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BIBD-LIFE. 
power; for greed may often be observed among birds as 
well as elsewhere. The domestic Pigeon, while eating, 
seeks to hide its food from others by surrounding it with 
its wings; Vultures drive one another from the carcase 
by blows with their wings; Sparrows squabble in the air 
over a passing beetle : Mergansers will chase a companion 
both above and under water for the sake of the fish it 
has just captured; should one Sea-gull dash down to the 
water all the others in the neighbourhood put in an 
appearance, in hopes that their friend has discovered 
something good to eat. Birds so selfish and greedy in 
their disposition are quite put to shame by our friend the 
domestic Cock, who, possessed of a spirit of gallantry 
worthy of imitation, calls his various wives around him 
to partake of any tit-bit he may have discovered. We 
may also cite the Bee-eater ( Merops ), as being unusually 
peaceable, amiable, and unenvious. These charming- 
little creatures will sit in pairs on some low projecting 
branch, calling to one another until some passing insect 
attracts their attention, when if one gives chase, the 
other leaves its more fortunate partner to enjoy the fruits 
of its exertions. The Drongo Shrikes (Dicrurus and 
Edolius) behave in a similar manner to one another, as 
do the Wood Swallows ( Artamus ). Swallows, indeed, 
scarce know what greediness is. 
There are many birds which one would hardly expect 
to be good-natured, but which nevertheless are so. We 
often see the same forbearance practised among them as 
the lion showed towards the dog confined in the same 
cage with it. My brother and I kept two Lammergeirs in 
confinement, which allowed a Jackdaw in the same cage 
with them to take the most extraordinary liberties : the 
impertinent rascal would, without the slightest ceremony, 
