ORNITHOLOGY. 
cies colle&t the fame materials, arrange them the fam 
manner, and make choice of falar fituations for fixing ae 
laces of their temporary abodes. Wherever they difpofe 
Phemfelees they always take care to be accommodated wit 
a fhel = if anatural one ee not offer itfelf, they very 
a do vas ow of leaves s, down 
purpofes for which th 
which the nefts are fituated. Thus, he oftrich in Snead 
where the bea is exceflive, neglects her eggs during the day, 
but fitson themin the night. At the Cape of Good Hope, 
where the heat is lefs, the oftrich, like other birds, fits upon 
her eggs both day and night. In countries infefted with 
monkies, many birds, which in other climates build in bufhes 
and clefts of trees, fufpend their netts upon flender twigs, 
and thus elude the utmoft art of their enemies. In all cafes 
we may obferve, without entering into particulars, that the 
architeCture of the nefts of each fpecies feems to be adapted 
to the number of eggs, the temperature of the climate, or 
the ref{pective dimentions of the little animal’s body. Small 
birds, whofe eggs are generally numerous, make their nefts 
warm, that the animal heat may be equally diffufed, but the 
larger 2 ak are lefs iecuen in this refpe@. The {maller 
tribes alfo, live upon fruit and corn, and are often re- 
garded as un 
ufee e eye, while 
the oly flictud of the aha bird is to we their refuge 
inacceflible to wild beafts and vermi 
As foon as the important bute of neft-making is com- 
pleted, the female lays her eggs, the number of which varies 
according to the {pecies; iene have only two at 
ei four, five, or more, up to eighteen. 
Ecc.) When the eggs are laid, the male and female brood 
over them by turns, en this is generally the province of 
the female. 
fize of their 
bodies, pase oS wath vitality, and live longer than either 
or quadrupe t is no very eafy tafk to afcertain the 
0 3 scence we hav ve, on risa ny nable 
them 
ralilts ; 
An eagle will live 100 years 
A raven 100 
A goo - 70 
A partridge - 25 
A turtle-dove - 25 
A seas - 25 
A pigeon fro 
poldaacise canary- birds, and others in a ftate 
Linnets, 
of captivity, have been known to live many years. The 
longevity of birds has been imputed to the texture of their 
bones, the farduete and folidity of which have been afligned 
as the general caufe of death in other animals. Thofe of 
birds being lighter, to more porous in their conformation, 
saa fewer obftac o the vital powers. Hence it has 
been affumed that a we oe the bones are, the more dif- 
tant bie a the period o 
e great longevity of birds, it has been inferred 
that Oey are fubje ew difeafes only ; their annual 
ting is thought to os the only one to which they are 
ce lly liable. As Ae caft their hair, fo all 
irds every year obtain a new ae 
what is termed mo 
ulting. 
ways tae fickly and difordered 3 the bolde 
man 
courage; none produce you y di e 
fevere Vilitation. No feeding can maintain their ftrength, or 
preferve their powers of repro a he nourifhment 
r 
iar formerly went to the produdtio 
and abforbed in  sdniniering a fuppl 
eaene plumage. The n which nature performs 
this operation is flow in ie eae a When birds have at- 
tained their full fize, the pen part neareft the animal grows 
harder and thicker in its fides, but fhrinks in its diameter: 
in confequence of the firft of thefe procefies, it draws ee 
dually lefs nourifhment from the body of the animal; a 
by its decreafe in fize, it becomes loofe, till it at Tength fall 
egetates into the 
up 
ncueh the body PP ihe quill 
is come to its full gro 
of the animal is leaft craving, while its pee tions continue 
to be moft fcanty. It is not till the return of {pring, when 
the feathers have attained their full growth, that the abun- 
dance of food and the mildnefs of the feafon reftore it to its 
Full i a 
ords on the ufes of birds to the hia and i 
fhall conclude this article. acious 
evidently ferve the purpofe of preferving the Ulebaey 
air, by aber all forts of carrion, {cattere 
ane an, 
kinds e 
oe 
mofphere a a trid and no 
ate allowed to diffolve and mingle with the foil by the flow 
rocefs of ak te The order Grallz co-operate in this 
atility in the fyftem of na 
fertility of thofe weeds, which emit fuch immenfe a 
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