CHARACTER. 
Ill 
individual who had put the whole tribe in such a state of 
perplexity! 
Among the Eagles, Falcons, and other dominant 
species, these signs of fear are never seen. They 
like to show themselves, and on this account generally 
choose elevated positions on which to take their stand, 
these being at the same time well adapted for points of 
observation. Some of their subjects share the same 
taste; Jackdaws and Starlings delight in the highest 
pinnacles of towers, where they may rest, chatter, or 
sing; the Song Thrush chooses the topmost branches of 
a tree, whenever it wishes to pour forth its charming 
melody for our benefit; the Yellow-hammer, many 
Finches, the Warblers of Southern Europe, and others, 
do the same, for birds, like men, often forget their safety 
while under the influence of poetry! Song drives the 
Lark from its hiding-place in stubble or grass, to the 
bright blue heavens above; and a love ditty will induce 
the shy Eing Dove to abandon the shelter of the bushy 
whitethorn. 
The conduct of other birds, again, would lead us to 
imagine that vanity was the motive which led them to 
show themselves more freely than circumstances should 
warrant. That birds are vain is amply proved by those 
species which are arrayed in the most gorgeous colours. 
One need only observe the Peacock, while paying his 
addresses to his wife, to see that it is not without reason 
that he is looked upon as the emblem of that attribute 
which is so highly developed in the fair sex: with 
speaking glances, full of self-complacency, he spreads his 
splendid plumage, and, with innate consciousness, ad¬ 
vances towards his spouse, as though to prove to her 
that his personal appearance is irresistible. All other 
