VARIOUS PARTS OF NATURE 323 



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 neigh- 

 bour'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 gallince 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 turkies 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 blowing. 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 apprehensions 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 sculk 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. 



HEN PARTRIDGE. 



A hen-partridge came out of a ditch, and ran along shivering 

 with her wings, and crying out as if wounded, and unable to get 

 from us. While the dam acted this distress, the boy who attended 

 me saw her brood, that was small and unable to fly, run for shelter 

 into an old fox-earth under the bank. So wonderful a power is 

 instinct ! 



