382 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 
The magpies, when they have young, destroy the broods of missel 
thrushes, though the dams are fierce birds, and fight boldly in 
defence of their nests. It is probably to avoid such insults, that 
this species of thrush, though wild at other times, delights to build 
near houses, and in frequented walks and gardens.— WHITE. 
Of the truth of this I have been an eye-witness, having seen the 
common thrush feeding on the shell snail. 
In the very early part of this spring (1797) a bird of this species 
used to sit every morning on the top of some high elms close by 
my windows, and delight me with its charming song, attracted 
thither probably, by some ripe ivy berries that grew near the 
place. 
I have remarked something like the latter fact, for 1 remember, 
many years ago, seeing a pair of these birds fly up repeatedly and 
attack some larger bird, which I suppose disturbed their nest in my 
orchard, uttering at the same time violent shrieks. Since writing 
the above, I have seen more than once a pair of these birds attack 
some magpies that had disturbed their nest, with great violence and 
loud shrieks.—MARKWICK. 
POULTRY. 
Many creatures are endowed with a ready discernment to see 
what will turn to their own advantage and emolument: and often 
discover more sagacity than could be expected. Thus my neigh- 
bour’s poultry watch for waggons loaded with wheat, and running 
after them, pick up a number of grains which are shaken from the 
sheaves by the agitation of the carriages. Thus, when my brother 
used to take down his gun to shoot sparrows, his cats would run 
out before him, to be ready to catch up the birds as they fell.* 
The earnest and early propensity of the gallinze to roost on high 
is very observable, and discovers a strong dread impressed on their 
Spirits respecting vermin that may annoy them on the ground during 
the hours of darkness. Hence poultry, if left to themselves and 
not housed, will perch the winter through on yew-trees and fir- 
trees ; and turkeys and guinea fowls, heavy as they are, get up into 
apple-trees ; pheasants also in woods sleep on trees to avoid foxes ; 
while pea-fowls climb to the tops of the highest trees round their 
_* Since railways have been introduced, crows (common rooks) assemble along the line to. 
pick up the pieces of grease that fall from the carriage wheels. 
