590 AVES— COCK. 



boiled with us, are white, as every body knows, in those are black as ebony. 

 Whether this tincture proceeds from their food, as the bones are tinctured ' 

 red by feeding upon madder, we leave to the discussion of others: satisfied 

 with the fact, let us decline speculation. 



In their first propagation in Europe, there were distinctions then that now 

 subsist no longer. The ancients esteemed those fowls whose plumage was 

 reddish, as invaluable ; but as for the white, it was considered as utterly unfit 

 for domestic purposes. These they regarded as subject to become a prey to 

 rapacious birds ; and less fruitful than the former. No animal in the world 

 has greater courage than the cock, when opposed to one of his own species : 

 and in every part of the world, where refinement and polished manners have 

 not entirely taken place, cock-fighting is a principal diversion. In China, 

 India, the Philippine islands, and all over the East, cock-fighting is the sport 

 and amusement even of kings and princes. In England it is declining 

 every day; and it is to be hoped it will, in time, become only the pastime of 

 the lowest vulgar. It is the opinion of many persons there, that they have a 

 bolder and more valiant breed than is to be found elsewhere ; but the truth 

 is, they have cocks in China as bold, if not bolder than the English cocks. 

 Nor is it against his o-\vn species alone that the cock displays courage. One, 

 of less than a year old, has been known to dart on a sparrowhawk, throw 

 him down, and detain him till a person came to secure the plunderer. 



To his females the cock is assiduously attentive. He keeps them always 

 in his sight, prevents them from straggling, and defends them from aggres- 

 sion. Whatever strange cock appears within his bounds is instantly attack- 

 ed. His jealousy is as strong as his gallantry, and has been said to prompt 

 him to take vengeance on the female. Dr Percival relates an instance, in 

 which some patridges' eggs having been hatched under a hen, the cock, as soon 

 as he saw the brood, fell furiously upon the unfortunate foster-mother, and 

 killed her before any help could be aflforded to her. 



The hen seldom clutches a brood of chickens above once a season, though 

 instances have been known in wliich they have produced two. The number 

 of eggs a domestic hen will lay in the year is above two hundred, provided she 

 be well fed, and supplied with water and liberty. It matters not much 

 whether she be trodden by the cock or not ; she will continue to lay, although 

 all the eggs of this kind can never by hatching be brought to produce a 

 living animal. 



As soon as an egg is laid, it begins to transpire, and loses, in a little time, 

 some grains of its weight. If it continues exposed to the air, the inside 

 hardens, and contracts a bad flavor ; but, to prevent this effect, it is only 

 necessary to cover the outside of the shell with a varnish, or with oily matter, 

 which shields it from the air. It is obvious, however, that the varnish must 

 be removed if the eggs are designed for hatching. 



The hen makes her nest without any care, if left to herself; a hole 

 scratched in the ground, among a few bushes, is the only preparation she 



