340 CAPONIZING FOWLS. 



bean. After this stone is formed in the Capon, he never 

 drinks." The Ortus Sanitatis further informs us that ladies, 

 who wear the jewel Allectorius, are sure to be pleasing in the 

 eyes of their husbands. 



Aldrovandi tells us that in Capons, which were more the 

 fashion in his day thai} they are now, the hackle, the tail- 

 feathers, and the spurs grew to a much greater length than 

 in Cocks. 



In England, the art of making Capons, it seems, is no new 

 thing, as the business of which formerly devolved upon females; 

 for old Leonard Mascall, in his minute directions for the ope- 

 ration, uses the feminine gender throughout. 



MODE OP MAKING CAPONS AND POULARDES. 



IF young Cocks are emasculated, so as to deprive them of 

 their natural reproductive feelings, it has a wonderful effect on 

 their condition, rendering them also more easy to fatten. 

 They are never afterwards subject to the natural process of 

 moulting,* and lose their previous strong shrill voice. They 

 become dull and melancholy, are detested by the Hens, buffeted 

 about by the other Cocks, and would soon fall victims to their 

 enmity, were they not removed to perform the remaining busi- 

 ness of their lives, " to eat, drink, sleep, and get fat," with all 

 possible expedition. In this state, they are called f( Capons." 



In a similar manner, young Pullets may be caponized, so 

 as to deprive them of their reproductive powers, and render 

 them more easy tcT fatten. When thus operated upon, they 

 are usually, though improperly, termed "Hen Capons/' but 

 the French word, "poularde" is much to be preferred. 



In performing the operation, the first thing to be considered 

 is the purchase or procurement of the requisite instruments. 



* I am constrained to question this. Ed. 



