ZOOLOGT. 



liatural enemies and the snares of Man. Mild and inofFensiv^ 

 in their nature, Man (ever attentive to his personal interest,) 

 has not failed to avail himself of these dispositions ; and has 

 selected from the different genera, such individuals as con- 

 tribute most to his comfort and convenience. Of these, the 

 most conspicuous are the Gallinaceous tribe, as also that of 

 the Duck; both of which contribute to supply our boards, 

 with a variety of light nutritious food ; whilst their feathers 

 and down are otherwise applicable to our uses^ 



Of the smaller kind of Birds (the Passeres of Linnaeus) 

 some delight us by the melody of their notes, others by their 

 brilliancy of colour, whilst the instinctive powers many- 

 kinds exert in the construction of their nests, and the arti- 

 fices they practise to allure the obtruder from their young, 

 evince a degree of fore-thought bordering upon reason* 

 Such kinds as build their nests in holes in trees, are generally 

 of a colour nearly corresponding with that of the tree in 

 which they build, which circumslance alone affords them 

 great personal security ; and for the preservation of their 

 eggs and young, their nests are constructed of such materials 

 as are least likely to excite or attract attention ; if the tree 

 be covered with ivy or moss, the nest is externally composed 

 of green moss ; but should the tree be overgrown with 

 Lichens, or what is usually termed white moss ; this material 

 is used in lieu of the other. 



Some kinds have the ingenuity to construct pendant nests,^ 

 which are attached to the extreme tip of a branch, and have 

 the entrance either from the underside, or laterally, by which 

 contrivance the nests are secure from the attacks of va- 

 rious kinds of Monkeyn and Snakes, 



