COCK AND HEN. M 



She retires to produce her family should be covered 

 from the rain, and as much as possible out of the way 

 of such animals as would rob her riest. 



When she begins to sit, she seems to shew by her 

 conduct, that she is aware how important a business 

 she has undertaken. On such occasions, nothing can 

 exceed her perseverance and her patience. She re- 

 mains on her nest whole days and nights in succession, 

 without eating, or drinking ; and when she is forced, 

 by hunger, to leave her eggs for a few minutes, she runs 

 to the door of her mistress, and by her clucking, 

 makes known her wants ; and having taken a few ker- 

 nels of corn, hurries back to her charge. If howev- 

 er she gets nothing to eat, she does not loiter on this 

 account, but goes to her nest, and if ever so hungry, 

 takes care that her future brood does not perish by her 

 eggs growing cold in her absence. 



While sitting, she turns her eggs over, and now and 

 then puts the outside ones into the middle, so that each 

 may be equally warmed. And when the time comes 

 near for the chickens to break their shells, she seems 

 still more anxious, and often does not leave her nest a 

 moment for several days, and as many nights. 



The strongest and largest chickens burst their shells 

 first, while the weaker ones leave theirs last, and some- 

 times die in attempting to escape. When all that are 

 living have come forth, she then leads them into the 

 open air, and begins to provide food for them in the 

 best manner she is able. In this however she is gen- 

 erally assisted by her mistress, who watches the com- 

 ing of the brood with interest, and the moment she 

 finds them moving, supplies all the necessary provis- 

 ion. 



3* 



