“How very singular, Uncle Thomas!  Does the lapwing defend its young with as much courage as the hen?”

“I am not aware that it does, Frank, though I think it is not at all unlikely.  As its instinct teaches it to finesse in the way which I have told you, however, I should not expect to find that it does so with equal spirit.  Even the pigeon, the very emblem of gentleness and love, boldly pecks at the rude hand which is extended towards its young, during the earlier stages of their existence.  If you come by chance on the brood of a partridge, the mother flutters along, as if she were so much wounded that it was impossible to escape, and the young ones squat themselves close by the earth.  When by her cunning wiles she has led you to a little distance, and you discover that her illness was feigned, you return to the spot to seek for the young, and you find that they too are gone:  no sooner is your back turned than they run and hide themselves in some more secret place, where they remain till the well-known call of the mother again collects them under her wing.

“I lately heard a most interesting story of the boldness of a pair of blackbirds in defence of their young.  A cat was one day observed mounted on the top of a railing, endeavouring to get at a nest which was near it, containing a brood of young birds.  On the cat’s approach the mother left the nest, and flew to meet it in a state of great alarm, placing herself almost within its reach, and uttering the most piteous screams of wildness and despair.  Alarmed by his partner’s screams, the male bird soon discovered the cause of her distress, and in a state of equal trepidation flew to the place, uttering loud screams and outcries, sometimes settling on the fence just before the cat, which was unable to make a spring in consequence of the narrowness of its footing.  After a little time, seeing that their distress made no impression on their assailant, the male bird flew at the cat, settled on its back, and pecked at its head with so much violence that it fell to the ground, followed by the blackbird, which at length succeeded in driving it away.  Foiled in this attempt, the cat a short time after again returned to the charge, and was a second time vanquished, which so intimidated her that she relinquished all attempts to get at the young birds.  For several days, whenever she made her appearance in the garden, she was set upon by the blackbirds, and at length became so much afraid of them, that she scampered to a place of security whenever she saw them approach.”

“That was very bold indeed, Uncle Thomas.  Birds seem to be all very much attached to their young.”

“Very much so, Harry; but perhaps not more so than many quadrupeds.  Here is a story of the squirrel’s affection, which, though it does not exhibit an instance of active defence against its enemies, affords one of endurance equally admirable.