B I R 
is performed with no fmall degree of affiduiiy and 
apparent defign. Some naturalifts have afferted, 
that Birds of one kind alv/ays conftruft their nefts 
in the fame manner, and of the like materials; not- 
v/ithftanding which, it is certain that they vary as 
the miatcrials, places, or climates, differ. The 
red-brealL, for infiance, in fome parts of England^ 
builds it's neft of oak-leaves; and, in other parts, 
with mofs and hair. Some Birds, which in this 
ifland form very warm nefls, are very indifferent 
about that circumftance in the tropical climates, 
where the natural heat of the v/eather promotes in- 
cubation. In general, however, every Ipecies of 
Birds has a peculiar kind of architedure, adapted 
either to the number of eggs, the climate, or the 
heat of the bodies of the refpeftive animials. 
Vvhere the eggs are numerous, it is then necelTary 
that the neft fhould be warm, in order that the ani- 
mal heat may be equally diffufed to all. Thus, 
the wren, as well as all the other fmall Birds which 
have many eggs, require very warm nefts : on the 
contrary, the piovc!', the eagle, and the crow, which 
have but few eggs, are not fo felicitous in this re- 
fpeft, dieir bodies being fufticiently large to cover 
the fmall number on which they fit. 
The difference of climate fom.etimes occafions 
vaft alterations in the conftruition of the nefts of 
Birds. Some water- fowl, which build very flovenly 
nefts with us, in the more frigid regions of the 
north are very particular in their ftrufture: for 
they there take every precaution to keep them 
warm 3 and fome of them even ftrip the down from 
their own breafts, for the purpofe of lining their 
nefts with greater fecurity. In general, however, 
all Birds, when hatching, refort to thofe climates 
and places where their food is found in the great- 
eft plenty. Aquatic Birds, as well as the largeft of 
the land kinds, felcft fuch fituations as are moft re- 
mote from man ; their food, in general, being diffe- 
rent from that which is cultivated by human labour. 
Some Birds, which regard the ferpent as their dead- 
iieft foe, build their nefts depending from fmall 
boughs, and form their entrances from below^ 
thereby equally fecuring them from the ferpent 
and the monkey tribes : but fmall Birds, which 
feed upon fruits and corn, make ufe of every pre- 
caution to conceal their nefts from man ; while the 
great Birds, remote from human fociety, employ 
every art to render theirs inacceffible to wild beafts 
or vermin. 
While the female is hatching, nothing can ex- 
ceed her patience ; neither the calls of hunger, nor 
the near approach of danger, being capable of 
driving her from her neft. Though fat when ftie 
begins to fit, before the tim.e of incubation is ex- 
pired, flie is ufually reduced almoft to flcin and 
bone. Ravens and crows, while their females are 
fitting, take care to fupply them with food : but 
this is not the praftice of moft of the fmaller Birds; 
the males of which, during the whole time, fit 
upon fome neighbouring tree, and footlie the fe- 
males with their fongs; frequently taking their 
places when they are weary, and continuing on 
the eggs till their return. Sometimes, indeed, 
the eggs acquire too great a degree of heat ; and, 
in that cafe, the females remove from them, in 
order to allow them time to cool a little; but af- 
terwards return with pleafure and perfeverance to 
refumc their taflv. 
Such is the power of inftinft in animals of this 
clafs, that they appear to be driven, as it were, 
from one appetite to another^ and continue almoft 
fi I R 
paffive under it's influence. We cannot apply* 
reafon to fuch a pafTion, fince the firft dilates of 
that principle would be felf-prefervation, ' Take 
a brute,' fays Mr. Addifon, ' out of his inftincft, 
and you will find him wholly deprived of under- 
ftanding. With what caution,' continues he, 
' does the hen provide herfelf a neft in places un- 
frequented, and free from noife and difturbancel 
When ftie has laid her eggs in fuch a manner that 
fhe cannot cover them, what care does flie take 
in turning them frequently, that all parts may par- 
take of the genial warmth! When fhe leaves 
them, in order to provide for her neceffaiy fuft-e- 
nance, how punctually does fhe return before they 
have had time to cool, and become incapable of 
producing an animal! In the fum^mer, you fee 
her giving herfelf greater freedoms, and quitting 
her care for above two hours together; but in v/in- 
ter, when the rigour of the feafon would chill the 
principles of life, and deftroy the young one,' fhe 
grows more affiduous in her attendance, and ftays 
away but half the time. When the birth ap^ 
proaches, with how much nicety and attention does 
fhe help the chick to break the prifon ! not to take 
notice of her covering it from the injuries of the 
weather, providing it with proper nourifhment, 
and teaching it to help itfelf ; nor to mention her 
forfaking the neft, if, after the ufual time of reckon- 
ing, the young one does not make it's appearance,* 
A chymical operation could not be followed with 
greater art or diligence, than is feen in the hatching 
of a chick, though there are many Birds which 
fhew an infinitely greater fagacity: yet, at the fame 
tiiTie, the hen, which has all this feeming inge- 
nuity, confidered in other refpefts, is without the 
leaft glimmerings of thought or commion fenfe s 
flie miftakes a piece of chalk for an egg, and fits 
upon it in the fame manner; flie is infenfible of anjf 
increafe or diminution in the number of thofe fhcf 
lays; fhe does not diftinguifli between her ov/n and 
thofe of another fpecies; and, when the birth ap- 
pears, though of ever fo different a kind, will che- 
rifh it for her own, A hen, followed by a brood 
of ducks, will ftand affrighted at the edge of apond, 
trembling for the fate of her young, vv'hich fhe fees 
venturing into fo dangerous an element. As the 
different principles which aftuate thefe different 
animals cannot be termed reafon, fo, when we call 
it inftindt, we mean fomething of which we have no 
knowledge. It appears to me the immediate di- 
rection of Providence ; and fuch an operation of 
the Supreme Being, as that which determines all 
the portions of matter to their proper centres.' 
Indeed, the production of their young feems to 
be the great ajra of felicity in animals of this clafs. 
At that time, nothing can exceed their induftry and 
fpirit; the moft timid becoming courageous in the 
defence of their young: while thofe of the rapa- 
cious kind are at that feafon uncommonly fierce 
and aftive ; they haften with their prey, yet throb- 
bing with life, to their nefts, and early initiate their 
young to fcenes of flaughter and cruelty. Nor 
are thofe of a milder nature lefs bufily employed : 
the little Birds then difcontinue their finging, be- 
ing engaged in the more important purfuits of 
common fubfiftence. 
While the young continue in the neft, the old 
ones provide diem with a proper fupply of food ; 
and, that no individual may be overlooked, each 
is ferved in it's turn. If they perceive that man 
has been bufy with their neft, or has handled their 
little ones, they abandon the place by night, and 
provide 
