CHARACTER OF THE DUCK. 93 



effect. Nor is this confined to the game breed, for 

 chickens of all kinds will tear to pieces, on the 

 slightest occasions, their nearest akin, devouring 

 their living flesh and entrails. That which is said 

 of the duck, has full as much truth, when applied to 

 the chicken ; there is nothing too nasty, putrid, and 

 abominable to human feelings for them, upon which 

 eagerly to gratify their voracious appetites. 



The following ferocious trait in the character of 

 the gattina, or common hen, is quoted from Reaumur, 

 in the New French Dictionary of Natural History. 

 He had shut up two hens with a cock ; these three 

 individuals lived for some time in the strictest har- 

 mony: on a sudden, the hens took a dislike to the 

 cock, and they both together attacked him, a'nd suc- 

 ceeded, in the course of five or six days' ill treatment, 

 in killing him. Surprised at such an extraordinary 

 conduct, Reaumur was curious to know the cause. 

 He gave the two hens successively several cocks. 

 Their fury kindled anew against each of them, and 

 they would all have experienced the fate of the first, 

 had he left them long enough to lose all their blood 

 and strength. The extraordinary part of this case 

 was, first, that the cocks destroyed were strong and 

 bold, and would easily have governed thirty rebel 

 hens at large, yet cooped up, did not attempt either 

 to defend themselves, or even to avoid the attacks of 

 the furies, their wives. Secondly, the two hens, 

 being released from confinement, became immedi- 

 ately as mild and submissive to the cock, as any 

 upon the dunghill. 



