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Birds. 



THE COMMON COCK. (GaUua domesticus.) 



" While the Cock, with lively din, 

 Scatters the rear of darkness thin ; 

 And to the stack, or the barn door, 

 Stoutly struts his dames before." 



MILTON. 



THIS bird is so well known that it would be needless to 

 say much of him. His plumage is various and beautiful, 

 his courage very great and proverbial, and his intuitive 

 knowledge of the period of sunrise has baffled the most 

 scrutinising researches of naturalists. When of a good 

 breed, and well taught to fight, he will die rather than 

 yield to his adversary. The hen la} r s a great number of 

 eggs, and will hatch as many as thirteen at one sitting ; 

 but this is considered the extreme number, being as 

 many as she can well cover. When in the secluded 

 state of incubation she eats very little; and yet is so 



