CHAP. X.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 223 



possible to completely tame them : nor can 

 they be put up to fatten ; for if confined, they 

 immediately begin to pine away. It is, there- 

 fore, customary to let them have the range 

 of some fields, over which they will roam 

 during the whole day, picking up insects, 

 and only returning at night to seek their 

 evening meal ; after which they will fly up 

 into any trees surrounding the house, where 

 they roost and keep watch, for if any one 

 approaches after dark, they immediately give 

 warning by a joint scream of alarm. 



Now in this there can be no harm, for 

 a watch around a country-house is no bad 

 protection to the inmates, and we defy any 

 one to steal the birds, for it is no easy matter 

 to catch them even when in the poultry-yard, 

 and if they would only descend from their 

 roost in the same modest quietude in which 

 they ascend to it, all would be well ; but, un- 

 fortunately, no sooner does day-break dawn, 

 than, should there be any fruit or vegetables 

 in the garden, they pounce upon it until their 

 craws are filled, and they besides commit 

 great destruction of the young roots and 

 seeds. 



