THE POULTRY KIND. 125 



tada or Guinea-hen, the pheasant, the bustard, 

 the grouse, the partridge, and the quail. These 

 all bear a strong similitude to each other, being 

 equally granivorous, fleshy, and delicate to the 

 palate. These are among birds what beasts of 

 pasture are among quadrupeds, peaceable tenants 

 of the field, and shunning the thicker part of the 

 forest, that abounds with numerous animals who 

 carry on unceasing hostilities against them. 



As nature has formed the rapacious class for 

 war, so she seems equally to have fitted these for 

 peace, rest, and society. Their wings are but 

 short, so that they are ill formed for wandering 

 from one region to another ; their bills are also 

 short, and incapable of annoying their opposers : 

 their legs are strong indeed, but their toes are 

 made for scratching up their food, and not for 

 holding or tearing it. These are sufficient indi- 

 cations of their harmless nature; while their 

 bodies, which are fat and fleshy, render them 

 unwieldy travellers, and incapable of straying far 

 from each other. 



Accordingly we find them chiefly in society : 

 they live together ; and though they may have 

 their disputes, like all other animals, upon some 

 occasions, yet, when kept in the same district, or 

 fed in the same yard, they learn the arts of sub- 

 ordination, and, in proportion as each knows his 

 strength, he seldom tries a second time the com- 

 bat where he has once been worsted. 



In this manner, all of this kind seem to lead an 

 indolent voluptuous life : as they are furnished 

 internally with a very strong stomach, commonly 



