CHAP. II,] FARMING FOR LADIES. 49 



With respect to the age of fowls, a cock may 

 generally be considered fit for his marital du- 

 ties, or, it may be said, arrived at his majority, 

 when about six or eight months old, though 

 prudent breeders do not deem him in proper 

 order until he has moulted ; and, indeed, 

 an experienced writer on game-cocks advises 

 never to breed from " stags or pullets," and 

 insists that " no fowls can ever be possessed 

 of every necessary requisite to breed from, 

 until they have moulted twice.'''' Nature, how- 

 ever, dictates the contrary : though much 

 depends upon the climate and state of the 

 weather while he was rearing, and especially 

 upon the manner in which he was fed ; but if 

 he has already moulted, he may be introduced 

 to his mates early in the ensuing spring, or 

 about the customary pairing-time of other 

 birds. Valentine's Day is truly the com- 

 mencement of the season of love : the sun 

 then begins to shine forth in splendour, and 

 the plumage of the birds acquires a more 

 vivid hue, as if nature taught them to put 

 on their gayest attire to attract and woo 

 their future companions.* The cock is then 



* VVlieii applying this, however, to f'alent'me s Day, il 



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