THE COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO 



EVER since that far-off day in the prehistoric 

 past, when some unknown Aryan shikari 

 captured a pair of Gallus ferrugineus and 

 domesticated them, the fowl has been the 

 constant companion and friend of man. The utility of 

 the hen bird soon rendered her indispensable to human 

 beings, while the proud bearing and the valour of the 

 cock gained for him the admiration of mankind. 



Idomeneus bore on his shield at the siege of Troy 

 a representation of the gallant chanticlere. The war- 

 like Romans held the birds in high esteem ; they were 

 in the habit of using them as augurs. The method of 

 ascertaining the will of the gods was to place food 

 before the sacred birds. If the grain was consumed 

 quickly, the omen was favourable ; if, on the other 

 hand, the fowls were slow in disposing of the victuals, 

 the omen was evil. Since both cocks and hens have 

 a habit of devouring their food as though they were 

 travellers, determined to have their money's worth, 

 eating dinner at a railway restaurant with the train 

 waiting impatiently outside, it was not often that fowls 

 gave an unfavourable omen. On one memorable occa- 

 sion, however, they seem to have been off colour ; the 

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