HUMAN TRAITS IN THE ANIMALS 



doubtless this : the nests are built of a kind of down 

 that would render them very frail and pervious to 

 the rain were they not stayed and thatched with 

 some firmer material. The lichens and spiders' 

 webs bind them together and keep them in shape. 

 Hence I should say that utility alone governed the 

 bird in this use of lichens. Bright objects attract 

 children, attract birds, attract quadrupeds, but this 

 attraction is far enough from what we mean by 

 taste or the love of the beautiful. 



