Grass Runs. 25 



This was the opinion of the great physiologist, John 

 Hunter, who, in his treatise " On the Animal Economy," 

 after noticing the grinding powers of the gizzard, says, in 

 reference to the pebbles swallowed, " We are not, however, 

 to conclude that stones are entirely useless ; for if we com- 

 pare the strength of the muscles of the jaws of animals 

 which masticate their food with those of birds who do not, 

 we shall say that the parts are well calculated for the 

 purpose of mastication ; yet we are not thence to infer that 

 the teeth in such jaws are useless, even although we have 

 proof that the gums do the business when the teeth are 

 gone. If pebbles are of use, which we may reasonably 

 conclude they are, birds have an advantage over animals 

 having teeth, so far as pebbles are always to be found, 

 while the teeth are not renewed. If we constantly find in 

 an organ substances which can only be subservient to the 

 functions of that organ, should we deny their use, although 

 the part can do its office without them ? The stones assist 

 in grinding down the grain, and, by separating its parts, 

 allow the gastric juice to come more readily in contact 

 with it." 



When a paddock is used as a run for a large number of 

 poultry, it should be enclosed either by a wall or paling, 

 but not by a hedge, as the fowls can get through it, and 

 will also lay their eggs under the hedge. The paddock 

 should be well drained, and it will be a great advantage if 

 it contains a pond, or has a stream of water running through 

 or by it. Mowbray advises that the grass run should be 

 sown " with common trefoil or wild clover, with a mixture 

 of burnet, spurry, or storgrass," which last two kinds " are 

 particularly salubrious to poultry." If the grass is well 

 rooted before the fowls are allowed to run on it, they may 

 range there for several hours daily, according to its extent 

 and their number, but it should be renewed in the spring 

 by sowing where it has become bare or thin. A dry 

 common, or pasture fields, in which they may freely wander 

 and pick up grubs, insects, ants' eggs, worms, and leaves 

 of plants, is a great advantage, and they may be accustomed 

 to return from it at a call. Where there is a cropped 



