340 OBSERVATIONS 



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 

 I 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 dis- 

 turbed their nest, with great violence, and loud 

 shrieks. MARK WICK. 



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^ poultry watch for wagons 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 gallince 

 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 owner's house for se- 

 curity, let the weather be ever so cold or blowing. 

 Partridges, it is true, roost on the ground, not hav- 



