DO-MESIK l-OWLS. 421 



may, therefore, be regarded us one of those particular and providinfiul gifts which, at an 

 earlj- period of the world, was bestowed on the human itimily, and has since, like the 

 faithful and accommodating dog, attended it in its wonderful and far-spread mifrrations. 



It has been supposed, indeed, that our different races of domestic poultry were 

 originally derived from Persia, from the circumstance of Aristophanes calling the cock 

 "the Persian bird." But that this is erroneous is evident from the fact, that all modern 

 researches have failed to discover any birds of the genus Gallm in that countiy. If, 

 however, it is merely meant that the Greeks, during their intercourse with the Persian 

 nation, may have obtained from that people a breed previously domesticated, then there 

 is reason for such an idea, poultry being known to have existed in Persia, in a domestic 

 state, fi'om a very remote antiquity. 



No doubt can be entertained that these birds were well known oyer many parts of Europe 

 and Asia for several hundred years before the Christian era. When Themistocles took 

 the field to combat the Persians, he saw, it is said, two cocks figliting against each other ; 

 and hence he alluded, while haranguing his troops, to the invincible courage of these 

 birds. " Observe," he said of the cock, " with what intrepid valour he fights, inspired 

 by no other motive than the love of victory ; whereas you have to contend for your 

 religion and your liberty, for your wives and children, and for the tombs of j'our 

 ancestors." Nor was this appeal uttered in vain : the Athenians achieved on this 

 occasion one of the most memorable victories emblazoned on their annals. Themistocles 

 died about the 449th year preceding the Christian era, and must consequently have 

 been the contemporary of Nehemiat. 



A mode of divination was practised by the ancient Greeks with these birds. The letters 

 of the alphabet were written in a circle ; a grain of wheat or barley was laid upon each 

 letter ; and a cock, consecrated or provj^d for the occasion, was placed within the circle. 

 The required information was obtained by putting togetlicr those letters off" which the 

 cock picked the grains of corn. To obtain a fuller account, they laid grains of corn upon 

 the letters a second time, and repeated the process. 



Pliny thus speaks of the domestic cock : "After the peacock, the birds which are most 

 sensible to glory are those active sentinels which nature has produced to rouse us from 

 our matin slumbers, and send us to our dailj- occupations. They are acquainted with the 

 stars, and every three hours they indicate by their crowing the different periods of the 

 daj'. They retire to repose with the s^ttlng-sun, and frjni the fourth military watch 

 they recall us loudly to our cares and labours. They do not suffer the day-beam to 

 surprise us without timely warning. Their crowing announces the hour of morning 

 and the crowing itself is announced by the clapping of their wings. Each farm-yard has 

 its peculiar king ; and amongst these monarchs, as amongst the princes of our own race, 

 empire is the meed of victor}-. 



" They appear to comprehend the design of those weapons with which the feet are 

 armed. It is not uncommon for two rivals to perish in the combat. If one be conqueror, 

 he immediately sings forth his triumph, and proclaims his own superiority ; the other 

 retreats and disappears, ashamed of his defeat. The gait of the cock is proud and com- 

 manding ; he walks with head erect and elevated crest. Alone of all birds, he habitually 

 looks up to the sky, raising at the same time his curved and scythe-formed tail, and 

 inspiring terror in the lion himself, that most intrepid of animals. 



" Some of these birds seem actually born for nothing but warfare and battles ; some 

 have rendered the countries which produced them famous, such as Rhodes and Tanagra. 

 The second rank is as.signed to those from Melo-; and Clialcis — birds truly worthy of the 

 homage they receive from the Roman people. Their repasts are solemn presages; they 

 regulate daily the conduct of our magistrates, and open or close to them their own hcuses. 

 They prescribe repose or movement to the Roman fasces ; they command or prohibit 



