NATURAL HISTORY 
latter induces them to pieferve individuals : whether either of thefe 
ihould feem to be the ruling paflion in the matter of congregating 
is to be confidered. As to love, that is out of the queftion at a 
time of the j^ear v/hen that foft paflion is not indulged : befides, 
during the amorous feafon, fuch a jealoufy prevails between tlie 
male birds that they can hardly bear to be together in the fnme 
hedge or field. Moft of the linging and elation of fpirits of that 
time feem to me to be the effete of rivalry and emulation : and it 
is to this fpirit of jealoufy that I chiefly attribute the equal difperfion 
of birds in the fpring over th ; face of the country. 
Now as to the bufinefs of food : as thefe animals are aiftuated by 
inftind to hunt for neceffary food, they fhould not, one would fup- 
pofe, crowd together in purfuit of fuftenance at a time when it is mod 
hkely to fail ; yet fuch affociations do take place in hard weather 
chiefly, and thicken as the feverity increafes. As fome kind of felf« 
intereft and felf-defence is no doubt the motive for the' proceeding, 
may it not arife from the helplefliiefs of their ftate in fuch rigorous 
feafons; as men crowd together, when under great calamities, though 
they know not why ? Perhaps approximation may difpel fome de= 
gree of cold ; and a crowd may m.ake each individual appear fafer 
from the ravages of birds of prey and other dangers. 
If I admire when I fee how much congenerous birds love to con- 
gregate, I am the more ftruck when I fee incongruous ones in fuch 
ftriifl amity. If we do not much wonder to fee a flock of rooks 
ufually attended by a train of daws, yet it is ftrange that the former 
/hould fo frequently have a flight of ftarlings for their fatellites. 
Is it becaufe rooks have a more difcerning fcent than their attend- 
dants, and can lead them to fpots more produdive of food ? Anato- 
mifts fay that rooks, by reafon of two large nerves which run down 
between the eyes into the upper mandible, have a more delicate 
feeling in their beaks than other round-billed birds, and can grope 
for 
