VERTEBRATA. 279 



The behaviour of birds towards man would seem to 

 be to some extent a matter of heredity. Every one 

 knows how easily a robin may be tamed, and how 

 soon it will learn to fly into the house and to eat out 

 of one's hand. There is at least as much reason to 

 believe that this general tendency to friendliness with 

 the human species is the hereditary result of the 

 respect the bird has long enjoyed, in consequence of 

 the pretty legends that exist about it in many 

 countries, as that the legends are due, on the contrary, 

 to the natural boldness of the bird, as is sometimes 

 suggested. It is probable that an equally kind treat- 

 ment would in a few generations make most birds 

 equally tame ; and when human beings learn to study 

 the intelligence of birds in a rational manner, winning 

 them to friendliness instead of shooting them or shut- 

 ting them up in cages, we shall doubtless learn a 

 great many valuable facts which are now hidden from 

 us. Every one may do something to contribute to- 

 wards this very desirable result : for wherever food 

 and water are regularly set for birds, and they are 

 encouraged to remain by protecting the nests and 

 offering suitable nest-building material in the right 

 season, there birds will multiply, and allow to friendly 

 eyes many interesting glimpses of their ways ; while 

 often, in bad weather, rare birds will be found to come 

 to the place where food is set, as well as the familiar 

 visitors. 



