CHAP. IV.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 93 



to her to make use of it. In order to leave 

 her without interruption, she should also be 

 shut up in the hen-house immediately after 

 her being fed in the morning, and then 

 usually lays her egg in the nest prepared for 

 her. In all probability she suffers little or 

 iiothing in the act of laying, for she never 

 utters a complaint; but when it is over she 

 utters screams of joy until let out. Her 

 exultation at the event, indeed, exceeds all 

 bounds ; she rushes forth with a clamorous 

 tone of triumph, and is joined by her com- 

 panions in the yard, all crowing and cackling 

 in a chorus of delight. The egg should then 

 be taken out, and if intended for hatching, 

 should be put aside in a cool place, unex- 

 posed to the sun, with the date marked upon 

 it ; as eggs more than a month old should 

 never be used for that purpose. 



Within about a month's time, after the 

 co^nmencement of laying, " good sitters," as 

 we have already stated, will generally feel 

 an instinctive inclination to commence the 

 tedious process of hatching ; which lasts, within 

 a feW' - hours more or less, full one-and- 

 twenty days. Her comb and wattles, which 



