CHAPTER III. 
FUNCTIONS. 
“ Unci oline Eigenthum hat Jeder g’nug.” 
Herder. 
The functions or vocations of birds are connected in 
the closest possible manner with their habitats. I would 
have my readers to understand that I mean, under the 
words function and vocation, the ways and means by 
which they seek their living, for this employment is 
with them productive enough of labour and care. 
Though I will not gainsay the Bible verse—“ They 
sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns ; 
yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them;” yet every 
inquirer cannot but acknowledge that birds must plod 
hard to obtain their requisite nourishment. I may 
remark, then, that in speaking of the vocation of a 
bird, I do not refer to a trade or calling. Thus, in 
accordance with the circle of distribution within which 
the bird moves, it requires food of a special character, 
whether of one or more kinds. This is the principal 
cause which restricts birds to certain localities; and for 
this reason we only become conversant with their habits 
of life by a combined examination of their food and 
home. So their functions, in the sense in which we 
take them, are objects not unworthy of notice. By 
possessing a certain knowledge of the same, we are 
