THE BLACKCAP. 
160 
though it remains in our gardens or orchards as long as 
any of its favorite fruits continue, it avoids observation 
as much as possible, and hides itself in the foliage from 
all familiarity or confidence* This exceeding dislike 
of man is very extraordinary. Larger or more important 
birds might have an instinctive fear of violence; but 
this creature is too small and insignificant to have ever 
experienced or to apprehend injuries from him. It may 
arise from a long residence in wilds and solitary places, 
seldom visited by human beings, during those eight or 
nine months when it is absent from us, so that man be- 
comes an unknown creature, and injury is suspected. 
Our native small birds, that reside all the year with us, 
and see us often, though they may retire at our near 
approach, do not exhibit such shyness and avoidance as 
several of our migrating birds. The gray flycatcher, 
and the swallow tribe, which seek their food, we con- 
clude, all the year near the dwellings of man, where 
most abundantly found, manifest familiarity with us 
rather than dislike, are accustomed to the sight of 
human beings, and do not fear them; but whatever 
may be the cause that influences the precipitate retreat 
of certain birds, we note the original mandate, and see 
that the “ fear of us, and the dread of us,” are still in 
operation with many of these little “ fowls of the air,” 
that would never receive harm from our hands. The 
blackcap finishes its feast here with the jargonel pear, 
when it can meet with it, then leaves us for other fruits 
and milder climes. 
“ And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall 
be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl 
of the air, and upon all that moveth upon the earth.” 
This vesture of universal dread, which was to envelop 
man, though appointed from the beginning of time, has 
never been removed, but most signally and remarkably 
attaches to him still*. It was ordained to be so ; and so 
it is. In some few instances only does this awe of man 
subside : in extreme cases of want, for individual 
preservation, or when protection is required. In such 
cases, the fear or sensibility of pain, love of life, or a 
paramount duty, becomes the stronger principle, anni- 
