No. 133.] 175 



stroyf d ; heuce the constant watching, covering and guarding 

 them from external injury. Water and some light feed should 

 be kept near her, or where she can have easy access to it ; she will 

 defend her eggs courageously against assaults at this period. Her 

 time of setting is from twenty-eight to'thirty days. A few hours 

 after the chicks show themselves, they should have a little nour- 

 ishing feed thrown or put near the hen and nest ; they will soon 

 begin to pick at it, from her example. After they have all left 

 the nest, they should be kept under shelter for a few days. 

 Nothing the young turkey is more afraid of, and more hostile to 

 his constitution and habits, than wet, c.iused by rain or dews; 

 grass in this state, is very pernicious to ihem. They should be 

 kept under shelter for some days after they come ; this is often 

 in spring, in March or April, when the gains are cold ; let them 

 go out sunny and pleasant days, but sheltered at night at this 

 season. Feed should be regularly given them, not much at a 

 time, but often, and of the most nourishing sort. Indian meal 

 mixed with sweet milk boiled is best ] wheat flour, with the bran, 

 barley, &,c. ; no stimulating food or drink, like a pepper corn ; a 

 little alcohol in gin or brandy fur the turkey chicks to strengthen 

 them. Some mothers are weak enough, (rarely though w^e hope 

 and pray,) to give their infants a little of these for some pur- 

 pose, equally destructive no doubt to both. Aconite is some- 

 times given to grown persons when very ill and weak, in very small 

 quantities, to give strength, not less poisonous though, if they cop- 

 tract love for it from habit. Eggs boiled pretty hard and cut up, 

 mixed with onions, shalots, &c., are nourishing and healthy for 

 the chicks ; they will improve fast in strength and size on these 

 and similar things ; boiling concentrates an egg, and brings its 

 rich ingredients closer together, and the little things will swal- 

 low more nourishment with less bulk. The albumen, or while 

 of an egg, is very nutritious ; it contains among other valuable 

 materials, which form its compound, gluten, oxygen, hydrogen, 

 and az(jte ; it abounds in bones, muscle, membranes, &c., and is 

 one of the most important and common of all the animal substan- 

 ces. The grains are most of them good for the chicks, some bet- 

 ter than others. Wheat flour mixed with the bran, and a little 

 milk; wheat contains more gluten than any other grain; the 



