( ^-9 ) 

 T H E C O C K. 



TH E cock feems the oldeft companion of mankind, and firft re- 

 claimed from the foreft ; in confequencc, perhaps, he exhibits 

 the grcateft varieties; there being fcarce two birds of this fpccies com- 

 pletely alike. The tail, which ornaments the generality of thefe birds, 

 is wanting in fome ; and not only the tail but the rump. The toes, 

 which are ufually four in the poultry kind, yet in a fpecies of the cock 

 are five. The feathers, which lie fo orderly and flcek in moft, in a 

 peculiar breed are inverted, and ftand the wrong way : a fpecies fron> 

 Japan, inftcad of feathers feems covered with hair. Some have feathers 

 to the feer, fome even to the claws. The cock was one of the foods 

 forbidden among the ancient Britons. 



The cock is found wild in the ifland of Tinian, in others of the In- 

 dian Ocean, and in the woods on the coaft of Malabar. Kere his plu- 

 mage is black and yellow ; his comb and wattles yellow and purple. 

 The bones of thofe of the Indian woods, of the Philippine Iflands, and 

 cf St. Jago, when boiled, are black. Probably this tindure proceeds 

 from their food. 



His wings being (hort, he rarely flies, crows indifferently night or 

 day. Some hens crow, but feebly. Drinks by raifing his head and 

 fwallowingj fieeps often {landing on one leg, and hiding his head under 

 his wing. On his head a comb, under his chin wattles, which are a dou- 

 ble membrane. His claws, when four, are three before and one behind; 

 when five, two behind. His feathers are remarkable, by growing in pairs 

 from the ficfii. His tail has fourtten feathers divided into two parts, 

 uniting at the top. On his legs, fpurs. He is very watchful and fond 

 of his hens, and jealous alfo. 



No animal has greater courage than the cock when oppofed to one of 

 his own fpecies. In China, India, the Philippine Iflands, and all over 

 the eaft, cock-fighting is the fport of kings and princes. With us it is 

 declining daily. 



A fingle cock fuffices for ten or a dozen hens. But he foon grows old. 

 Hens alfo, as they for the greatcft part of the year daily lay eggs (in 

 Samogitia, Malacca, and elfewhere, twice a day ; in Illyria, fays- 

 Ariftotle, three times), for the moft part after three years become effete 

 and barren : for when they have exhaufted all their feed-eggs, of which 

 they had but a certain quantity from the beginning, they mult neceflfarily 

 ceafe to lay, there being no new ones generated within. 

 Part IV. No. 25. , F The 



