204 DOMESTICATED WILD-FOWL. 



In imitation of your example, I spend some time 

 every morning in the poultiy-yard, which my indul- 

 gent father has fitted up in a very complete style, 

 and peopled it with a great variety of domestic fowl, 

 to gratify my taste. Amongst others, I have several 

 wild-fowl that are grown tame : to these I pay parti- 

 cular attention, as I suppose their natural habits less 

 changed than those which have been domesticated for 

 many generations. The same diversity of disposition 

 seems to prevail amongst the inferior classes of ani- 

 mals as amongst men. Some of the same kind are 

 gentle and timid, whilst others possess a gi'eat portion 

 of courage : and I have observed, that there is a kind 

 of common language between the different species of 

 these wild-fowl ; for the cry expressive of danger is 

 communicated from one to another, and understood 

 by all. I have a favourite widgeon, so tame that 

 it follows me all over the yard : as I was scattering 

 the com this morning, a hawk hovered in sight, 

 upon which a common hen gave the scream of 

 terror, and the widgeon perfectly comprehending 

 that an enemy was at hand, fled to me for pro- 

 tection, and remained crouched close to my feet till 

 all apprehension of danger was past.* 



One of my hens has sui"prised me very much, as 



* Related by Mr. Templeton. 



