304 F/VllMING FOR LADIES. [chap. x\. 



It is therefore cruel to separate them ; and 

 when this happens, either through accident 

 or design, should the cock be deprived of his 

 mate, he forsakes the cote in despair for her 

 loss ; but truth compels us to acknowledge that 

 the widowed hen soon seeks a paramour to 

 console her, and adopts him as the future 

 companion of her nest. 



Both cock and hen are so much alike, that 

 it is difficult to distinguish the sex : the cock 

 is however somewhat larger, has a bolder 

 strut, and altogether a more masculine air 

 and appearance ; and his " coo" is both longer 

 and louder than that of the hen. They feel 

 an inclination to mate when from six to nine 

 months old, according to the season, and the 

 means which they have had for support. 



When old enomjh to breed, it has been 

 thought better to match the pair than to 

 allow them to choose their own mate, as 

 you will thus be enabled to cross them 

 according to your fancy ; and if shut up 

 together in any quiet place for a couple 

 of days, the object will generally be ac- 

 complished. Sometimes, however, this occa- 

 sions a quarrel, which ends in irreconcileable 



