CHAP. III.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 73 



of audaciousness, that this borrowed mien so 

 imposes upon the cocks and hens as not to 

 disturb him in the discharge of his duty. 

 He is taught by placing him in a deep covered 

 basket, from which he is removed twice a day 

 to a wicker cage, in which he is fed along 

 with some chickens, to accustom him to their 

 company, until he gradually leads out several 

 broods, and this allows the parent hens to 

 again continue laying. 



This may doubtless be found very useful 

 in brinr/iin/ up turkeys, as the quietude of 

 the capon would guard the chicks from those 

 accidents and loss to which they are exposed, 

 from being dragged through the grass, in 

 the careless manner so commonly done by 

 the real parent ; but, as to common fowls, 

 we are persuaded that the hen herself is the 

 best nurse, and far preferable to any foster- 

 mother. In France we indeed learn, that ca- 

 pons have been taught to sit upon eggs and 

 hatch them ! But although stated as not 

 being even there a very common practice, yet 

 this has been repeated by English writers in 

 such a way as apparently to leave no doubt 

 of its being here customary. We must con- 



