258 CAPONISING FOWLS. 



if skillfully done, occupies only a few minutes, the 

 retractor is taken out, the skin of the fowl drawn 

 over the wound, which may be covered with the feath- 

 ers that were plucked off at the commencement, and 

 the chicken may he released. As soon as it is liber- 

 ated, it will eagerly partake of grain or other food, and 

 in a few days be restored to health. 



In some fowls, the fore part of the thigh covers the 

 two hindmost ribs, in which case, care must be ob- 

 served to draw the fleshy part of the thigh well back, 

 to prevent it from being cut ; as otherwise, the opera- 

 tion to be performed might be liable to lame the fowl, 

 or even cause its death. 



For loops, nothing answers better than the fibre of a 

 coco-nut husk, which is rough, and readily separates 

 the testicles by sawing. The next best substance for 

 the purpose, is the hair of a horse's mane or tail. 



The usual method of making poulardes, in France, 

 is, to extirpate the egg cluster, or ovaria, in a similar 

 manner as the testicles are extracted from the young 

 cocks ; but it has been shown by Mr. Yarrell, in the 

 " Transactions of the Royal Society," that it is quite 

 sufficient merely to cut across the egg tube, or ovi- 

 duct, with a sharp knife. Poulardes may otherwise be 

 treated in the same manner as the capons. 



Capons are fattened precisely in the same manner 

 as other fowls, by keeping them cooped up in a quiet, 

 dark place, and oramming, or otherwise feeding them, 

 abundantly. 



