were collected in Yorkshire, and communicated to that noble repository by me.
The natural history of a Bird can no more be perfectly known, while we are in any part ignorant of its nest, eggs, food, habitation, &c, than we can be said perfectly to understand the natural history of a moth or a butterfly, at the same time that we are ignorant of the caterpillar and the aurelia, from which this moth, or that butterfly was produced.
Birds, considered in respect to the elegance of their shape, and diversity and brilliancy of their colours, are doubtless superior to any other class in the brute creation. Where can we find a more beautiful piece of mechanism than in the wing of a Bird displayed, or even in a single feather, when minutely examined? There is an easy and elegant sweep in the outline which circumscribes a Bird, perhaps not to be found in that of any other animal, and the beautiful arrangement of the feathers in every part claims our admiration. 'Tis pity to observe, that in most figures of Birds, the feathers are either wholly disregarded, or else most vilely mangled, most wickedly deranged.
In describing the nests, though I have mentioned the materials which composed the individual under notice, it must not however be understood, that the same species of Bird always strictly confines itself to the same materials, though in general we find it so: for I have seen many instances to the contrary, one of which I will give as I find it in my notes concerning Birds. On the tenth of May, A. D. 1762, I observed a pair of goldfinches beginning to make their nest in my garden; they had formed the groundwork with moss, grass, &c, as usual, but on my scattering small parcels of wool in different parts of the garden, they in a great measure left off the use of their own stuff, and employed the wool; afterward, I gave them cotton, on which they rejected the wool, and proceeded with cotton; the third day I supplied them with fine down, on which they forsook both the other, and finished their work with this last article. The nest, when completed, was somewhat larger than is usually made by this bird, but retained the pretty roundness of figure, and neatness of workmanship, which is proper to the goldfinch. The nest was completed in the space of three days, and remained unoccupied for the space of four days, the first egg not being laid till the seventh day from beginning the work.
The descriptions of the Birds, though plain and simple, are nevertheless true, being made immediately from a close examination of the Birds themselves. If they
