OF BIRDS. 
1&3 
order as far as can be observed with any degree of cer- 
tainty. But many of the auks assemble in the rocks in 
such numbers, and each individual so contiguous, that it 
is impossible to determine their method in this article. 
The nest of a bird is one of those daily miracles, that 
from its familiarity, is passed over without much regard* 
It is, nevertheless, a subject which presents the most 
interesting objects of consideration. Each bird after 
nuptials prepares a place suited to its species, for deposi- 
ting its eggs and sheltering its little brood. The differ- 
ent genera and species, set about the task in a manner 
suited to their several natures. Yet, every individual 
of the same species, proceeds in the same manner, col- 
lects the very same materials, puts them together in the 
same form, and chooses the same situation, fof placing 
this temporary habitation. Even the young bird of last 
year, who never saw the building of a nest, directed by a 
heaven taught sagacity, pursues the same plan in the 
structure of it, and selects the same materials, as its parent 
did before. Birds of the same species of different and 
remote countries, do the same. The swallows of Britain 
and America, observe the same order of architecture ; 
and in many instances, they have been known to return 
to the same places in which they had reared their young 
the year before. 
The nests of rapacious birds are rude, made of sticks 
and bents, but are often lined with something soft; they 
generally build in high rocks, ruined towers, and deso- 
late places. Enemies to the whole feathered creation, 
they seem conscious of the danger of attacks, and seek 
solitude. A few build upon the ground. Shrikes, alli- 
ed to the rapacious birds, build their nests in bushes, with 
moss, wool, &c. 
The order of pies, is very irregular in the structure of 
their nests. Parrots, and in fact all birds with two toes 
forward, and two backward, lay their eggs in the hollows 
of trees. And most of this order creep along the bodies 
of trees, and lodge their eggs also within them. Crows 
build in trees; among them, the nest of the magpie, compo- 
