FOWLS 33 



are readily distinguished from other birds by the voice. The 

 male crows, the female cackles. These are their most common 

 calls, but there are other notes some common to both sexes, 

 some peculiar to one which are the same in all races of fowls. 

 An abrupt, harsh croak warns the flock that one of their num- 

 ber has discerned a hawk or noticed something suspicious in 

 the air. A slowly repeated cluck keeps the young brood advised 

 of the location of their mother. If she finds a choice morsel of 

 food, a rapid clicking sound calls them about her. When she 

 settles down to brood them she calls them with a peculiar 

 crooning note. The male also cackles when alarmed, and when 

 he finds food calls his mates in the same way that the female 

 calls her young under the same circumstances. Other poultry 

 and sometimes even cats and dogs learn this call and respond 

 to it. If the food discovered is something that a stronger animal 

 wants, the bird making the call may lose it because of his eager- 

 ness to share the treasure with the members of his family. 



In adult fowls the male and female are readily distinguished 

 by differences in appearance as well as by the voice. The comb 

 and wattles of the male are larger, and after he has completed 

 his growth are always of the same size and a bright red in 

 color. In the female the comb is much smaller than that of 

 a male of the same family, and both size and color vary period- 

 ically, the comb and wattles being larger and the whole head 

 brighter in color when the female is laying. The tail of the 

 male is also much larger than that of the female and has long 

 plumelike coverts. The feathers of his back and neck are long, 

 narrow, and flowing, and in many varieties are much brighter in 

 color than the corresponding feathers on the female. The male 

 has a short, sharp spur on the inside of each leg, a little above 

 the hind toe. Occasionally a female has spurs, but they are usu- 

 ally very small. With so many differences between male and 

 female the sex of an adult fowl is apparent at a glance. In the 

 young of breeds which have large combs the males begin to 



