helplefs ftate as 

 the children of men ; and no mother could, with her own induftry, 

 pofhbly fuckle and procure nourishment for a numerous family. 

 Here, as in the feathered tribes, the afliftance of the father becomes 

 indifpenfable. On this fubjed, a curious inftind merits attention. 

 The male of moft birds not only feleds a female, but, with great af- 

 fiduity, brings food to her when fitting on her eggs, and often re- 

 lieves her, by fitting on them himfelf. 



2 There 



