150 
NATURAL HISTORY 
LETTER XIV. 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, March 26, 1773. 
The more I refleft on the a-Topyn of animals, the more I am afto- 
niflied at it's efFedls. Nor is the violence of this affeftion more 
wonderful than the Ihortnefs of it's duration. Thus every hen is 
in her turn the virago of the yard, in proportion to the helpleflhefs 
of her brood ; and will fly in the face of a dog or a fow in defence 
of thofe chickens, which in a few weeks fhe will drive before her 
with relentlefs cruelty. 
This affection fablimes the pafllons, quickens the invention, and 
ftiarpens the fagacity of the brute creation. Thus an hen, jufl be- 
come a mother, is no longer that placid bird fhe ufcd to be, but 
with feathers ftanding an end, wings hovering, and clocking note, 
file runs about like one pofleffed. Dams will throw themfelves in 
the way of the greateft danger in order to avert it from their pro- 
geny. Thus a partridge will tumble along before a fportfman in 
order to draw away die dogs from her helplefs covey. In the time 
of nidification the moft feeble birds will afTault the mofl: rapacious. 
All the hirundines of a village are up in arms at the fight of an hawk, 
whom they will perfecute till he leaves that diftrid. A very exa£t 
■■bbferver has often remarked that a pair of ravens nefting in the rock 
of Gibraltar would fuffer no vulture or eagle to reft near their flation, 
but would drive them from the hill with an amazing fury: even the 
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