INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 17 



discovered. When disturbed she quits the nest in 

 the most silent and quiet manner possible ; no sound 

 or rustle betrays her movements, nor does she utter 

 a cry of alarm or surprise. When she does give 

 an alarm it is to warn the young brood of danger ; 

 and the hint is speedily acted upon. They are 

 all dispersed and concealed among the long grass 

 and leaves in a twinkling. If a bird of prey be 

 in sight, it is curious to observe the agitation and 

 excitement manifested by the inmates of the 

 poultry yard. A turkey has been seen to crouch, 

 with her whole brood under her, pinned down to 

 the ground as it were, for an hour together, while 

 their formidable foe has remained hovering over- 

 head. At last, upon his disappearance, the trem- 

 bling parent, who had continued piteously crying, 

 suddenly changed her note, and sent forth an- 

 other cry, which immediately restored life to her 

 frightened offspring, and they all emerged from 

 their shelter and flocked around her with expres- 

 sions of delight. 



It is well known that in paroxysms of fear the 

 human hair has, occasionally, turned white 

 almost instantaneously. By whatever process 

 this extraordinary cftange is effected, we are as- 

 sured by naturalists that it is in full force as 

 regards the feathers of birds ; for although not 

 instantaneous in its operation, it has taken place, 



c 



