The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-14
Pairing Instinct Of Birds.

Birds may be divided into three classes
viz, firstly those birds which. having once
paired, remain together for life; secondly,
birds which pair annually; and thirdly
birds which never pair, but are polygam-
ous.
We will take firstly those birds which
pair for life. Swallows are al excellent
type of this class, returning to their old
nesting sites for the same purpose as pre-
viously. The martin returns to Its old nest.
But to some this may appear Incredible,
knowing that these birds perform long mi
grations, and may get separated while up
on them. DO these birds get finally scpa-
rated when in large companies they arc
searching The air for food2 or DO rocks,
starlings, and jackdaws fail to remember
the position Of their nests2 The same in
sinct which informs the swallows when
to leave the south, in like manner urges
them onward to their old nests, and again
the same pair OF birds will perform the
same duties of incubation. We know that
the same nesting site will be yearly tenan-
ted by its former owners, provided they
ale left unmolestcd. This must be by the
same PAIR of birds: for what ornithologist
has ever. in the course of his observations,
seen swallows prying about into his barns
and out-buildings in search of some old
nest which will save them the labor of
constructing one themsclves2 The time
would be so taken up III this search that
no brood would be reared. Young birds
pair most likely before their migration to
us, and search out nesting sites upon their
arrival in this country.
Ravens, magpics, jackdaws, starlings,
house sparrows, several Of the FuicOnidCs
and Iaridte, have all been known to re-.
turn to their nests Of the previous season.
The robin and the wren return to their old
sites (but not to the old nests) for several
years. From these instances it may be in
ferred that all birds which return to their
old nests or nesting sites for the same pur-
pose every year pair for life.
In the second place, those birds which
pair annually. The birds which form this
division arc the most numerous of any. We
have many instances Of this Glass; as a
good type, we will take the willow warb-
lcr When these birds first arrive in this
country they arc never in pairs. But OBJ
serve them few weeks later; they have
all found mates, and arc employed in do
mestlc duties. 1t is the nature Of these
birds to build fresh nests every season-
and never in the same position or locali-
ty. Whcn once these birds have left thier
nests, and the young can forage for them
selves, all connection between the two
birds ceases; the nes;s arc abandoned,
never to be returned to, and the birds roam
| about searching for food, very often soli-
tary, until the time Of migration arrives.
Several Of the thrushcs are for the most
part solitary in their habits, except in the
breeding season, while others roam about
IN, HnNlY oft kl,o
| males being predominant, but, as spring
| arrives, separating into pairs for incuba.
ton, after which the same routine is again
repeated. The chaifincn is the sameNin
| fiocks during the winter, the sexes not at
all social; but as the breeding season ap.
proaches they are again seen in pairs for
the propagation of their species. The
pigeons, partridgcs. snipcs, plovcrs, and
rails all pair annually. In the same man
ncr the buntings, larks, many of the fin.
chcs, warblcrs all pair III their due season..
All these BIRDS nests, after once serving
their purpose, arc abandoned forever.
| Will the frail little whlte-throat use yon
| abode again2 or the sand piper return to
! the cavity which once contained her eggs2
These birds pair annually, and of course
select each successive year fresh situation
for tho birthplace of their young.
In the third place, we will take that
class of birds which never pair, or arc poly
gnmous. 1t is only in one division of our
present classification that VIC can. trace
those of polyganous hahlts--in the first
section of the Gallinaceous birds. In all
birds which arc polygamous the female
alone Is intrusted with all care of eggs Or
young, and she, through wise provision
of nature, is made equal to the emergency.
| The male shows little or no affection for
them.