Domestic Animals 129 



Feathers were now passed around, and the little 

 folks discovered that the short, fluffy ones covered 

 the hen's body, while the longer ones were found ki 

 wings and tail. They noticed the rib in each feather, 

 and the variegated hues, and came to the conclusion 

 that hens were not all of the same color. 



Attention was then called to the number and 

 shape of the feet and the manner of walking. A 

 hen's foot was passed, that they might see the dif- 

 ferent lengths of the toes, the long nails, and the 

 little pad or cushion in the centre of the foot. By 

 this arrangement the hen is enabled to cling to its 

 perch and not fall off, even when asleep. 



Some corn was now sprinkled on the floor, and 

 while Biddy was eating it Miss Clare crept up softly 

 from behind and seized her by the legs. She strug- 

 gled for a minute, but soon kept very still. Then 

 the little folks crept up for a nearer view. They 

 saw that a hen's eyes are round and bright with a 

 pupil in the middle of each. There was a little 

 twitching or winking, if one looked carefully, that 

 could be seen, and Charlie thought Biddy closed 

 them tight at bedtime as he did his. 



The ears were a puzzle, but Ned noticed a tiny 



