322 H. D. GOODALE 



beneath him. The entire flock was accepted and cared for. This 

 bird from the start clucked more like a hen than the first capon 

 used. The chicks and capon were kept in a loft for a few days, 

 and then placed in a large "A" coop out-of-doors, the chicks 

 being allowed to run out between the slats. This capon took 

 most excellent care of the chicks. He was never observed mak- 

 ing any attempt to tread them. 



The fourth capon was a Brown Leghorn of similar history 

 to the others. He was given incubator-hatched chicks in early 

 September. They were poor chicks and died after a few days. 

 This capon was fairly quiet and as far as could be seen gave the 

 chicks good care while they lived, which was less than a week. 

 Before the bird's band number was taken, a heavy wind blew 

 open the door of the coop, permitting his escape. He returned 

 of his own accord to the pen which contained the flock of capons, 

 so that it is uncertain whether this or another Leghorn was 

 used in the fifth trial. 



Much the same procedure was employed in the fifth trial 

 as with number four. The capon, a Brown Leghorn, was placed 

 in a coop in a loft and given five chicks, three of which soon 

 died. A few days later he was removed out-of-doors into a 

 large "A" coop. This bird, while somewhat wild at first, soon 

 quieted down and paid little attention to people who came 

 near the coop. He wandered up and down the coop very much 

 like a hen, with an eye on the chicks which ran at large. His 

 cluck, made at intervals, sounded much like that of a hen. The 

 chicks spent most of the time racing about outside the coop. 

 As far as observed he did not attempt to tread the chicks. If 

 released from his coop he led the chicks about like a hen, scratched 

 for them and called them to him. If one picked up a chick, the 

 bird spread himself like a hen and advanced to the attack. 



The general behavior of capons is anomalous. In many 

 respects quieter than normal males, they do not as a rule give 

 evidence of sexuality. Usually, they impress one as being 

 essentially neutral in sexual behavior, very much like any im- 

 mature bird. Darwin states that they are said to incubate eggs 

 as well as care for the chicks. We have not yet tested this 

 report. Their behavior with chicks, in the main, is very much 

 like that of the hen, such differences, with the exception of the 

 actions of the first capon in treading the chicks, being of a 



