[ *58 ] 



which equally anfwers for other neftlings who live on the fame 

 food x . 



All animals throughout the creation eat as long as they can 

 fwallow, if they have plenty of food before them ; and man only 

 forbears what is equally pleafant to his palate, from the confe- 

 deration of the bad confequences to his health, as alfo from the 

 convenience and good fociety which attends ftated meals. 



Thofe animals which are granivorous feem to thus fatiate 

 themfelves with impunity ; fome of thefe however chew the 

 cud afterwards ; and in thofe which do not, grafs is certainly a 

 food of very light digeftion. 



Carnivorous animals, on the other hand, have not their prey 

 always lying before them, and are on that account calculated for 

 long fafts. If you conftantly fupply them therefore with what they 

 are at all times ready to devour, nature is counteracted, and the 

 animal is fhort-liv'd. 



Now I confider birds which live on infects as carnivorous, and 

 Linnaeus indeed afferts, that cuckows devour fmall birds in the 

 autumn y ; I am for this reafon perfuaded, that the neftlings reared 

 in a cage die by over cramming themfelves, when the bad effects 

 of repletion are more likely to be experienced, as the Ipring 

 approaches. 



It is much to be wifhed indeed, for the illuftration of Zoology, 

 that many birds were not only reared, but kept for years in cages ; 

 nor is this fo difficult a feat to accomplifh as many may fup- 

 pofe. 



* Robins, for example ; but as they grow up it is commonly changed 

 for vegetable, or at leaft great part of their food. 



y I have fome doubts with regard to the truth of this obfervation, as 

 alfo what the fame naturalift afferts about its devouring the folter water- 

 wagtail. 



I have 



