

BIRDS GALLINACEOUS DIAGRAM 4. 79 



have been brought here from thence. It is also in the East 

 Indies only that the domestic fowl is found wild. The turkey, 

 on the contrary, is found in America, and was brought to 

 Europe after the discovery of that country. 



The Guinea-fowl was brought from Africa, as its name implies. 



The domestic fowl is of very great value for the food of man, 

 both for its flesh and eggs, in which a large trade is carried on. 

 There are a great many breeds of domestic fowls which have 

 somewhat different qualities ; some are prized for the delicacy of 

 their flesh ; others are particularly good sitters ; some lay better 

 than the others. But no breed combines all these qualities. 



The chickens hatch after the eggs have been sat upon for 

 three weeks. Thirteen eggs are generally allotted to one -hen to 

 hatch. The eggs can be changed, added to, or even replaced by 

 those of another species, the duck, for instance ; the hen rears 

 them very well, and is only uneasy when they go into the water 

 where she cannot follow them. The hen shows extraordinary 

 courage in defending her chickens, even against animals much 

 stronger than herself. 



Pigeons. The pigeons and doves form a family, all the members 

 of which have a great common resemblance. They have a somewhat 

 slender beak, always a strong flight, and feel much mutual attach- 

 ment. Some species of wild pigeons build their 

 nests on the ground, others on trees or in the 

 rocks j but they are always somewhat ill-con- 

 structed. There are only two eggs, on which 

 the male and female sit in turn. The young are 

 born almost without feathers, and with the eyes 

 still closed, as in cats ; the parents are greatly 

 attached to them, and feed them by disgorging 

 some of the food which remains in their crop. igcon. 



Pigeons are reared for food and for the sake of the 

 dung which is collected in dovecotes, and which forms an 

 excellent manure when mixed with other substances, such as 

 earth. 



