OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



3'9 



that they feem to difrelifli all other fociety. In their dark abodes 

 they enjoy the placid habits of repofe and of folltude, the art of fe- 

 curing themfelves from injury, of almoft inftantaneoufly making an 

 afylum or habitation, and of procuring a plentiful fubfiftence with- 

 out the neceffity of going abroad. They fhut up the entrance of 

 their retreats, and feldom leave them, unlefs compelled by the ad- 

 miffion of water, or when their manfions are demolifhed by art. 



The nidification oi Birds has at all times defervedly called forth the 

 admiration of mankind. In general, the nefts of bhds are built with 

 an art fo exquifite, that an exadt imitation of them exceeds all the 

 powers of human fkill and induftry. Their ftyle of architedture, 

 the materials they employ, and the fituations they feled, are as va- 

 rious as the different fpecies. Individuals of the fame fpecies, what- 

 ever region of the globe they inhabit, colled the fame materials, ar- 

 range and conflrufl: them in the fame form, and make choice of 

 fimilar fituations for erecting their temporary habitations ; for the 

 nefts of birds, thofe of the eagle-kind excepted, after the young have 

 come to maturity, are forever abandoned by the parents. 



To defcribe minutely the nefts of birds would be a vain attempt. 

 Such defcrlptions could not convey an adequate idea of their archi- 

 tefture to a perfon who had never feen one of thofe beautiful and 

 commodious habitations, which even aftonifti and excite the amaze- 

 ment of children. 



The different oiders of birds exhibit great variety in the mate- 

 rials and ftrudure of their nefts. Thofe of the rapacious tribes 

 are in general rude^ and compofed of courfe materials, as dried 

 twigs, bents, &c. But they are often lined with foft fubftances. 

 They build in elevated rocks, ruinous and fequeftered caftles and 

 towers, and in other folitary retirements. The aiery or neft of the 



eagle 



