HENS. * 



ther.s on tho head. They arc of good size, and excellent 

 layers, but are seldom inclined to set, which makes them 

 [uviili.-irlv (It-siruhlti l'r Midi ;is wish t-^gs only. The 

 prone la a speckled fnwl, of hardly medium si/.c, com- 

 pact, hardy, good layers, and valuable for the table. The 

 Hacks' county fowl, heretofore principally reared near Phila- 

 delphia, possess but moderate pretensions to notice, except in 

 their immense size, a brace of them having been fattened to 

 11).', Ibs. when dressed The Bantam is but little larger than 

 a pigeon, and is usually of a pure white, but is sometimes 

 speckled. It is generally feathered to the toes, but may be 

 bred with clean legs. It is very domestic, and a pleasant 

 little bird around the premises, and is not unprofitable. The 

 Game cock is of medium weight, and yields good flesh, but is 

 a poor layer, and an undesirable tenant for the farm yard. 

 Besides these, there are many fanciful varieties, as the 

 Creeper, with excessively short legs ; the llumpless, without 

 a tail ; the Frizzled, with irregular feathers turned towards 

 the head ; the Silky or Merino fowl, with brown or buff 

 down, instead of feathers; the Negro, with its black crest, 

 wattles, skin, legs and feathers ; the Java and Cochin China, 

 of great size ; several varieties of the Top-knot, and others. 



THE DISEASES of hens are not numerous or complicated, 

 and may be mostly avoided by proper treatment and food, 

 which are indicated with sufficient minuteness in the forego- 

 ing observations. 



Gapes or pip is generally owing to drinking unwholesome 

 or dirty water. Remove the white blister on the tip of the 

 tongue, and wash with sharp vinegar, diluted with warm 

 water ; or compel the bird to swallow a large lump of fresh 

 butter, mixed with Scotch snuff. It has been removed by 

 opening the mouth and forcing a pigeon feather, wilh a 

 tuft of the feathers left on the end, the others being stripped 

 off, down the wind-pipe, and gently turning it as withdrawn, 

 to be repeated the following day if necessary. This detaches 

 large numbers of a slender red worm, collected in the larynx 

 of the throat, which impedes respiration and swallowing. 

 A little spirits of turpentine mixed with the food is a preven- 

 tive; as are also clean, white-washed premises, and good food. 

 Feed for a few days with light food, soaked bran and cab- 

 bage or lettuce chopped fine. Roup, Catarrh or swelled head, 

 is shown by feverish symptoms, swollen eye-lids, frequently 

 terminating in blindness, rattling in the throat and tempo- 

 rary strangulation. These are accompanied by a highly 



