OF NATURAL HISTORY. 381 



devaftations daily committed by rapacious quadrupeds. But, as if 

 tyranny never loft fight of its rights, great numbers of birds make 

 prodigious depredations upon the inhabitants of the waters. A vaft 

 tribe of birds frequent the waters, and live folely upon fifties. In a 

 certain fenfe, every fpecies of bird may be faid to be a bird of prey ; 

 for almoft the whole of them devour flies, worms, and other infedls, 

 either for food to themfelves or their young. Birds of prey, like 

 carnivorous quadrupeds, are not fo prolific as the milder and more 

 inoffenfive kinds. Moft of them lay only a fmail number of eggs. 

 The great eagle and the ofprey produce only two eggs in a feafon. 

 The pigeon, it may be faid, lays no more. But it ftiould be con- 

 fidered that the pigeon produces two eggs three, four, or five times, 

 from fpring to autumn. All birds of prey exhibit an obduracy and 

 a ferocioufnefs of difpofition, while the other kinds are mild, chear- 

 ful, and gentle, in their afpecft and manners. Moft birds of prey 

 expel their offspring from the neft, and relinqnifti them to their fate, 

 before they are fufficiently able to provide for themfelves. ThiS' 

 crueltv is the effect of perfonal want in the mother. When prey is- 

 fcanty, which often happens, ftie in a manner ftarves herfelf to fup- 

 port her young. But, when her hunger becomes exceffive, flie for- 

 gets her parental affedion, ftrikes, expels, and fometimes, in a pa- 

 roxyfm of fury produced by want, kills her offspring. An averfion 

 to fociety is another effe£l of this natural and acquired obduracy of 

 temper. Birds of prey, as well as carnivorous quadrupeds, never 

 aflbciate. Like robbers, they lead a Iblitary and wandering life. 

 Mutual attachment unites the male and the female ; and, as they 

 are both capable of providing for themfelves, and can give mutual 

 affiftance in making war agairvft other animals, they never feparate, 

 even after the feafon of love fhe fjme pair are uniformly found' 

 in the fame place; but th^y never aflemble m flocks, nor even aflb- 

 ciate in families. The larger kinds a^ the eagle?, require a great-er 

 quantity of food, and, for that reafon, never allow their own off- 



fpring,. 



