138 FOOD OF FOWLS. 



quires that it should be put out of misery at 

 once. It is the kindest act of mercy, and is 

 at the same time required by its interference 

 with the ordinary operations of the poultry- 

 yard. 



CHAPTER XL 



Ordinary Food of Fowls. A frequent Change necessary. Es- 

 timate of the comparative Value of Eggs and Chickens. 

 Hints to Writers on this Subject. Determination of the Age 

 of Fowls exposed in the Markets. Value of the Poultry in 

 the United States. 



FOWLS are essentially granivorous, and in 

 a slight degree herbivorous ; in other words, 

 they live chiefly upon grain and seeds, and 

 occasionally upon grasses. In a state of na- 

 ture, this forms the bulk of their food. Do- 

 mestication, which produces so many chan- 

 ges in their functions and habits, is also not 

 without its influence upon their appetites ; 

 hence we see them in a poultry-yard devour- 

 ing all sorts of meat, however putrid, and 

 the most rancid fat with the greatest avidity. 



Of all the grains, they appear to prefer 

 Indian corn or maize. I have several times 



