208 Ornithology. 



escape an enemy with incredible speed. The otter and water rat 

 swim much faster under water, than they do upon the surface. 



Sleep of Birds. Like horses and some other quadrupeds, 

 a great number of birds sleep standing; the percher^, for exam- 

 ple, usually sleep standing on one leg upon some tree, brush or 

 other elevation, with the head turned behind, and the bill thrust 

 under the feathers on the back, or under the wing. Indeed these 

 appear to be the general habits of the whole race of birds, in re- 

 gard to their mode of resting and sleep; for the duck and goose, 

 although ihey do not perch, will frequently sleep standing on one 

 leg upon the ground, with their heads turned round, and their 

 bills under their wing. Poultry, although they invariably perch, 

 if a perch can be obtained, do not, when sleeping, rest usually on 

 one leg; but they sink down with their bodies upon the perch, 

 having their legs compressed under them. The sky lark sleeps 

 upon the ground with his legs also similarly compressed. It is 

 probable also that all the tribes of birds, even the perchers, occa- 

 sionally sink down with their bodies resting on the perch during 

 their soundest sleep. What is very remarkable in the structure 

 of their feet and legs, is, that the greater the weight upon the mus- 

 cles, the more firmly the claws grasp whatever they lay hold of; 

 hence the cause that birds do not fall down in sleep, although 

 most of their senses are dormant. 



The motion of the branches of trees, produced by the wind, 

 increases, doubtless, the disposition for sleep in many birds; this 

 may be exemplified by the common fowl: for placing its bill un- 

 der the wing, even in broad day light, and swaying it to and fro 

 in the hand for a very short time, will produce sleep. Most of 

 the tribes of birds sleep during the night; but there are many ex- 

 ceptions to this. Owls in particular, are, during the night, much 

 more active than in the day; their sight, similar to that of cats, 

 appears to serve them best in the dark. Many of the duck tribe 

 are not only wakeful, but feed during the night. The nightingale 

 and whip-poor-will are also wakeful while in song, during a con- 

 siderable portion of the night. 



