28o WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



birds of this class, in that it often disconcerts a 

 prowling enemy at the moment when the hidden 

 flock has to reveal its whereabouts by taking 

 wing. 



As soon as it gets dusk the barndoor fowl be- 

 takes itself to its roosting-place ; and this shows 

 that nocturnal habits are not in accordance with 

 the traditions of the family. The eyes of the 

 domestic fowl show no indication that they have 

 ever been adapted for seeing in the dusk. Nearly 

 all birds of this kind depend upon sight in finding 

 or selecting food, and therefore the day's business 

 is over with them as soon as the light begins to 

 fail. Moreover, it is when the sun goes down 

 that most of the enemies which they dread begin 

 to steal abroad, and they are obviously far safer 

 when perched aloft on some secure branch or pole 

 than they would be if they slept upon the ground. 

 The custom of going up to roost immediately the 

 light fails is very strongly marked in turkeys. A 

 story is current that George IV., when Prince 

 Regent, won a wager by backing a flock of geese 

 against a flock of turkeys in a three-mile race. 

 The conditions were that the birds should start 

 in the cool of the evening, and that they should 

 follow a road well shaded by trees. Of course 



