THE TURTLE DOVE. hence it is now proposed to consider it, not indeed abstractedly, but rather as illustrated by facts, many of which have only recently become known, and all of which are calculated no less to instruct than to delight. Instinct appears, for instance, in feelings akin to those which are displayed by human beings. What tenderness is manifested by the turtle dove! Its attachment to its mate has long been proverbial; but it is equalled by that of some other birds. Thus, an African bird, the grenadier grosbeak, which is about AFFECTION OF PARROTS. the size of a linnet, was put with a hen goldfinch, into a cage; and, after they had paired, a quantity of grass and other materials were placed in the cage, to enable them to make their nest. As soon as the hen began to sit, the grosbeak took a quantity of the grass and covered her with it; and this he did punctually every day at eleven o'clock, when the sun came upon the cage -probably the practice of birds in very hot countries. The little love-parrot, too, sits beside his mate, and eagerly feeds her from his own bill. A pair of these birds were confined in the same cage; and when the female became ill, her companion showed the strongest marks of attachment. He carried all the food from the bottom of the cage, and fed her on her perch; and when she expired, went round and round her in the greatest agitation, attempting to open her bill and give her nourishment. He then gradually languished, and survived her only a few months. In other cases, the feeling of sympathy seems to be peculiarly strong. Thus Wilson, the naturalist, observed at one place, thirty miles from the mouth of the Kentucky river, great numbers of parrots. About an hour after sunrise they came screaming through the woods, to drink the salt water, of which they are remarkably fond. When they alighted on the ground SYMPATHY OF PARROTS. it appeared, at a distance, as if it were covered with a carpet of the richest green, orange, and yellow. They afterwards settled on a neighbouring tree, which stood by itself; they covered almost every twig of it, and the bright beams of the sun, shining strongly on their gay and glossy plumage, presented a very beautiful and splendid appearance. The mind revolts as it thinks of a gun discharged in such circumstances; but this being done, and a number of the parrots shot, some of which were only wounded, the rest swept repeatedly round their prostrate companions, and again settled on a low tree at a short distance. At each successive discharge, though showers of them fell, yet the affection of the survivors appeared to increase; for, after a few circuits round the place, they again alighted, and looked down on their slaughtered companions, in a manner that clearly showed their sympathy and concern. One parrot, called Poll by Wilson, was carried by him upwards of a thousand miles in his pocket, but regularly liberated at meal-times and in the evening, to its great satisfaction. On arriving at the house of a friend, he procured a cage, and placed it under the piazza, where, by its call, it soon attracted the passing flocks: such is the attachment they have for each other. SYMPATHY OF PARROTS. Numerous parties frequently alighted in the trees above, keeping up a constant conversation with the prisoner. One of these was wounded slightly in the wing; and the pleasure expressed by Poll on meeting with this new companion was really amusing. She crept close up to it as it hung on the side of the cage, chattering to it in a low tone of voice, as if sympathizing in its misfortune, scratched about its head and neck with her bill; and both at night nestled as close as possible to each other, sometimes the head of Poll being thrust through the plumage of its companion. On the death. of her friend she appeared restless and inconsolable for several days. The building of nests may be taken as affording another instance of the instinct of birds. Without, however, describing the usual process, it may be remarked, that the mode pursued by these little artificers is not always the same; on the contrary, it varies so as to suit new and peculiar circumstances. In our own island, the nests of each particular species, when built in the open country, are always essentially alike; yet when reared near towns and villages, where the same materials are not to be obtained, their form is adapted to their situation, and to the substance of which they are constructed. |