XX 
INTRODUCTION. 
it is not allowed us to unravel the myderious workings of Na» 
ture through all her parts, or unfold her deep defigns, we are, 
neverthelefs, drongly led to the confederation of the means by 
which individuals, as well as fpecies, are preferred and multiplied. 
The weak are frequently enabled to elude the purfuits of the 
drong, by flight or ftratagem ; fome are fcreened from the pur- 
fuit of their enemies, by an arrangement of colours happily aid- 
milated to the places which they mod frequent, and where they 
And either food or repofe ; thus the Wryneck is fcarcely to be 
didinguifhed from the bark of the tree on which it feeds, or the 
Snipe from the foft and mofly ground by the fprings of water 
which it frequents ; the Great Plover finds its greated fecurity 
in ftony places, to which its colours are fo nicely adapted, that 
the mod exadl obferver may be very eafily deceived. 
The attentive Qrnithologid will not fail to difcover numerous 
in fiances of this kind, fuch as the Partridge, Plover, Quail, &c. 
Some are indebted to the brilliancy of their colours as the means 
of alluring their prey ; of this the Kingfifher is a remarkable in- 
dance, and deferves to be particularly noticed. This beautiful 
bird has been obferved, in fome fequeflered places, near the edge 
of a rivulet, expofing the vivid colours of its bread to the full 
rays of the fun, and fluttering with expanded wings over the 
fmooth furface of the water ; the fifh, attradled by the bright- 
nefs and fpiendour of the appearance, are detained whild the 
wily bird darts down upon them with unerring certainty. We 
do not fay that the mode of taking fifh by torch-light has been 
derived from this pra&ifed by the Kingfifher, but every one 
mud be druck by the firnilarity of the means. Others, again, 
derive the fame advantage from the fimplicity of their exterior 
appearance ; of this the Heron will ferve as an example. He 
may frequently be feen handing motionlefs by the edge of a 
piece of water, waiting patiently the approach of his prey, 
which he never fails to feize as foon as it comes within reach of 
his long neck ; he then reafiumes his former pofition, and con- 
tinues to wait with the fame patient attention as before. 
Mod of the fmaller birds are fupported, . efpecially when 
