84 THE REARING AND 



would be difficult to combine all these conditions, seeing that 

 chickens are hatched in three weeks, and that there are four 

 weeks from one full moon to another. 



The same Ornithologus testifies to having read in a certain 

 German manuscript, that if eggs are stained with any colour, 

 chickens of the same hue will be produced. Others direct 

 that the aviaries in which they are bred should be covered, in 

 every part, with white hangings; with what view is not appa- 

 rent. But whoever wishes to have most beautiful chickens, 

 "visu jucundissimos," must pair his Hen with a Cock Wood 

 Pigeon, or Partridge, or Pheasant. Directions, too, are given 

 from Aristotle, for obtaining chickens with four wings and 

 four feet. 



It is not our intention to enter minutely into the physicking 

 and doctoring of Fowls. One or two authentic cases will be 

 more instructive than a score of prescriptions. The epidemic 

 diseases to which they are subject are more easily warded off 

 by prophylactic than remedial measures. In bad cases, either 

 of roup or gapes, it is, nine times out of ten, more humane, as 

 well as cheaper, to knock the poor little sufferer on the head 

 at once, than to let it linger on to almost certain death. It 

 is natural to try to do all we can, either for an old favourite, 

 or for a valuable specimen; but even when we succeed in 

 restoring the patient, it is usually only a temporary recovery; 

 and it cannot be wise to keep such valetudinarians to become 

 the parents of future broods. 



"When I came home the other day from the country, I 

 found one of my favourite Hens, which had lost nearly all its 

 feathers, (being in full moult,) in a sad way. It appeared as 

 if it had got a wry neck, and was tipsy, as it kept falling down, 

 and neither the Cock nor any of the other Hens would go near 

 it. I examined it, and found there was nothing in its crop, 

 and it was very thin. I immediately gave it one grain of 

 calomel in a small bread-pill, and three or four hours after- 



