﻿FIELD AND FOREST. II3 



Admitting, however, that the domiciles of the birds do often exhibit 

 surprising modifications in manner of preparation and in situation, 

 we must yet regard these aberrations as governed entirely by external 

 conditions. 



" There is a bird, who by his coat, 



And by the hoarseness of his note, 

 Might be supposed a crow." 



This is the jackdaw of Europe, and an interesting example he is for 

 us. Dr. Wood says: "in some of his actions he is wonderfully 

 clever, apparently showing great rational capabilities ; but in his nest- 

 ing operations he appears uncommonly stupid. He will search a long 

 time for suitable sticks to be used in building his nest and when one 

 is discovered, seize it by the middle, and fly gleefully toward the 

 selected place, which is generally a hollow in an old tree, or aperture 

 in a building. When arrived he flies directly for the hole, and does 

 not stop until checked by the stick crosswise in his bill, not stopping 

 to take the branch by the end and thus enter the hole, easily he flies 

 around in great distress, finally dropping the stick, and going off for 

 another. Heaps ot sticks are frequently found under a jackdaw's nest, 

 having been dropped in this way." 



This example (and there are others of similar import which want 

 of space forbids insertion here) is illustrative of the fact that, while 

 many birds appear very intelligent in accomplishing certain ends, in 

 other more important, but at the same time simple occasions for the 

 display of intellectual qualities, they are woefully lacking — proving 

 that their "scheme of thought" is far from symmetrical, and that it is 

 many degrees removed from what we term reason. 



Numerous other instances of various alterations in the birds' nest- 

 ing habits might be adduced. Those cited, however, will sufficiently 

 show the' tendency to divergence; and adiquately prove that any 

 modification, either great or small, in style of construction, in position 

 or situation of birds' nests, is wholly subject to the influence of en- 

 vironing conditions, — regional, climatal, &c. 



Two generalizations are suggested here. 



I. — The influencing agent which prompts the bird to build its domicile is 

 instinct. Instinct, and instinct alone, is the prime mover .in causing 

 the primitive nest of a bird to be built. This piece of bird -architec- 

 ture, when it does not vary from the normal type, is the result of an 



