IIEPORT ON POULTRY. 59 



Mr. Shakebag was an advocate of female rights. He had 

 expected to see a hen preside over this convention, and geese 

 take a part in the debates. He knew several crowing hens 

 who would greatly enlighten the Convention, if allowed to 

 take part in the discussions. One of these is now present, 

 who has left her young family in charge of her male companion, 

 while she comes here to advocate the rights of female poultry. 

 He hoped she would be permitted to speak. [Disapprobation, 

 and cries of No, No.] 



The Roost, in deciding that the request could not be grant- 

 ed, said there were certain well defined rules of propriety, 

 which were always observed among domestic fowls, and he 

 supposed that all crowing hens and henpecked Roosters be- 

 longed to another biped race. 



Mr. Malay said there was another grievance which deman- 

 ded the attention of the Convention, and one which affected 

 the finest feelings of a fowl's nature. He alluded to the phi- 

 loprogenitive propensities so strong in all our races. One of 

 his own favorite companions, a beautiful and accomplished 

 Guilderland, in obedience to her natural impulses, sought to 

 provide herself with a family. She accordingly occupied her 

 nest for several vveeks, when to her great surprise and aston- 

 ishment, all her chickens came into the world with webbed 

 feet and spoon bills ! He would not attempt to describe her 

 feelings, when she saw them wander away, and plunge into 

 the first puddle of water ! She endeavored to recall them 

 from their perilous position, but the most affectionate duckings 

 and the most appalling wailings Avere alike unavailing. He 

 would not dwell on this sad case, as he saw by the looks of 

 the members that he was anticipated in the explanation he was 

 about to make, that the strange chickens were only young 

 ducklings. Now the great and important question which he 

 wished the convention to solve was- — Who was the real mulh- 

 cr of that yowig brood} [Great sensation.] 



Mr. Bremen Gander was glad to see by the sensation caused 

 by the question of his friend last up, that the convention duly 

 appreciated the importance of the subject. His own mind 

 was made up, that whatever was the form of the animal 



