THE MORNING'S TASKS. 
67 
minutes in the day, are all that the birds consecrate to sleep. It is 
true that our domestic poultry return to roost before sunset, but they 
do not sleep immediately ; and the shrill clarion of Chanticleer, ringing 
aloud before the night-shadows have been gathered up, makes known 
to us the fact that three hours' slumber sufHce to recruit their energies. 
It is the same with the other birds. Joanna Baillie, in one of her 
graceful lyrics, sings — 
" Up, quit thy bower! late wears the hour, 
Long have the rooks cawed round the tower ; " 
and before the sun is above the horizon, the birds have begun their 
daily labours. The birds of prey, however, and more particularly the 
vulture, are not such " early risers." 
After his morning song is over, the bird sallies forth in quest of 
food. Most species feed twice a day ; that is, in the morning and the 
evening; though there are exceptions to this rule among those birds 
which depend upon felicitous opportunities for a meal. The raptorial 
birds are satisfied with a single repast ; and as those which feed upon 
carrion, and do not capture their own prey, cannot find the wherewithal 
to satisfy their appetite at will, they are frequently compelled to 
endure long periods of hunger. The South American Indians assert 
that the condor can fast for forty days ; but this is undoubtedly an 
exaggeration. 
The bird usually consumes every day the food he has ftiUen in 
with; but a few species lay up a stock of provisions. 
The meal at an end, the bird proceeds to quench his thirst, and 
