HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



haps also the querulous voice of the chickens 

 may be pleasant to him in misery, and invite 

 him to succour the distressed. He from that 

 time brings up a brood of chickens like a hen, 

 clutching them, feeding them, clucking, and 

 performing all the functions of the tenderest 

 parent. A capon once accustomed to this ser- 

 vice, will not give over ; but when one brood 

 is grown up he may have another nearly 

 hatched put under him, which he will treat 

 with the same tenderness he did the former. 



The cock, from his salaciousness, is allowed 

 to be a short-lived animal ; but how long these 

 birds live, if left to themselves, is not yet well 

 ascertained by any historian. As they are 

 kept only for profit, and in a few years be- 

 come unfit for generation, there are few that, 

 from mere motives of curiosity, will make 

 this tedious experiment of maintaining a pro- 

 per number till they die. Aldrovandus hints 

 their age to be ten years ; and it is probable 

 that this may be its extent. They are sub- 

 ject to some disorders, which it is not our busi- 

 ness to describe ; and as for poisons, besides 

 nux vomica, which is fatal to most animals 

 except man, they are injured, as Linnaeus 

 asserts, by elder-berries, of which they are 

 not a little fond. 1 



1 The varieties of our domestic cock and hen most 

 esteemed at present in Britain, are the following: 



The common dunghill cock and hen, middle size, of 

 every colour, and variety 



The game cock and hen, rather small in size, delicate 

 in limb, colour generally red or brown; flesh white, arid 

 superior to that of any other variety for richness and de- 

 licacy of flavour ; eggs small, fine shaped, and extremely 

 delicate: the chickens are difficult to rear from their 

 pugnacity of disposition. The game cock has long been 

 a bird both of cruel and curious sport in this as well as 

 other countries ; but the taste for these amusements, like 

 that for others suited to times of comparative leisure 

 and ignorance, is now happily on the decline in Britain. 



The Dorking cock and hen, so called from the town 

 in Surrey of that name, is the largest variety; shape 

 handsome; body long and capacious; legs short, five 

 claws on each foot; eggs large, and lays abundantly; 

 colour of the flesh inclining to yellowish or ivory. Both 

 hens and cocks often made into capons. 



The Poland cock and hen were originally imported 

 from Holland. The colour shining black, with white 

 tops on the head of both cock and hen ; head flat, sur- 

 mounted by a fleshy protuberance, out of which spring 

 the crown feathers, or top, white or black, with the fleshy 

 king David's crown (the celestial in heraldry), consisting 

 of four or five spikes; their form plump and deep; legs 

 short, feet with five claws; lay abundantly; are less in- 

 clined to set than any other breed; they fatten quickly, 

 and are more juicy and rich than the Dorking. On 

 the whole, this is one of the most useful varieties. 

 There is an ornamental subvariety known as the golden 

 Poland, with yellow and black plumage. 



The every-day cock and hen is a subvariety of the 

 above, of Dutch origin; they are of smaller size, and 

 said to be everlasting layers. Their tops are large, and 

 should be periodically clipped near the eyes; otherwise, 

 according to Mowbray, they will grow into the eyes of 

 the fowls and render them very subject to alarm. 



CHAP. III. 



OF THE PEACOCK. 



THE Peacock, by the common people of 

 Italy, is said to have the plumage of an 

 angel, the voice of the devil, and the guts of 

 a thief. In fact, each of these qualities mark 

 pretty well the nature of this extraordinary 

 bird. When it appears with its tail expanded, 

 there is none of the feathered creation can vie 



The bantam cock and hen is a small Indian breed, 

 valued chiefly for its grotesque figure and delicate flesh. 

 Mowbray mentions a subvariety, extremely small, and 

 as smooth-legged as a game fowl. From their size and 

 delicacy they are very convenient, as they may always 

 be used as substitutes for chickens, when small ones are 

 not otherwise to be had. They are also particularly 

 useful for sitting upon the eggs of partridges and phea- 

 sants, being good nurses as well as good layers. There 

 are two varieties of this breed, of which the more com- 

 mon is remarkable for having the legs and feet furnished 

 with feathers. The other, and more scarce, variety is 

 even smaller; and is most elegantly formed, as well as 

 most delicately limbed. There is a society of fanciers 

 of this breed, who rear them for prizes. 



The Chittagong or Malay hen is an Indian breed, and 

 the largest variety of the species. They are in colour 

 striated, yellow, and dark brown ; long necked, serpent- 

 headed, and high upon the leg their flesh dark, coarse, 

 and chiefly adapted to soup. They are good layers ; 

 and being well fed produce large, substantial, and nutri- 

 tive eggs: but these birds are too long-legged to be 

 steady sitters. 



The Shack-bag, or duke of Leeds' breed, was formerly 

 in great repute, but is now nearly lost. It is sometimes 

 to be met with at Wokingham (Oakingham), in Berk- 

 shire, and is so large, and the flesh so white, firm, and 

 fine, as to aflbrd a convenient substitute for the turkey. 



The improved Spanish cock and hen is a cross between 

 the Dorking and Spanish breed, also to be found in and 

 around Wokingham. It is a large bird with black 

 plumage, white and delicate flesh, the largest eggs of 

 any British variety, and well adapted for capons. 



The common variety is easily procurable; but the 

 others must either be procured from those parts of the 

 country where they are usually bred, or from the poul- 

 terers and bird fanciers in large towns, and especially 

 in London. It should be a general rule to breed from 

 young stock ; a two-year-old cock, or stag, and pullets 



