SEXUAL SELECTION 531 



after an interval of nine months, yet, as I hear from Mr. 

 Harrison Weir, if a pair which naturally would remain 

 mated for life be separated for a few weeks during the 

 winter, and afterward matched with other birds, the two, 

 when brought together again, rarely, if ever, recognize 

 each other. 



Birds sometimes exhibit benevolent feelings; they will 

 feed the deserted young ones even of distinct species, but 

 this perhaps ought to be considered as a mistaken instinct. 

 They will feed, as shown in an earlier part of this work, 

 adult birds of their own species which have become blind. 

 Mr. Buxton gives a curious account of a parrot which took 

 care of a frostbitten and crippled bird of a distinct species, 

 cleansed her feathers, and defended her from the attacks 

 of the other parrots which roamed freely about his garden. 

 It is a still more curious fact that these birds apparently 

 evince some sympathy for the pleasures of their fellows. 

 When a pair of cockatoos made a nest in an acacia tree, 

 "it was ridiculous to see the extravagant interest taken in 

 the matter by the others of the same species. ' ' These par- 

 rots also evinced unbounded curiosity, and clearly had "the 

 idea of property and possession." " They have good memo- 

 ries, for in the Zoological Grardens they have plainly recog- 

 nized their former masters after an interval of some months. 



Birds possess acute powers of observation. Every mated 

 bird, of course, recognizes its fellow. Audubon states that 

 a certain number of mocking-thrushes [Mimus polyghtius) 

 remain all the year round in Louisiana, while others migrate 

 to the Eastern States; these latter, on their return, are in- 

 stantly recognized, and always attacked, by their southern 

 brethren. Birds under confinement distinguish different 

 persons, as is proved by the strong and permanent antip- 

 athy or affection which they show, without an,y apparent 

 cause, toward certain individuals. I have heard of numer- 

 ous instances with jays, partridges, canaries, and especially 



'* "Acclimatizatiou of Parrots," by C. Buxton, M.P. "Annals and Mag. 

 of Nat. Hist.," Nov. 1868, p. 381. 



