192 TALKS ABOUT BIRDS 



webbed feet, but this is quite a mistake, and 

 many kinds do roost in trees, especially in 

 hot climates, where sharks in the sea and 

 crocodiles in the fresh water make a waterside 

 bed a very unsafe one. 



There is a great deal of difference among 

 birds as to their powers of looking after 

 themselves at night, even among nearly- 

 related kinds. Fowls, as many of you most 

 likely know, are very stupid and helpless in 

 the dark ; no matter how hard to catch one 

 may be in the daytime, you are pretty sure of 

 it if you go to take it on the roost. Pheasants 

 are not much better ; but peafowl seem to be 

 able to look after themselves very well in the 

 night-time. They go to roost quite late, after 

 all the other day-birds are gone to bed, and on 

 one occasion not long ago a peahen got away 

 from a dealer's in Covent Garden, and was 

 living in freedom there for months, for she used 

 to roost on the roofs, and was always wide- 

 awake enough to fly across the street if there 

 was any attempt made at a night surprise 

 and she was only caught at last quite by 

 accident. Until I knew of this case I could 

 not imagine how a big bird like the peacock 



