THE ROBIN AND THE MIRROR. 127 



because it was so unhappy, and seeing its own image 

 had taken it for the dead mate. 



" Indeed, madam," she said, " the creature is for all 

 the world like us in its grief ; it makes my own heart 

 sad to see it take on so. I do not know what to do, for 

 I love the little thing and fear it will destroy itself 

 beating its breast on the glass.'' 



I advised her to put it in the cage and cover it over 

 so as to darken it awhile, or to take it out of the room 

 where the mirror was, which I think she did. 



In neither of these cases can we well refer the actions 

 of the birds to the law of instinct alone 



