SEX. 39 



have deceived the unskilful, and sometimes 

 even the knowing ones have been taken in, 

 and have remained sceptical till the reputed 

 gentleman began to lay eggs. This is the 

 most conclusive test of all. A hen may try 

 to sing, but no cock, as far as we know, has 

 ever attempted to lay eggs. 



But the sure way to distinguish the female's 

 jabbering from the legitimate song of the 

 male is, that though a male may sing ever 

 so indifferently, every time he strikes a note, 

 the passage of his throat will heave with a 

 pulsive motion, and continue so all the time 

 he is singing ; but let the female sing ever so 

 well, this motion is never observed in her 

 throat as in the male's. 



Another way to distinguish the male from 

 the female is, the color above the bill, under 

 the throat, and the pinion of the wings is of 

 brighter hue in the male ; for let the birds be 

 of what shade of color they may, the male 

 will always have a brighter yellow on the 

 above mentioned places, which are always 

 pale and languid in the female. 



But what is a good criterion as any other, 

 is the largeness, vigor, and majestic carriage 

 of the male, which he always shows, if in 

 good health, by stretching himself out to his 

 utmost extent. The female is generally 

 smaller and shorter, especially from the legs 

 to the vent, and of a more sudden roundness, 

 required by nature for containing and laying 

 her eggs ; the male in that part is slim and 

 long, ending in a small point under the tail. 



