160 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



other. On the other hand, the hen no sooner saw the Indian 

 corn than she pounced upon it voraciously, and never offered to 

 quit it for either of the others. As their motions were confined 

 by the hutch, he tried the effect of turning the box, so as to 

 bring the corn opposite the cock, and the others more within 

 the reach of the hen ; but the cock did not offer to touch the 

 corn, but went round to the other two sorts, while the hen also 

 changed sides, and recommenced eating the corn with avidity. 

 Next day, the same birds were served with the three sorts of 

 grain, as before ; but the hen fixed on the buckwheat, avoiding 

 the corn, and the cock evidently preferred this to the oats, of 

 which, however, he from time to time ate some grains, leaving 

 it directly for the buckwheat, which between them was soon 

 consumed. 



These experiments were varied and extended by giving to 

 the seven hens already mentioned an equal quantity of each 

 of the six sorts of grain usually given to poultry, each put sep- 

 arately into the divisions of a common feeding-box, the whole 

 quantity given being calculated to serve two days. The first 

 day, the whole of the buckwheat was despatched ; on the 

 second morning, there was no barley left ; the wheat and the 

 corn were entirely consumed nearly at the same time, on the 

 second afternoon ; while a little rye and oats were left for the 

 third day. 



It would be superfluous to detail with similar minuteness 

 the numerous experiments of the same kind, which were varied 

 and combined in every possible way that M. Reaumur could 

 devise, as he found it was by no means so easy as might have 

 been previously supposed to determins the sorts of grain which 

 fowls prefer. At first, it appeared that there were some hens 

 which ate more readily any particular sort they had been most 

 accustomed to than sorts entirely new to them. On the con- 

 trary, it also appeared that the appetite of others was excited 



