REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 497 



is formed large for that purpose; its legs are bent forward to the breast; its 

 head is couched beneath one of its wings; and its beak rises from between the 

 wing and the back. 



When the time of its maturity is at length arrived, the desire of life and 

 motion awakes. The little creature employs its beak, thus singularly placed, 

 for the purpose of breaking its covering. It is heard to tap the shell; the emo- 

 tions of the mother increase as she listens to the attempt of the young to come 

 forth. The beating of the beak is generally continued for 2 hours, sometimes 

 for G hours, and sometimes for a longer time. At length the shell is broken, 

 and the young is enabled to come forth from its marvellous mansion. 



The anxious mother has no milk to give to her young when they come into 

 day; but Nature has provided for all their wants. The mother teaches the 

 young to find their food almost as soon as born, and their little bills are suffi- 

 ciently hardened at their birth to pick it from the ground. 



The change of nature in the parent is very remarkable. From the most 

 timid of creatures, she now becomes fierce and courageous; she will attack 

 the largest animal in defence of her young; she watches them with surprising 

 solicitude; she shelters them under her wings, and leads them where food is 

 to be found. After a time her cares cease; she gradually recovers h-.-r natural 

 timidity; she finally resumes all her habits, and leaves her long-cherished off- 

 spring as if never to know them more. 



The varieties of the common fowl are very numerous, and distinguished 

 from one another by their size, colour, and fecundity. 1. The GAME-FOWL is 

 a very singular creature on account of its habits. Size less than that of the 

 common fowl, symmetry of its limbs greater, and the beauty of its plumage 

 remarkable, when not mutilated for the barbarous sport for which it is destin- 

 ed. Its flesh is white, and esteemed beyond that of all the common kinds for 

 its delicacy and flavour; but the singular pugnacity of disposition, which 

 shows itself at the earliest period of life, deters all breeders rearing it except 

 for the purpose of gaming. Whole broods, scarce feathered, become blind 

 from continued fighting. They cannot be employed for crossing the common 

 fowl. 2. The DORKING-FOWLS, so named from a town in Surrey, are the lamest 

 and finest of our domestic breed. Their colour is wholly white, their body is 

 capacious, and they are prolific layers of eggs. They are distinguished by 

 having five claws on each foot. 3. Equal to the Dorking in estimation, are 

 the POLAND fowls. Their colour is black, heads flat, and surmounted with a 

 crown of feathers. They are a very useful variety, prolific of eggs, but less 

 inclined to set, than those of any other breed. 4. The BANTAM is a little Indian 

 breed, very delicate to eat, but, from the smallness of its size, not of any eco- 

 nomical importance. 5. The CHITTAGONG or Malay fowl, is the largest variety 

 of the species, but the flesh is regarded as inferior to those described. 



When it is wished to form a breed of fowls, the breeding 

 should be from a young stock. Hens are at their prime at 

 three years old, and decline after the age of five. The best 

 period to commence breeding is in the spring. The number 

 of hens to one male from four to six, the latter being the ex- 

 treme number more are sometimes allowed, but it is a bad 

 practice. 



The methods of feeding fowls are various. The most com- 

 mon, where raised in ordinary numbers, is to suffer them to 

 range about the homestead, in which case they are termed 

 barn-door fowls. Whether they are suffered to roam at large 

 or are confined, there should be a poultry yard, where they 

 may be regularly fed; and this should be properly laid out, on 

 dry ground, well gravelled, and supplied with good water, and 

 the whole well sheltered from the north and east. In this yard 



