POULTRY. 127 



to be plucking one another s feathers out at meal 

 time, their appearance did not improve. In a few 

 days I observed that they had a strange way of open 

 ing their mouths, as though they were sleepy ; but, as 

 they went to bed at early candlelight, and slept, 

 with little intermission, except for the occasional rec 

 reation of pushing each other off the perches, till 

 sunrise, it seemed hardly possible, in spite of their 

 early rising, that they suffered for loss of sleep. If 

 they did happen to need more rest, no ready way 

 suggested itself of supplying the deficiency unless 

 they attended to it themselves, which there was noth 

 ing to prevent as I was not acquainted with an ap 

 propriate lullaby. So they were left to their own 

 devices. Their yawning became infectious as with 

 human beings, when one gapes his companions will 

 follow suit until at last one, that seemed to desire 

 to outdo the others or make up permanently for her 

 lost time, &quot; slept the sleep that knows no waking.&quot; 

 This was bringing matters to a serious issue ; and 

 when two more were found on a subsequent morn 

 ing stark and stiff, Weeville was sent for in all haste. 

 He arrived in a short time with his usual cheery 

 manner, and inquired &quot; What was the matter now ? 

 as though nothing ever went wrong with him, and as 

 though he could put right every thing that went 



