THE COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO 165 



Cruel man must cause the poor foolish bird many an 

 anxious moment when he sets her to rear up ducklings. 

 It is truly pitiful to watch her distress when the unruly 

 brood betakes itself to the dreaded water. 



There is a story told of a goose that saw a hen in 

 this predicament, and swam up to her to cackle a few 

 words of comfort. The hen seized the opportunity to 

 jump upon the goose's back. The latter, although a 

 little scandalized at the hen's familiarity, was too kind- 

 hearted to shake her off, so swam with her alongside her 

 duckling children. The hen enjoyed her trip so much 

 that she repeated it the next day. 



Then the goose, who hailed from Scotland, determined 

 to float a company to take distressed hens for trips on 

 the water at 2d. a — but stay ! Methinks I hear the gentle 

 reader complain of a pulling sensation in the leg. This 

 will never do. Let us hie back to the young chicks. 



It is characteristic of the Gallinae that their young are 

 hatched in a highly developed state, and not blind, 

 naked, and helpless, as is the case with most young 

 birds. The downy chick is so precocious a baby that it 

 needs no nest to protect it, consequently the hen does 

 not build one, but lays her eggs on the hard ground. 

 While yet inside the shell the chick calls out to let its 

 mother know that it is prepared to face the troubles and 

 dangers of this life ; then the excited parent breaks the 

 little bird's frail prison by pecking at it. An opening is 

 soon formed and the young chick emerges, ready for a 

 good solid meal as soon as its mother has taught it how 

 to eat, a lesson that is quickly learned. 



Although born in so highly developed a condition, the 



