THE POLAND, OR POLISH FOWL. 285 



abrupt termination. The Blue Duns have somewhat the same 

 style of crowing, but with a more regular and gradual finale. 

 Cocks of the Silver Hamburg variety are generally even more 

 shrill than the two last mentioned, giving, however, a longer 

 finishing note. The Polish are not, I think, remarkable for 

 melody in crowing; they are harsh-toned, and frequently lack 

 that agreeably sounding turn in the crow, that you hear in the 

 Game and Hamburg, and others. The Spanish, also, though 

 professing to come from a rich land in musical ability, are not 

 highly gifted with vocal powers. Their crowing is loud, in- 

 deed, and not so very shrill, but squally and grating to the 

 ear. Some few individuals are better and richer in tone, but 

 those are the exceptions not the rule. The Malay's voice is 

 hoarse, and not so loud as, from the size of the bird, might be 

 expected ; while that of the noble Cochin China is deep-toned, 

 mellow, and prolonged, like the closing note of an accom- 

 plished singer. Bamtams are more varied in their crowing 

 powers than any of the breeds above mentioned ; but one I 

 possessed some years since, was so particularly musical, that 

 his crow sounded like two or three bars of an air whistled in 

 a mellow key. It has, I believe, been universally remarked, 

 that the Domestic Cock always claps the wings before, and the 

 Pheasant after crowing. The Cock, however, as I have often 

 noticed, will frequently give another clapping after the song 

 is ended. These birds must sleep very lightly and watchfully, 

 as, the instant an individual, roosting separately and at a dis- 

 tance, begins his clamour, the others answer, and the concert 

 spreads from farm to farm, throughout the village. To hear 

 this natural alarum-bell ringing far and wide, between ten and 

 twelve o'clock on a December's night, is singular enough. 

 The cause of these birds thus forestalling their morning 

 note of gratulation, has not yet, I think, been satisfactorily 

 explained. 



"The growth of the spur in the gallinaceous order of birds 



