BREEDING. 
325 
dissatisfaction at being bored with such an unmanly 
occupation, while the female apparently throws herself, 
heart and soul, into the work. 
Any unusual accident will demonstrate the different 
amount of parental affection developed in each sex. 
With the exception of the Ostrich, I know only one case 
in which the male (a Pigeon) ever hatched the eggs 
and brought up the brood after the death of the female ; 
generally when any misfortune happens to the mother 
the brood is lost. This is not the case, however, when 
the father comes to grief. Should this occur the mother 
abates not one jot of her loving care, and is ready cheer¬ 
fully to undergo anything on behalf of her young. 
Nevertheless, on some occasions the female has to be 
driven to the nest by the male. 
The business of incubation must be very interesting to 
the reflecting observer. With what sensible care does the 
bird thus engaged approach her nest, always noiselessly, 
and generally from a certain fixed direction, seeking 
all the while to keep herself as much as possible out of 
sight. Having reached the nest undisturbed she preens 
her feathers, and glides silently on to her little treasures. 
We remember with pleasure seeing a tame Duck, which 
was being driven towards her nest, first shake herself 
and thoroughly dry her feathers before she would get on 
her nest. We had given no thought to the fact that she 
had just left the water, yet she did not for an instant 
forget her duties. It is necessary to observe with one’s 
own eyes the tenderness and apparent self-consciousness 
with which a bird carries out the business of brooding, in 
order thoroughly to appreciate its conduct at the nest. 
For weeks together parental affection, faithful to its 
task, unweariedly carries on its tedious duties, cheered 
2 x 
