INTRODUCTION. xliii 
I took two fparrows of the fame age, and 
In equally good condition, and reduced them, 
by the want of nourifhment, to fuch a ftate 
of weaknefs that neither of them was able to 
take what was offered him. I then forced 
down the throat ef one fome bruifed feeds, 
and of the other a little minced flefh. In a 
few minutes the latter was quite well ; while 
the former, two hours after, died. 
Confidering, however, granivorous birds 
with attention, it might be faid, that feed, 
though it forms the principal part of their 
food, is to thefe animals a food at the fame 
time that is infufficient and too little nutritive, 
fince they add thereto fruit, fleih, infects, 
and, in a word, whatever nutritive fubftance 
they meet with. The carnivorous, on the 
other hand, whether they live on flefh or on 
infeds, are uniform in their food. One 
kind is fufficient for them ; and they have no 
j'ecpurfc to feeds. 
c 4 Ot 
