THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 93 



plumage. The breed in general, doubtless, owes its popu- 

 larity partially to its appearance and courage, but still more 

 to the flavour of its flesh, its great power of increase, and 

 to its productiveness in the matter of eggs. Other birds 

 lay as many eggs as they desire to have offspring. The hen 

 is less selfish, and will produce a vastly larger number of 

 eggs than she is able to hatch. As the wild bird is not so 

 prodigal, it can only be supposed that this fecundity in the 

 matter of eggs is upon the part of the hen a proof of grati- 

 tude for the food she receives from man, a trait which, in 

 itself, should place her high in man's estimation. 



While the cock is, above all things, a warrior, the hen is 

 the type of the careful housewife and affectionate mother. 

 Nothing can exceed the care and attention she bestows 

 upon her young feeding them, guarding them, and teaching 

 them with constant attention, and with occasional chidings 

 when disposed to wander from her. She is no gadabout, 

 and her whole thoughts are centred upon her duty. But 

 although so affectionate a mother and submissive a wife, the 

 hen is mindful of her position as the spouse of a warrior ; 

 and as the wives of the knights of old would, on occasion, 

 don armour, and in their husbands' absence defend their 

 castles, so the hen is ready, when danger threatens, to face 

 boldly the dog or the hawk in defence of her children. 

 Neither the cock nor his spouse possesses the power of 

 singing, although they can utter a large variety of sounds, 

 from the gentle cluck of contentment, the incessant talk by 

 the mother to her children, and her triumphant announce- 

 ment of the laying of an egg, to the cock's bold challenge 

 to battle the latter being as unique a sound among birds as 

 is the bray of the donkey among beasts. 



