L 3 26 ] 
canfe they differed greatly, not only in number and 
fize, but in their habits, for nightingales and wrens 
perch, which a fkylark is aim oft incapable of, though, 
by great afiiduity, fhe at laft taught herfelf the pro- 
per equilibre of the body. 
I have likewife been witnefs of the following ex- 
periment.: two robins hatched five young ones in a 
breeding cage, to which five others were added, 
and the old birds brought up the whole number, 
making no diftindtion between them. 
The Aedologie alfo mentions (which is a very 
fenfible treatife on the nightingale *) that neftlings 
of all forts may be reared in the fame manner, by 
introducing them to a caged bird, which is fupplied 
with the proper food. 
Not only old birds, however, attend to this cry of 
diftrefs from neftlings, but young ones alfo which are 
able to fhift for themfelves. 
I have feen a chicken, not above two months old, 
take as much care of younger chickens, as the pa- 
rent would have fhewn to them which they had loft, 
not only by fcratching to procure them food, but by 
covering them with her wings ; and I have little doubt 
but that fhe would have done the fame by young 
ducks. 
I have likewife been witnefs of neftling thrufhes 
of a later brood, being fed by a young bird which 
was hatched earlier, and which indeed rather over- 
crammed the orphans intruded to her care ; if the 
bird however erred in judgement, fhe was certainly 
not deficient in tendernefs, which I am perfuaded fhe 
would have equally extended to a neftling cuckow. 
* Paris, 1751, or 17,71, 
XXII. KOI - 
