BRITISH BIRDS. 329 



in some measure, the necessary supplies of food 

 and drink ; she omits no care, overlooks no precau- 

 tion, to complete the existence of the little incipient 

 being's, and to guard against the dangers that 

 threaten them ; the cock takes upon himself no 

 part of the duty. Buifon, with his usual elegance, 

 observes " that the condition of a sitting hen, how- 

 ever insipid it may appear to us, is perhaps not a 

 tedious situation, but a state of continual joy : so 

 much has nature connected raptures with whatever 

 relates to the multiplication of her creatures I" 



For a curious account of the process of incuba- 

 tion, in the development of the chick, we refer our 

 readers to the above-mentioned author, who has 

 given a minute detail of the several appearances 

 which take place till the chick is ready to come 

 forth. 



The Egyptians have a method of hatching eggs 

 without the assistance of the hen, and in great 

 numbers at once, by means of artificial heat. A 

 similar practice has been introduced into this coun- 

 try. The process is managed by steam, and 

 patents taken out for it ! 





VOL. i. 2 T 



