FOWLS. 103 



as I am penning my own feelings, I must confess my 

 aversion to the sort. A serviceable cross for the 

 table is bred between the Game and Dorking, of 

 which I saw some magnificent specimens in the 

 straw-yard of Mr. Booth, of Warlaby, about the only 

 cross-bred stock he has about his interesting place. 

 A bantam or two well chosen, black or golden laced, 

 give a finish to the stable-yard — a style and stamp 

 as the rim of plaited straw along the hunters' stalls. 

 Curious, if correctly stated, is the plan mentioned 

 by Richardson, whereby that ingenious nation the 

 French get extra duty out of their hens in the way 

 of eggs. We are informed that at an early period 

 after hatching they hand over the young brood to the 

 care of a fattening capon, whose services they enlist 

 as nurse. The way 'tis done is this : the last-named 

 unfortunate they catch and divest of his nethermost 

 feathers ; the denuded part they whip with a rod of 

 nettles, and then turn him, smarting and affrighted, 

 into a darkened room, into which they introduce 

 also a brood of young chickens, not less than he con- 

 sternated at being torn from their mamma. He 

 looks, however, kindred, and they immediately make 

 for him cowering in the corner, and, from instinct, 

 crowd for refuge under his wings. By the close 

 subsidence of the downy little fellows, the poor bird 

 is so eased of his torture, that out of very gratitude 

 he comes to behave towards them as the parental 

 hen would. By the time his affliction is abated 

 there is a sympathy established between them, and 

 he has learnt to take a lively interest in his protege's, 

 and performs for them with a will all the numberless 



