306 NATURE STUDY REVIEW [8 :8— Nov., 1912 



whole corn kernels, we were allowed to roost at night in a grown- 

 up hen house. Here were poles thrust from wall to wall (which 

 were white washed) at a little distance from the ground upon 

 which we would alight at night after more than one futile attempt. 

 You see, our weight prevents us from being good flyers. Some 

 of us went to bed earlier than others, but we all straggled in 

 about sunset, because we do not see well at night, and after 

 much flapping and subdued croaking would tuck our heads under 

 our wings and go to sleep. 



"How well do I recall one such night ! There was a sudden 

 light ; which I found later to be from a lantern ; some one said, 

 'There is a fine one,' and I was grasped by the legs, carried so 

 to the outside and put into a crate, similar to this one, and to 

 which some of my companions followed. The next morning I 

 arrived at my new home. 



"Here I discovered new conditions. There was a much smaller 

 house, though it was very clean, which contained only one room 

 for all. Along the sides boxes were nailed and filled with hay 

 and straw, besides several barrels filled to the top in the same 

 manner. For each nest there was a cold hard white egg. It 

 was the queerest tgg I ever saw, but I came to know later that 

 it was a China egg, placed there to deceive the poor hen and to 

 induce her to lay a real egg. There was a small yard surrounded 

 by a tall wire fence. Here we were fed with corn and here we 

 spent the day until an hour before sunset. Then there was a 

 grand rush through the open gate. 



"Once without, we all scattered. One group went into the 

 newly plowed and sown grain fields nearby and was soon busily 

 engaged in scratching up the grain. Along would come the 

 farmer's wife who would wave her apron and call, 'Shoo, shoo,' 

 in a high pitched voice. But as soon as her back was turned, 

 we would repeat the performance. How persistent we were ! 

 Another group sped for the garden where they found juicy to- 

 matoes, seedy cucumbers, crisp lettuce and beet tops, excluding 

 the number of unfortunate insects. But the orchards aflForded 

 more insects, besides fallen fruit, while seeds of weeds abounded. 

 There were nice sharp pebbles and bits of shiny shells there, also, 

 which helped out immensely, aiding in the digestion of our 

 food. During this short period, we all worked very hard, except 

 the cocks, who only made believe. 



"These roosters were our pride and joy, though we could 

 never believe in them. They it was who mounted the post at 

 sunrise and crowed cock-a-doo-dle-do and who presaged the 



