PROTECTIVE INSTINCT OF BIRDS. 13 



bird is circling over those treasures it is seeking to 

 defend by so many artful and varied antics. 



Pugnacious motions.- -These motions form one of the 

 most decided and marked of all the divisions. Witli 

 man, they almost if not entirely fail, but against their 

 natural enemies this peculiar power is of effectual 

 service. As a homely type of this protective instinct 

 we will take the Missel-thrush. How admirably she 

 defends her treasure from all predaceous animals, flying 

 at them with such fury as to compel them to beat a 

 hasty retreat from the neighbourhood of her home. Such 

 is the impelling power of this instinct, that the birds, 

 with only the safety of their nests in view, will attack, 

 and come off victorious, even when matched against 

 that Httle tyrant the Sparrow-hawk. Notice yon Mag- 

 pie coming suspiciously near the nest of the Missel-thrush 

 — bent upon plunder, it is evident. How craftily he 

 approaches ! Ah ! the watchful parent Missel-thrush 

 has descried him, and, with a note of defiance which 

 echoes through the silent woods, she chases the intruder : 

 her mate, too, on hearing her cries, appears upon the 

 scene, and aids in repelling the would-be robber. The 

 Magpie, crestfallen enough at the failure of his designs.is 

 glad to beat a hasty retreat, and is no doubt thankful 

 if he escapes with only the loss of a few feathers. The 

 Ring Ousel employs the same power for the protection of 

 its nest, eggs, or young, and will even dash fearlessly 

 into the face of a human intruder, uttering cries of 

 mingled rage, defiance, anxiety, and alarm, should he 

 approach her treasured nest and its priceless contents. 

 Birds of prey also come under this division, and will 

 even attack man himself when he approaches their nests. 

 Instances are on record where the human aggressor 

 came off second best in these encounters. The Raven 



