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as cranes, wild-geese, wild-ducks, and the like ; their perpet- 

 ual clamor prevents them from dispersing and losing their 

 companions. 



In so extensive a subject, sketches and outlines are as much 

 as can be expected ; for it would be endless to instance in all 

 the infinite variety of the feathered nation. We shall there- 

 fore confine the remainder of this letter to the few domestic 

 fowls of our yards, which are most known and therefore best 

 understood. And first the peacock, with his gorgeous train, 

 demands our attention ; but, like most of the gaudy birds, his 

 notes are grating and shocking to the ear : the yelling of cats, 

 and the braying of an ass, are not more disgustful. The voice 

 of the goose is trumpet-like and clanking, and once saved the 

 Capitol at Rome, as grave historians assert ; the hiss, also, of 

 the gander is formidable and full of menace, and " protective 

 of his young." Among ducks the sexual distinction of voice 

 is remarkable ; for, while the quack of the female is loud and 

 sonorous, the voice of the drake is inward and harsh, and 

 feeble, and scarce discernible. The cock turkey struts and gob- 

 bles to his mistress in a most uncouth manner ; he hath also 

 a pert and petulant note when he attacks his adversary. 

 When a hen turkey leads forth her young brood she keeps a 

 watchful eye ; and if a bird of prey appear, though ever so 

 high in the air, the careful mother announces the enemy with 

 a little inward moan, and watches him with a steady and 

 attentive look ; but, if he approach, her note becomes earnest 

 and alarming, and her outcries are redoubled. 



No inhabitants of a yard seem possessed of such a variety 

 of expression and so copious a language as common poultry. 

 Take a chicken of four or five days old, and hold it up to a 

 window where there are flies, and it will immediately seize its 

 prey, with little twitterings of complacency ; but if you tender 

 it a wasp or a bee, at once its note becomes harsh, and expres- 

 sive of disapprobation and a sense of danger. When a pullet 

 is ready to lay she intimates the event by a joyous and easy 

 soft note. Of all the occurrences of their life that of laying 

 seems to be the most important ; for no sooner has a hen dis- 

 burdened herself, than she rushes forth with a clamorous kind 

 of joy, which the cock and the rest of his mistresses immedi- 



