XXXVl 
INTRODUCTION. 
however, the last nest, with its eggs and down, to the lining 
of which the male is now obliged to contribute, be taken away, 
they sagaciously leave the premises, without return. 1 he pious 
Storks, in Holland, protected by law for their usefulness, build 
their nests on the tops of houses and churches, often in the 
midst of cities, in boxes prepared for them, like those for our 
Martins ; and, walking about the streets and gardens without 
apprehension of danger, perform the usual office of domestic 
scavengers. 
That birds, like our more sedentary and domestic quadru- 
peds, arc capable of exhibiting attachment to those who feed 
and attend them, is undeniable. Deprived of other society, 
some of our more intelligent species, particularly the Thrushes, 
soon learn to seek out the company of their friends or protec- 
tors of the human species. The Brown Thrush and Mocking 
Bird become in this way extremely familiar, cheerful, and 
capriciously playful ; the former, in particular, courts the atten- 
tion of his master, follows his steps, complains when neglected, 
flies to him when suffered to be at large, and sings and reposes 
gratefully perched on his hand, — in short, by all his actions he 
appears capable of real and affectionate attachment, and is 
jealous of every rival, particularly any other bird, which he 
persecutes from his presence with unceasing hatred. His pet- 
ulant dislike to particular objects of less moment is also dis- 
played by various tones and gestures, which soon become 
sufficiently intelligible to those who are near him, as well as 
his notes of gratulation and satisfaction. His language of 
fear and surprise could never be mistaken, and an imitation of 
his guttural low tsherr, tsherr, on these occasions, answers as 
a premonitory warning when any danger awaits him from the 
sly approach of cat or squirrel. As I have now descended, as 
I may say, to the actual biography of one of these birds, which 
I raised and kept uncaged for some time, I may also add, that 
besides a playful turn for mischief and interruption, in which 
he would sometimes snatch off the paper on which I was writ- 
ing, he had a good degree of curiosity, and was much surprised 
one day by a large springing beetle or Elater (E. ocellafiis), 
