. The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings . n known toventure into the barn, through accidental openings ; when as if sensi-ble of the danger of purloining, he is active and silent, and if sur-prised, postponing his garrulity, he retreats with noiseless precipitation, and with all the cowardice of a thief The worst trait of hisappe
. The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings . n known toventure into the barn, through accidental openings ; when as if sensi-ble of the danger of purloining, he is active and silent, and if sur-prised, postponing his garrulity, he retreats with noiseless precipitation, and with all the cowardice of a thief The worst trait of hisappetite, however, is his relish for the eggs of other birds, in quest ofwhich he may frequently be seen prowling, and with a savage crueltyhe sometimes also devours the callow young, spreading the plaint ofBorrow and alarm wherever he flits. The whole neighboring com-munity of little birds, assembled at the cry of distress, sometimes,,however, succeed in driving off the ruthless plunderer, who notalways content with the young, has been seen to attack the old,though with dubious success; but to the gallant and quarrelsomeKing-bird, he submits like a c ward, and driven to seek shelter, evea THE MAGPIE. Ill on the ground, from the repeated blows of his antagonist, sneaks off^well contented to save his THE MAGPIE. Like the Crow, this bird feeds on almost all substances animal ai■well as vegetable,that come, in itsway. It forms itsnest with greatart; leaving a holein the side foradmittance, andcovering the wholeupper part with atexture of thornybranches closelyentangled, bywhich a retreat issecured from therude attacks ofother birds; theinside is furnishedwith a sort of mat-tress, composed of wool and other soft materials, on which the voung-ones, which are-generally seven or eight in number, repose. ft is a crafty, and, in a tame state, a familiar bird ; and may be taughtta pronounce not only words, but short sentences, and even to imitateany particular noise that it hears. P
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectzoology
