they can distinguish them by sight, so that if one has in its bill a delicate morsel, it is likely that some of his companions will eagerly strive to partake of the luxury.

Another curious circumstance appears in connexion with feeding. Whenever a granivorous, or grain-eating bird, in a state of nature, is caught and killed, the crop and gizzard are found, on being opened, to contain a quantity of small pebbles and other hard substances; and it is said, instinct causes the birds to swallow them. Now, of about a thousand birds reared by the machine in lofts and rooms, with bushels of fine gravel lying in heaps and scattered about, none would eat it, though several died in consequence of not doing so, by becoming crop-bound. Here then instinct failed. It appears, therefore, that as children insensibly acquire, by receiving from their parents such food as they soon learn to relish, and by observation and habit find agreeable to their stomachs and palates, so birds learn to choose and mix their peculiar food. But as, without parents to direct, few children would choose to eat the most wholesome, preferring to live on the pleasant rather than the useful, so these birds having no parents, though many endeavours were made, could not be persuaded to eat stones, though necessary for their existence.

Most of the birds thus reared, were very fine and

beautiful, and though the greater part were cocks, there was, with few exceptions, even when arrived at nearly their full size, neither crowing nor fighting. The absence of the former was probably owing to their not hearing the thrilling clarion of older birds. As to the latter, it is often asserted that the high mettle and courage of the game cock is natural, and that if two were to meet in a desert, they would fight until one was killed. But this is an error: these birds have sufficient courage for their defence, but all beyond is the effect of training and diet. Brutal-most brutal are those persons who pervert the qualities of animals, in the hope of deriving amusement from their sufferings, or of gain from the practice of gambling, to which, unhappily, many are addicted-gambling, the parent and the offspring of vice and of crime.

Domestic fowls often display what among human beings would be called jealousy. One instance may be taken as a specimen of many. The children of the writer had a bantam-hen given them some time since, with which, of course, they were much amused. Tiny, as they called it, lived alone for some time, when another present arrived of a pair of bantams, to which the names were assigned of Robin and Beauty. Tiny, somewhat dull at first, soon became a favourite with

F

Robin, and then a very malicious persecutor of his first companion. Often was she driven away for her violence, but it continued; and as being shut up had no proper effect, she was, at length, presented to a schoolfellow. Tiny was now thrown among several fowls, and, strangely enough, she tried to pursue her former course, and to have all her own way; but the chief of the party would not suffer the aggression, and with judgment worthy a superior creature, made her keep her proper place. Meanwhile, Beauty's circumstances were changed; she had had a brood of chickens, one of which only survived, and in due time was nearly as large as her parent. A third hen was now presented to the same children; but rough, indeed, was the reception it had from Beauty and her offspring; it was, therefore, placed one evening in a hutch for defence. this availed not; it was found next morning absolutely pecked to death through the openings in the hutch. The same feeling is strangely apparent in the male bird. It is only for a stranger to appear for an attack to commence: sometimes a furious battle ensues, and, if possible, the intruder is driven away in disgrace.

But, alas !

A circumstance of a different kind occurred at a gentleman's seat near Berwick. His mower cut a partridge on her nest, and immediately took the fourteen eggs it

contained to the house. They were put under a large and very beautiful hen, her own being taken away. In two days they were hatched, and were brought up by the hen perfectly well, till they were five or six weeks old. They were kept confined during that time in an outhouse, without being seen by any of the other poultry. Unhappily, the door was left open, and the cock got in a loud cry was heard by the housekeeper, who ran immediately out, but before she arrived, the cock finding the hen with a brood of partridges, though she had been the greatest favourite, had fallen on, and, in his rage, had killed her!

It would be well were there no resemblances to birds, in these respects, on the part of those who ought to show that they are "wiser than the fowls of the air.” But, alas! how many of the young discover the selfishness which has no pleasure in the welfare of others; and even the envy, jealousy, and malice, which will lessen it by any means that can be employed. Any tendency to such dispositions is sinful; but when unrestrained, they lead to the most atrocious deeds which can be committed. How great, then, should be our concern to obey the charge, Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life!"

66

THE SPARROW.

THE sparrow that "sitteth on the house-top," though often talked of, is treated with great indifference; yet there are many things respecting this bird which deserve. notice. One pair will sometimes bring up fourteen, or even more, young ones in a season. While thus employed, they will consume about four thousand caterpillars weekly. They likewise feed their brood with butterflies and other winged insects, each of which, if not destroyed in this manner, would be productive of several hundred caterpillars. So bold and persevering, also, are they in providing for themselves and their young, that they will steal grain from the trough of a pig, or contend with the powerful turkey for its food; and should they be scared away, it is only for a moment, after which they return in the hope of more plunder. House-sparrows have an appetite more accommodating than that of any other of our birds. In spring, and the early part of summer, they prey on insects; but when these tribes