FOWLS. 109 



getting rapidly thinned, and perishing oftentimes 

 altogether from the combined assault of cramp, pike, 

 rats, and an occasional, but invariably most voracious, 

 crow, whose young, clamouring on their platform of 

 cross-twigs in some neighbouring elm (they are very 

 faithful to the same spot year after year if not got 

 rid of), it is your first duty to destroy, if you have 

 any respect for your poultry's welfare. An egg pre- 

 pared by the chemist with a taste of strychnine, set 

 out upon a wall in a field (where it must be watched) 

 will infallibly attract and instantaneously tumble 

 over the old birds. Mind you do this before you 

 destroy the nest, or they will but remove a short 

 way, and give you the same trouble again. 



Let me conclude with a few practical hints, which 

 I have bought by sad experience. 



In the first place, beware of strewing the spar 

 from lead mines as gravel upon your walks, for fowls 

 will occasionally find their way where they should 

 not, and will pick it up for gizzard service. It lace- 

 rates the intestine, they pine gradually away, and die. 



Old fowls, as pigeons, may be used up, and found 

 at least as palatable as the brood-hen of Wolf's 

 Crag, if you administer a strong dose of vinegar to 

 them a little before they are delivered to the heads- 

 man. 



And, young housekeeper, know that if you would 

 delight your grandmamma's heart with a devilled 

 chicken leg of superlative excellence, let it be cut off 

 the raw fowl to be dressed, and not be the remnant 

 of yesterday's dinner. It is the second cooking that 

 makes them obstinate food. 



