274 THE REASON WHY : 



See from the brake the whirring: pheasant springs, 

 And mounts triumphant on exulting wings.&quot; POPE. 



molest 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 around their owner s 

 house for security, let the weather be ever so boisterous. 



SG7. Partridges roost on the ground, not having the faculty of perching ; but the 

 same fear prevails with them ; for, through apprehension of polecats and 

 stoats, they never trust themselves to coverts, but nestle together in the midst of 

 large fields, far removed from hedges and coppices. As to ducks and geese, their 

 awkward web-feet preclude them from settling 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. 



868. Why does the plumage of the pheasant taper off to a 

 point ? 



The haunts of these birds are among shrubs, bushes, and tall 

 herbage, through which they have to make their way ivith as little 

 rustling as possible: this their pointed tails enable them to do 

 most perfectly. 



869. Why do pheasants prefer larch trees to p^rch upon ? 



Because the branches of this tree grow at nearly right angles 

 from the stem ; which renders the sitting position of the birds 

 peculiarly easy. 



870. Why have the eggs of guinea fowls so hard a shell ? 



. . Because these birds deposit 

 their eggs on the ground, 

 and were the shells not 

 harder than those of ordi 

 nary eggs, they would be 

 broken by many accidental 

 causes. The eggs, though 

 laid on the ground, are 

 usually concealed. 



