OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 387 



The earnest and early propensity of the gallinae 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 ; 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 

 owner's house for security, let the weather be ever so cold or blowing. 

 Partridges, it is true, roost on the ground, not having the faculty 

 of perching \ but then the same fear prevails in their minds ; for 

 through apprehension from pole- cats and stoats, they never trust 

 themselves to coverts, but nestle together in the midst of large 

 fields, far removed from hedges and coppices, which they love to 

 haunt in the day, and where at that season they can skulk more 

 secure from the ravages of rapacious birds. 



As to ducks and geese, their awkward splay web-feet forbid 

 them to settle on trees : they therefore, in the hours of darkness 

 and danger, betake themselves to their own element the water, 

 where amidst large lakes and pools, like ships riding at anchor, 

 they float the whole night long in peace and security. WHITE. 



Guinea fowls not only roost on high, but in hard weather resort, 

 even in the daytime, to the very tops of the highest trees. Last 

 winter, when the ground was covered with snow, I discovered all 

 my guinea fowls, in the middle of the day, sitting on the highest 

 boughs of some very tall elms, chattering and making a great 

 clamour : I ordered them to be driven down lest they should be 

 frozen to death in so elevated a situation, but this was not effected 

 without much difficulty; they being very unwilling to quit their 

 lofty abode, notwithstanding one of them had its feet so much 

 frozen that we were obliged to kill it. I know not how to ac- 

 count for this, unless it was occasioned by their aversion to the 



1 The pheasants run into equal danger when they roost in the trees ; for, 

 although they are secure from ground vermin, yet do they often fall victims to 

 the poacher, who can see them plainly against the sky. 



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