To view the structure of that little work,
A bird’s nest. Mark it well within, without.
No tool had he that wrought, no knife to cut,
No nail to fix, no bodkin to insert,
No glue to join: his little beak was all,
And yet how neatly finished!“
By this means, the animating heat of her body is greatly increased during the time of incubation. And her young no sooner burst the shell, than they find themselves screened from the annoyance of weather, and comfortably reposed, till they gather sufficient strength and plumage in their warm recess, to make their first essay into the wide expanse.
As to the succession of this class of animals, some are endued with a remarkable power of propagating, while others are confined within narrow limits. In general, the least animals, and those which are useful and serve for nourishment to the greatest number of other animals, are the most prolific. The Hawk kind generally lay not more than two eggs, or at most four; while the Poultry species produce from 50 to 100. The Diver, or Loon, which is eaten by a few animals, lays also two eggs; but the Duck kind, the Moorgame, Partridges, &c., and small birds, lay a very great number. If we suppose two pigeons to hatch nine times a year, they may produce in four years 14,760 young!
Birds generate in that particular season which supplies them with a stock of provisions, sufficient, not only for themselves, but for their increasing families. They hatch their young when new-born insects swarm on every side. So that the caterer, whether it be the male or female parent, needs only alight on the ground, or make a short excursion into the air, to find a repast ready dressed for the tender charge at home. The love they have for their offspring, while helpless, is invincibly strong.[152] They nurse them with the greatest care, caress them with affectionate notes, put food into their mouths, cherish and keep them warm, teach them to pick, eat, and gather food: whereas, the moment they are able to provide for themselves, this anxious care vanishes as though it had never been. The Hen, while catering for her little brood, would fly at a mastiff in their defence: yet, in a few weeks, leaves them to their own protection, not regarding them any more than others of the same species.
They also provide their food with admirable art, which dexterity they bring into the world with them. Some birds, though not aquatic, live on fish: and must necessarily find it more difficult to seize their prey than Water-fowl. From whence do they derive this natural instinct? They stand on the brink of the liquid element, and when a shoal of fish comes (which they can discover at a distance,) they pursue them, skim along the surface, suddenly dive into the water, and carry off a fish.[153] Who gave the birds of prey their piercing sight, undaunted courage, and the destructive weapons, without which they could not possibly subsist? Who points out to the Stork the place where she may find frogs[154] and insects for her support? In order to procure these, she must seek them not only in meadows, but also in the furrows of fields; and continue her search till the approach of morning, when the other birds awake and begin to quit their places of retreat. What amazing strength must the Condor have, seeing it can carry away a sheep, a deer, and even prey on the ox itself! How can we reconcile that maternal instinct which causes the quail to adopt little birds of every species, which she not only takes under her protection, but bestows on them her tenderest cares! What cunning does the Crow use to secure the prey, which she cannot devour at once? She hides it in places such as other Crows do not frequent, and when hungry again, how well does she know where she has deposited it![155]