306 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



hatching of poultry. Several turkey-hens were 

 kept sitting at one time; and, as fast as some eggs 

 were hatched, others were placed under the bird. 

 Some of these had the patience to remain incu- 

 bating for above four or six months at a time, or 

 even longer! Frequently, also, they would sit 

 without any eggs being in the nest. The perils 

 to which the young chicks are exposed during this 

 period are very great, arising from the great 

 weight of the turkey, so that in getting on or off 

 her nest she is apt to crush the eggs, or otherwise 

 injure them. It appears, however, that others 

 besides Reaumur have availed themselves of the 

 turkey-hen's disposition to sit ; for it is said, that 

 the persons who breed early poultry for the 

 London market, and who have, it is said, a secret 

 for preserving the vital property in eggs laid in 

 the spring and summer, till late in the autumn, 

 put them under turkeys which are kept sitting for 

 this purpose. These persons chiefly reside near 

 Chertsey, in Surrey, and the neighbouring coun- 

 try : and the secret for preserving the eggs in a 

 proper state for hatching is strictly preserved 

 amono 1 them. Mr. Jesse savs he has visited one 



O J 



of these cottages, and found the room surrounded 



