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THE DOMESTIC COCK. 



THE DOMESTIC COCK. 



This bird differs very much from the wild descendants of its primi- 

 tive stock ; which are said to inhabit the forests of India, and znott 

 of the islands of the Indian seas. 



"I have just witnessed (says M. de Buffon) a curious scene. A 

 Sparrow-hawk alighted in a populous court-yard : a young cock of 

 this year's hatching instantly darted at him. and threw him on his 

 back. In this situation the Haw"k defended himself with his talona 

 and his bill, intimidating the hens and Turkeys, which screamed tu- 

 multuously round him. After he had a little recovered himself, he 

 rose and was taking wing, when the cock rushed upon him a second 

 time, over turned him, and held him down so long, that he was caught." 



The cock is very attentive to his females, hardly ever losing sight 

 of them. He leads, defends, and cherishes them : collects them 

 together when they straggle ; and seems to eat unwillingly till he seed 

 them feeding around him. Whenever any strange cock appears 



