70 POULTRY. 



And so in numberless other quotations might we show how great a 

 favorite, in all time, this charming tenant of the wood, the field 

 and the homestead, has continued to be. But, commending its cul- 

 ture, as a source of innocent amusement, we pass on. 



There were mingled amongst the birds of which we have spoken, 

 some animals which the Committee thought a little out of place, 

 since from the fact of their having four legs instead of two, they 

 were not supposed to be legitimate ornithological specimens. These 

 were Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, " et id omne genus " — that is — " all 

 that sort of thing ''. Specially was there a bicipitous abomination, a 



" Moastrum informe, ingens, with a head twice as big as it should be." 



Virgil, varied! 



Or rather, with two heads, instead of one, rivaling in ugliness that 

 usurping King of England, wicked Richard III., who confessed him- 

 self not to be 



" shaped for sportive tricks, 



Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass ; 

 Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, 

 So lame and so unfashionable. 

 That dogs bark at me I" — Shakspeare. 



The Committee passed it by, in unutterable loathing and disgust, 

 expressing their decided and unanimous conviction, that such bes- 

 tialities as two-headed and six-legged and double-tailed calves, 

 centaurs and cerberuses, multicipital serpents, Joice Heths and 

 Woolly Horses, should be frowned down by a discerning indignant 

 public sentiment ; — or turned over to Barnum I 



" Hence — of blackest midnight born ! 



In Stygian cave forlorn, 



Midst horrid shapes, and shrieks and sights unholy — 



Hence ! and in dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell !" — Milton. 



Your Committee cannot refrain from expressing their great regret, 

 that no specimens of the native Farm-yard Fowl, were-present at 

 the Exhibition. Every thing offered was of the fancy stock, a good 

 deal of which stock is " far fetched and dear bought," and not 

 worth the inflated prices which are asked, and not unfrequently, 

 paid for it. Some bold spoken proverbialist has put forth a saying 

 that has more truth than beauty in it, about "a fool and his money," 

 &c. Perhaps this is carrying the reproach a little too far, though 

 occasionally an energetic medicine may be needed to cure a violent 

 and obstinate fault Now it is well known, "that in these latter 



