I 326 3 



caufe they differed greatly, not only in number and 

 fize, but in their habits, for nightingales and wrens 

 perch, which a fkylark is almoft incapable of, though, 

 fey great affidujty, fhe at laft taught herfelf the pro* 

 per equilibre of the body. 



I have likewise been witnefs of the following ex- 

 periment : two robins hatched five young ones in a 

 breeding cage, to which five others were added, 

 and the old birds brought up the whole number, 

 making no diftindtion between them. 



The Aedologie alfo mentions (which Is a very 

 fenfible treatife on the nightingale *) that neftlings 

 of all forts may be reared in the fame manner, by 

 introducing them to a caged bird, which is fupplied 

 with the proper food. 



Not only old birds, however, attend to this cry of 

 diftrefs from neftlings, but young ones alfo which are 

 able to fhift for themfelves. 



I have feen a chicken, not above two months old 9 

 take as much care of younger chickens, as the pa- 

 rent would have {hewn to them which they had loft, 

 not only by fcratching to procure them food, but by 

 covering them with her wings $ and I have little doubt 

 but that ihe would have done the fame by young 

 ■ducks. 



I have likewife been witnefs of neftling thruihes 

 of a later brood, being fed by a young bird which 

 was hatched earlier, and which indeed rather over- 

 crammed the orphans intrufted to her care j if the 

 bird however erred in judgement, (he was certainly 

 not deficient in tendernefs, which I am perfuaded fhe 

 woqld have equally extended to a neftling cuckow. 



* Paris, 1751, or 17.71. 



XXII. KOS- 



