XVIII. 



SEED-CARRIERS 



The seed-carriers now to be considered are employed 

 for the most part with as little reference to their own 

 wills, and often with as little knowledge on their parts, 

 as the winds and waves. The seeds simply make use 

 of them as carriers, whether they will or no, and that 

 no matter whether they be birds, animals, or even 

 men; for all are pressed into the service, and know, 

 for the most part, nothing of what they are doing. 

 We are, of course, not here speaking of man's voluntary 

 importations, but of his involuntary ones, which are 

 probably almost as many. 



There are, however, some few voluntary carriers 

 among both birds and animals — carriers who, though 

 in one sense quite unaware of what they are doing, yet 

 for purposes of their own do carry seeds from one place 

 to another, not very far probably, but often the distance 

 of a few miles. 



Some birds, for instance, take a positive pleasure, as 

 it would seem, in carrying things about for the mere 

 sake of carrying them ; and the propensity is especially 

 strong in the crow tribe, including not only crows, but 

 rooks, jays, magpies and jackdaws, many of which 

 also have a great love of hiding as well as carrying. 



