834 Rural School Leaflet 



every chick to run to cover and remain motionless. When a chick is lost 

 its peep is loud and pitiful; when it cuddles under its mother's wing its 

 note is full of contentment. The hen's spring song is one of the most 

 joyous sounds of nature. Her triumphant cackle over the newly laid egg 

 is quite different from her cackle that results from surprise; when she is 

 very much afraid she squalls; and when grasped by the enemy she utters 

 loud squawks. The rooster crows to assure his flock that all is well and 

 to challenge other roosters. When hens take their dust baths together 

 they seem to gossip with each other. These dust baths are very essential 

 to the good health of fowls kept in close yards. They help to relieve the 



fowls of vermin and to cleanse 

 "^„ their skin, for hens are not 

 water bathers, as are the 

 song birds. 



When roosters fight they 

 confront each other with 

 lowered heads, and use 

 their beaks, wings, and 

 leg-spurs as weapons. 



THE HEN 



Observations by pupils. — 



_^,<.--' I. Can a hen fly like a 



robm or swallow.? Ifnot, why.f^ 



A drinking place Where does the hen find her 



food ? Where does the swallow 

 find its food? Docs the hen need to fly like the swallow? 



2. What tools has the hen for getting her food? 



3. Why are her toes so long and strong? Why have they homy claws 

 at their tips? What covering protects the feet and legs? How are the 

 feet and legs fitted for scratching the soil? 



4. After the hen has found the insect or seed by scratching in the earth, 

 with what does she seize it? How is the beak fitted by size, shape, and 

 covering, to secure the food? 



5. Has the hen any teeth? How is the food ground fine for digestion? 

 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? 



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

 ning. What sort of 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- 



