MORE BRAINS THAN PLUCK 267 



other very small birds, small species being, generally 

 speaking, more childish in their ways than large 

 ones ; in fact, the readiness with which Humming- 

 birds adapt themselves to captivity is rather a 

 proof of high intelligence than otherwise, since 

 such adaptability is often found in birds whose 

 intelligence is known to be high, like wild Geese, 

 which are much more easily tamed than Ducks. 



Here, however, temperament may come in ; the 

 Ducks are intensely nervous as a rule, a remarkable _ 

 exception being found in the generalized Tree- 

 Ducks, which come in some ways nearer the Geese, 

 and are certainly like thein in disposition. A 

 nervous bird, too, may nevertheless have plenty of 

 character and intelligence ; the Pekin Robin, a very 

 intelligent bird, as I have said, is frantic in a small 

 cage, bold and inquisitive in a large one, while the 

 intelligent Sparrow submits to captivity with a 

 very bad grace, bearing it worse than many less 

 intelligent species. 



Like all the lower animals, birds have distinct 

 limitations of instinct, even intelligent species 

 constantly failing in adaptation-^else they would be 

 human ; in the introductory chapter I have spoken 

 of the failure of the Sparrow to acquire the knack 

 of manipulating its food with its feet, and the 

 same may be said of the Starling, also an intelligent 

 and versatile bird ; while the intelligent Parrots, 

 except in the case of one species, never think of 

 making nests, so common an instinct with less 

 gifted birds, a peculiarity which no doubt accounts 



