hicuhatio7i~Feedi7ig. 193 



frequency of their hatching. The hen lays 

 but two eggs, and immediately proceeds to 

 incubation. Having laid her first eg^, she 

 rests one day, and, on the next, lays lier 

 second egg. They usually stand over the 

 first Qgg, not sitting close until they have 

 two, whence, both the young are hatched 

 nearly at the same time : there are some ex- 

 ceptions, however, to this rule of nature, and 

 the hen having sat close at first, one youiig 

 bird may be hatched a day or two before 

 the other. They often spoil their first eggs 

 from inexperience. 



The PERIOD of incubation is nineteen or 

 TWENTY days from laying the first egg, and 

 SEVENTEEN or EIGHTEEN from the la>st 

 The labour of sitting is equally divided be- 

 tween the cock and hen, excepting that the 

 lien always sits by night. She is relieved 

 in the morning by the cock, which sits du- 

 ring the greater part of the day. The bu- 

 siness of feeding the young is also divided 

 !)etween the parents ; and the cock has often 

 brought up the young, on the accidental 

 loss of his mate. Should the eggs not be 



K 



