“In the month of May, a young lark was brought to me which could not feed itself; I fed it, and it could hardly peck up, when a brood of four young ones of the same species was brought to me from another place. She exhibited a singular affection for these new comers, which were not much younger than herself; she nursed them day and night, warmed them under her wings, and pushed the food into their mouths with her beak; nothing could distract her from these interesting duties. If she was removed from the young ones, she flew back to them as soon as she was free, without ever thinking of escaping, as she might have done a hundred times. Her affection increased so much that she literally forgot to eat and drink; and she lived only on the food which was given to her as well as to her adopted young, and she died at length, consumed by this sort of maternal passion. None of the young survived her, they died one after the other, so necessary had her maternal cares become to them; so entirely were these cares produced by affection, and reciprocated.”
This, it appears, is more than could be said of the persons who had the care of these unfortunate little birds.—Translator.
[62] They are not natives of Britain.—Translator.
[63] I possessed a fine one which died from lice.—Translator.
[64] I saw a colony of starlings established on this plan at an inn at Leyden.—Translator.
[65] In England it continues throughout the year.—Translator.
[66] Bathing may prevent the first; boiled bread and milk administered seasonably relieves, and even entirely cures, the other.—Translator.
[67] In Britain they remain all the year.—Translator.
[68] I have seen the nest in Scotland.—Translator.
[69] It occurs on the Rhine at Ehrenbreitzen, and I have seen it on the Siebengebirge.—Translator.