842 Rural School Leaflet, 



Does she need any teeth? Why is it necessary to feed " grit " or small 

 gravel stones to fowls kept in close yards? Does the hen use her beak 

 for anything else than picking up food? 



7. Can a hen run rapidly? Note how the hen uses her wings in run- 

 ning. What sort of a track does she make in mud or snow? Make a 

 sketch of the track of a hen. How many toes show in the track? Num- 

 bering her toes with the hindmost projecting toe as first, how many 

 toes has she? 



8. Where does the hen sleep? How does she keep her hold on the 

 perch while sleeping? 



9. Can you see the hen's nostrils? Are they large? Describe the 

 surface surrounding them. Do you think that the' hen has a keen sense 

 of smell? Why? 



10. Has a hen ears? Where are they and how do they look? Have 

 they lobes and if so, do you think these lobes are ornamental or an 

 aid to hearing? 



11. What is the color of the hen's eyes? What is the shape of the 

 pupil? How does the hen wink? Can you see a little film lid come out 

 of the corner of the eye and cover it when she is drowsy ? Do you think 

 the hen can see far and well? How far off can she see a hawk? Can 

 she see an object with both eyes at once? Why does the hen turn her 

 head first this way and then that when looking at you ? What advantage 

 is it to the hen to have her eyes directed sidewise instead of both focusing 

 in the same direction? 



12. How does the covering of birds differ from the covering of animals? 

 Study a feather and learn the shaft or quill, the web, the fluff, the barbs, 

 the barbules. If you have a microscope or even a good double lens, 

 examine a wing feather and see the little hooks on the barbules which 

 hold the web together. 



13. How are the feathers arranged on the back of a hen? Why? 

 How does the hen look when standing in the rain? 



14. How are the feathers arranged on the breast? Compare a feather 

 from the back with a breast feather and note the difference. 



15. Are both ends of a breast feather alike, and if not what is the 

 difference? Is the fluffy part on the outside or next to the bird's skin? 

 Why? Why is the smooth part of the feather on the outside? 



16. When feathers are all fluff what are they called? At what age 

 is a fowl entirely covered with down? 



17. What is a pin feather? 



18. How do hens keep their feathers oily so that they will shed water? 

 Where does the hen get the oil? Describe how she oils her feathers and 



