60 REPORT ON POULTRY. 



which came out of the egg, she was the mother whose vital 

 warmth had quickened it into life, and by whose tender assi- 

 duities and care it was reared up to the maturity of Poultry. 

 He was willing to appeal to the experience of every one pre- 

 sent, to decide the question in his own case. He was proud 

 and grateful to acknowledge that his mother was a Dorking, 

 and he cherished feelings of filial affection towards her, which 

 he could never accord to any Mother Goose in fowldom. 



Mr. Sumatra Game said the question had its difficulties. It 

 involved the proprietorship of the egg. Does the egg become 

 the property of her, who adopts it for the purpose of incuba- 

 tion ? Might not the supposed mother of the young ducklings, 

 be considered as a kind of nurse, or foster-mother to the 

 brood ? Then again, if a Dorking may be the mother of a 

 Drake, why may not a Bantam claim maternity of a Turkey ? 

 It seemed to him to be a violation of all the proprieties of 

 Poultry life, for a tall and stately Turkey to look down on a 

 diminutive Bantam, and call her mother. The subject was 

 a perplexing one and he wanted more light upon it. 



Mr. Shanghai was surprised to hear such doubts on a ques- 

 tion so plain. Who ever heard of a nurse or a mother-in-law 

 among Poultry ? Of what value is an egg, without reference 

 to the great purpose of incubation ? That affection was natural 

 and not acquired, which led the female fowl to quicken into 

 life her future family, and this affection was just as strong 

 towards other tribes as her own. He never should forget the 

 care and attention he received from his mother, who was a 

 Shakebag. He well remembered his brothers and sisters, for 

 all of whom he cherished the most lively fraternal regard. — 

 This affectionate family consisted of one Cochin China, two 

 Dunghills, three Plymouth Rocks, one Shanghai, two Dork- 

 ings, a Chittagong. and a Shakebag. It was remarked by all 

 the children that the Shakebag chick received no more atten- 

 tion from its mother, than any others of the family. Was not 

 this ample proof that her affection was as strong for others as 

 for those of her own tribe. 



Mr. Aylesbury Drake here arose and said he had listened 

 attentively to what had been said on the subject of natural 



