INTRODUCTION. 
of birds, and are all admirably adapted to their feveral wants 
and necefiities. Birds of the fame fpecies, whatever region 
of the globe they inhabit, colledt the fame materials, arrange 
them in the fame manner, and make choice of fimilar filiations 
for fixing the places of their temporary abodes. To defcribe 
minutely the different kinds of nefts, the various fubflances of 
which they are compofed, and the judicious choice of fituations, 
' would fwell this part of our work much beyond its due bounds. 
Every part of the world furniflies materials for the aerial archi- 
tects ; leaves and fmall twigs, roots and dried grafs, mixed with, 
clay, ferve for the external ; whilft mofs, wool, fine hair, and 
the fofteft animal and vegetable downs, form the warm internal 
part of thefe commodious dwellings. The following beautiful 
lines from Thomfon are highly defcriptive of the bufy fcene 
which takes place during the time of nidification. 
“ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ — Some to the holly hedge 
“ Neftling repair, and to the thicket fome ; ” See. See.* 
After the bufinefs of incubation is over, and the young are fuf- 
ficiently able to provide for themfelves, the nefis are always 
abandoned by the parents, excepting thofe of the Eagle kind. 
The various gifts and endowments which the great Author of 
Nature has fo liberally bellowed upon his creatures in general, 
demand, in a peculiar manner, the attention of the curious 
Naturalift; amongft the feathered tribe in particular there is 
much room, in this refpedl, for minute and attentive inveftiga- 
tion. In purfuing our inquiries into that fyflem of oeconomy, 
by which every part of Nature is upheld and preferved, we are 
llruck with wonder in obferving the havock and definition 
which every where prevail throughout the various orders of be- 
ings inhabiting the earth. Our humanity is interefted in that 
law of Nature, which devotes to definition myriads of creatures 
to fupport and continue the exiftence of others ; but, although 
* See Thomfon’s Seafons~- Spring, 
b z 
