SITTING HENS. 35 



sized shallow box of sand, dry earth, or fine coal ashes, for the 

 lien to cleanse herself in, which she specially needs at this 

 time ; and food and water must be always ready for her. With 

 these precautions the hen may, without very much risk. 

 be left entirely to herself! There are, however, some birds 

 which, if not removed, would starve upon their nests soonei 

 than leave them ; and therefore, if the hen has not been off foi 

 two or three days, we would under any circumstances find 

 time to daily remove the poor thing for her own preserva- 

 tion. To feed upon the nest is a cruel practice, which has 

 crippled many a fowl for life, and cannot be too strongly con- 

 demned. 



Of all mothers, we prefer small Dorkings, Cochins, or 

 13rahmas. Their abundant " fluff" and feathering is of ines- 

 timable advantage to the young chicks, and their tame and 

 gentle disposition makes them submit to any amount of 

 handling or management with great docility. Cochins cer- 

 tainly appear clumsy with their feet, but we have seldom found 

 more chickens actually trodden upon by them than with any 

 other breed. Many complain that they leave their chickens 

 too soon, but we have not found it so ourselves, except with 

 very early broods. With regard to Brahmas as mothers, they 

 have a peculiarity we never observed in any other fowl, and 

 have never seen noticed in any work on poultry they actually 

 appear to look behind -tJuem when moving, lest they should 

 tread upon their little ones. Dorkings are exemplary mothers, 

 and go with their chickens a long time, which recommends 

 them strongly for very early broods. And lastly, a Game hen 

 has qualities which often make her most valuable. She is not 

 only exemplary in her care, and a super-excellent forager for her 

 young brood, but will defend them to the last gasp, and render 

 a good account of the most determined cat that ever existed. 

 But whatever be the hen chosen, she should be well 

 feathered, and tolerably tame. Some people have said that only 



D2 



