3<W OF METEOROLOGICAL CHAP. 10. I. 



" The second Cock has crow'd, 



The Curfew Bell has toll'd, 'tis three o'clock," &c. 



Tussen, in his Hundred Points of Good 

 Husbandrie, attempts an explanation of the 

 power and periods of cockcrowing. 



The Old Wives' Prayer, in Herick's Hess 

 perides ends: 



" In the dead of dampish night, 

 Drive all hurtful fiends us fro, 

 By the time the Cocks first crow." 



Du Cange observes, " In summitate cruets 

 quae campanario vulgo imponitur galli galli- 

 nacei effigi solet figura quae ecclesiae rectores 

 mgilantiae admoneat? 



The pretended crowing all night of Cocks at 

 this season is described in the last section.* 



* In general, Cocks were believed to observe the night 

 watches, or periodical Alectrophones. Milton in Comus 

 observes : - 



' The village Cock 



Chants the nightwatches to his feathery dames." 



And again : 



" Bright Chanticlere doth sound his clarion shrill." 



It appears that three of .these Cockcrowings or watches 

 were recognized as periodical, the last of which took place at 

 break of morn : 



