174 
NATURAL HISTORY 
the hand that feeds it, and is touched with the feelings of 
gratitude ! 
P.S. In about three days after I left Sussex the tortoise 
retired into the ground under the hepaticas. 
LETTER XIV. 
TO THE HONOUliABLE DAINES BARRINGTON. 
Selborne, March 26, 1773. 
HE more I reflect on the a-Topy^ of animals, 
the more I am astonished at its effects. Nor 
is the violence of this affection more wonder- 
ful than the shortness of its duration. Thus 
every hen is in her turn the virago of the 
yard^ in proportion to the helplessness of her brood ; and 
will fly in the face of a dog or a sow in defence of those 
chickens, which in a few weeks she will drive before her 
with relentless cruelty. 
This affection sublimes the passions, quickens the inven- 
tion, and sharpens the sagacity of the brute creation. Thus 
a hen, just become a mother, is no longer that placid bird 
she used to be, but with feathers standing on end, wings 
hovering, and clucking note, she runs about like one 
possessed. Dams will throw themselves in the way of the 
greatest danger in order to avert it from their progeny. 
Thus a partridge will tumble along before a sportsman in 
order to draw away the dogs from her helpless covey. In 
the time of nidification the most feeble birds will assault 
the most rapacious. All the Hirundines of a village are up 
in arms at the sight of a hawk, whom they will persecute 
till he leaves that district. A very exact observer has 
often remarked that a pair of ravens nesting in the rock of 
Gibraltar would suffer no vulture or eagle to rest near their 
station, but would drive them from the hill with an amazing 
