The Natural History of Selborne 401 



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 neighbour's poultry 

 watch for waggons 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 gallinas 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 security, let the weather be ever so cold or blow- 

 ing. 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. 



2 c 



