THE CORAL, OR BOLTON" GREYS. 25 



observes : " To prevent hens from roosting on the 

 boxes, a slanting board may be leaned against the 

 wall." It is a good precaution. Something of this 

 kind is to be found in my description of the pigeon- 

 house. Hens laying soft, or otherwise imperfect 

 eggs, is an occurrence with which no poultry-keeper 

 of any standing can be unacquainted. Over feeding, 

 or too much soft meat, may be an occasional cause 

 of this irregularity, but not a general one; since, 

 in a lot of hens dieted with the utmost care, and 

 regard to quantity of meat, one or two may have 

 such a defect, the others yet being healthy and good 

 layers. It has so happened, at various periods, in 

 my poultry-yards. The recommended substitution 

 of dusting, for bathing in the dust humorous among 

 other and notable hypercriticisms excited a smile, 

 on provincialisms, non est disputandum : and the ex- 

 pressive figurative phrase of bathing in the dust was 

 in vogue and current long before I was either. More- 

 over, the celebrated Gervase Markham, who wrote in 

 the days of Elizabeth and James, makes use of this 

 very appropriate figure whilst 'quoting a still older 

 writer. 



As to specific quantities of food allowed, I trust I 

 shall not be found deficient. The phrase of a small 

 quantity of hay allowed to a cow must indicate a 

 few pounds. It is a case in which precision is not 

 to be expected, from the various circumstances of 

 size, season, the nature of the other food allowed, 

 and the means of the proprietor. On the shedding 

 of horns in cattle, I shall speak in its proper place. 



The age of turkeys is indicated by the scales on 



c 



