1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



51 



|)outl)s' JDtpartment. 



THE POULTRY YARD. 



In the absence of some engravings which we failed 

 to procure, illustrating the tvonders of vegetation, we 

 give a chapter on the feathered tribe. We do this 

 with more pleasure, as some of our young friends in 

 their communications have requested us to give as 

 much information as possible about fowls. Now our 

 young readers must remember that we have in our 

 30,000 subscribers a variety of tastes to please. 

 Some desire all possible information about fowls, the 

 best kinds, the best way to keep them to get the 

 greatest amount of profit, fee. Others are turning 

 their attention to fruits and flowers, and look to the 

 Farmer as their guide. Still others care but little 

 about these things. They want the main crops — 

 corn, potatoes, and wheat — treated of, as it is on 

 these they depend for support. We shall endeavor 

 to give all " a word in season." 



^jm 



THE PEACOCK. 



The peacock is too well known to need a lengthy 

 description. The pea fowls are natives of India, 

 where they are now found wild in large flocks. — 

 They are the most beautiful birds that grace the 

 poultry yard. But, like some young folks we oc- 

 casionally see, they have little but their beauty to 

 recommend them. In regard to their disposition, 

 Brown, in the Poultry Yard, gives the following 

 account : 



" The natural disposition of the peacock is selfish 

 and gluttenous, and it is only by pampering this 

 weakness that he can be persuaded into obedience and 

 attachment. He is vain, and at the same time ungal- 

 lant. He is far from manifesting the politeness and 

 attention which the common cock shows towards his 

 mates. The peacock will greedily snatch from the 

 mouth of his hens those tit-bits and delicate morsels 

 which the cock would either share with his favorites, 

 or yield to them entirely. The peahen, in return, 

 cares less for her lord and master, and is more inde- 

 pendent of him. Nor does he seem to care much 



about her admiration, or to make the exhibition 

 of his attractions to secure her notice, but is content, 

 if he can get some astonished hen, or silly bewildered 

 duck, in a corner, to wonder what all the fuss is 

 about." They are in some cases cruel towards the 

 young of other poultry. 



THE GUINEA HKN. 



The plumage of this bird is singularly beautiful, 

 being spangled over with an infinity of white spots 

 on a black ground, shaded with gray and brown. A 

 white variety is not uncommon, but is less hardy. It 

 is not every one who knows a cock from a hen of this 

 species. An unerring rule is, that the hen alone 

 uses the call note "come back," "come back," ac- 

 centing the second syllable strongly, from which they 

 are often called "come backs." The cock has only 

 the harsh, shrill cry of alarm, which, however, is also 

 common to the female. 



The Guinea cock is what is called monogamous, or 

 having but one mate, like the patridge or pigeon. 

 He is, however, very polite and attentive, and in this 

 respect shows much better manners than the peacock. 

 The hen lays month after month with little or no 

 intermission. 



THE SPANISH FOWL. 



This is a noble race of fowls, possessing many 

 great merits ; of spirited and animated appearance, 

 of considerable size, excellent for the table, both in 

 whiteness of flesh and skin, and also in flavor, being 

 juicy and tender, and laying exceedingly large eggs, 

 in large numbers. They are entirely black, and 

 beautiful fowls, but too delicate for our climate. 



