THE FOWLS OF THE FARM 117 
grouse, are sounds unmatched in nature and inimitable; 
so also are the antics that accompany their utterance. 
The day of abundance of wild 
fowl in this country is forever 
past. The most that may be 
hoped for by the bird-lover is 
that a few may be saved here 
and there, wherever fit homes 
for them remain. The pigeon is 
gone; the turkey is a captive; 
but let us hope that a few wild 
places will be preserved where 
those who come after us may 
hear the call of the bob-white 
and the grouse in our vales: 
let us hope they may be uplifted 
with the sight of some of our 
fine wild waterfowl, traversing the equinoctial skies. 
Our ancestors brought with them to America fowls that 
had been domesticated in earlier times and in far distant 
lands: chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, guineafowl, pea- 
fowl, etc. These, doubtless, came into domestication largely 
by way of the barnyard. Are they not called barnyard 
fowl, and so distinguished from wild fowl? They may have 
lingered about the stalls of the cattle and horses in primeval 
times to find the grain wasted by these animals, and to feed 
uponit. It is a noteworthy fact that of all birds, the onesmost 
useful to us are those that are best equipped by nature for 
working-over the barnyard litter and securing the grain left 
init; the gallinaceous birds by scratching with their feet; the 
waterfowl by dabbling with their beaks. They consumed 
what would otherwise have been wasted, andturneditintoa 
reserve meat supply; so they were encouraged to remain. 
With growing familiarity they made their nests in the hay- 
