MEMOIR OF PLINY. 61 



and vnderstanding of glorie ; they loue to be praised, 

 and are proud in their kind. Moreouer, they are 

 astronomers, and know the course of the stars ; they 

 diuide the day by their crowing, from three houres 

 to three houres ; when the sun goeth to rest, they 

 go to roust, and like sentinels they keepe the reliefe 

 of the fourth watch in the camp ; they will not suf- 

 fer the sun to rise and steale upon us, but they giue 

 us warning of it ; and they foretell their crowing 

 likewise by clapping their sides with their wings. 

 They are commanders and rulers of their own kind, 

 be they hens or other cocks ; and in what house so- 

 euer they be, they will be masters and kings ouer 

 them. This soueraignty is gotten by plain fight one 

 with another, as if they knew that naturally they 

 had spurs, as weapons, given them about their heeles 

 to try the quarrell ; and many times the combat is so 

 sharp and hot, that they kill one another ere they 

 giue ouer. But if one of them happen to be con- 

 queror, presently vpon his victorie he croweth and 

 himselfe soundeth the triumph. He that is beaten 

 makes no words, nor croweth at all, but hideth his 

 head in silence ; and yet neuerthelesse it goeth 

 against his stomacke to yeeld the gantlet and give 

 the bucklers. And not only these cocks of game, 

 but the very common sort of the dunghill, are as 

 proud and highminded ; ye shal see them to mount 

 stately, carying their neck bolt vpright, with a 

 combe on their head like the crest of a soldier's heV- 

 met. And there is not a bird besides himself that 



