ON THE INSTINCTS OF BIRDS. 137 
avidity almost as soon as they are extricated from the 
shell, notwithstanding the utmost exertions of the 
foster-mother to divert them from it. 
Young Swifts are rarely, if ever, observed to perch ; 
and as they cannot easily be distinguished from old 
ones by their flight, they must display a considerable 
corhmand of wing the very first time they quit the 
nest. 
Many of the Gallinaceous tribe scratch up the 
earth with their feet in search of food, and they will 
frequently repeat this action, when fed, on a stone or 
boarded floor, where it can answer no useful purpose. 
Now, as they do not correct this error, it is plain 
that the action itself does not originate in observation, 
experience, or reflection ; neither can it be attributed 
to education; nor is this particular misapplication of 
it to be ascribed to the force of habit, as it may often 
be observed in very young chickens which have 
never associated with others of their kind. But, 
what is still more to the purpose, and, indeed, deci- 
sive of the general question, even Pheasants and 
Partridges, as well as Ducks, Chickens, Turkeys, and 
Guinea-fowls, which have been hatched by artificial 
heat, possess the instincts peculiar to their respective 
species, as I have had several opportunities of ascer- 
taining. How young birds, by their struggles in the 
egg, can at all facilitate the use of their legs, as Dr. 
Darwin conjectured, is to me inconceivable, especially 
when the position in which they lie is taken into con- 
