APPENDIX.

Concerning Propagation of Animals, and Care of Progeny.

TH

THE natural hiftory of animals, with respect to pairing and care of progeny, is fufceptible of more elucidation, than could regularly be introduced into the fketch itfelf, where it makes but a fingle argument. Loth to quit a fubject that eminently difplays the wisdom and benevolence of Providence, I embrace the prefent opportunity, however flight, to add what further occurs upon it. M. Buffon, in many large volumes, bestows fcarce a thought on that favourite subject; and the neglect of our countrymen Ray and Derham is ftill lefs excufable, confidering that to difplay the conduct of Providence was their fole purpofe in writing natural history.

The inftinct of pairing is beftowed on every fpecies of animals to which it is neceffary for rearing their young; and on no other species. All wild birds pair: but with a remarkable difference between

fuch

fuch as place their nefts on trees, and fuch as place them on the ground. The young of the former, being hatched blind and without feathers, require the nurfing care of both parents till they be able to fly. The male feeds his mate on the neft, and cheers her with a fong. As foon as the young are hatched, finging yields to a more necessary occupation, that of providing food for a numerous iffue, a task that requires both parents.

Eagles and other birds of brey build on trees, or on other places difficult of accefs. They not only pair, but continue in pairs all the year; and the fame pair procreate together, year after year. This at leaft is the cafe of eagles: the male and female, hunt together; and during incubation the female is fed by the male. A greater number than a fingle pair never are feen in company.

Gregarious birds pair, in order probably to prevent difcord, in a fociety confined to a narrow space. This is the cafe particularly of pigeons and rooks. The male and female fit on the eggs alternately, and divide the care of feeding their young. During incubation, the male raven

is

is always at hand to defend the female against birds of prey. No fooner does a kite appear than he gets above it, and ftrikes it down with his bill.

she

Partridges, plovers, pheasants, feafowl, groufe, and other kinds that place their nefts on the ground, have the instinct of pairing; but differ from fuch as build on trees in the following particular, that after the female is impregnated, she completes her task without needing any help from the male. Retiring from him, the chufes a safe place for her neft, where she can find plenty of worms and grass-feed at hand. And her young, as soon as hatched, take foot and feek food for themfelves. The only remaining duty incumbent on the dam is, to lead them to proper places for food, and to call them together when danger impends. Some males, provoked at the defertion of their mates, break the eggs if they happen to find them. If a Turkey hen die during hatching, the cock takes her place in the neft; and after the young are hatched, he tends them as a hen does. Not only fo, but when the female is engaged with a new brood, the cock takes care of the for

mer

mer brood, leads them about for food, and acts in every respect as the female did before. Eider ducks pair like other birds that place their nefts on the ground; and the female finishes her neft with down plucked from her own breaft. If the neft be destroyed for the down, which is remarkably warm and elaftic, fhe makes another neft as before. If the be robbed a fecond time, the makes a third neft; but the male furnishes the down. A lady of fpirit obferved, that the Eider duck may give a leffon to many a married woman, who is more difpofed to pluck her husband than herself. The black game never pair : in fpring the cock on an eminence crows, and claps his wings; and all the females within hearing inftantly resort to him *.

Pairing birds, excepting thofe of prey, flock together in February, in order to chufe their mates. They foon difperfe; and are not seen afterwards but in pairs.

Pairing is unknown to quadrupeds that feed on grafs. To fuch it would be ufe

* A hen that had hatched feveral broods of ducklings, carried her own chickens to the water, thrust them in by force, and refted not till they were all drowned. Such is the force of custom, even againlt

nature.

lefs;

lefs; as the female gives fuck to her young while the herself is feeding. If M. Buffon deferve credit, the roe-deer are an exception. They pair, though they feed on grafs, and have but one litter in a year. Beafts of prey, fuch as lions, tigers, wolves, pair not. The female is left to shift for herself and for her young; which is a laborious tafk, and frequently fo unfuccessful as to fhorten life. Pairing is effential to birds of prey, because incubation leaves the female no fufficient time to fearch for food. Pairing is not neceffary to beasts of prey, young can bear a long faft. Add another reason, that they would multiply fo faft by pairing, as to prove troublesome neighbours to the human race.

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Among animals that pair not, males fight defperately about a female. Such a battle among horned cattle is finely defcribed by Lucretius. Nor is it unusual, that feven or eight lions wage bloody war for a fingle female.

The fame reafon that makes pairing neceffary for gregarious birds, obtains with respect to gregarious quadrupeds; thofe efpecially who ftore up food for winter,

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