34 THE COCK. 



of a liquid in the stomach, which dissolves the aliment. In those 

 which feed on grain, the gizzard is the principal instrument that 

 grinds and reduces it to pulp. The wings of the poultry kind 

 are short, and not calculated for a long flight, which prevents them 

 from wandering, and impels them to seek for happiness at home. 

 Their bills, which are incapable of annoyance or destruction, 

 are perfectly adapted to their manner of feeding. Their toes 

 are made for scratching up seeds or grain, but not for tearing to 

 pieces animal food. As the predaceous tribes are formed for 

 war and depredation, these are equally fitted for peace ; accord- 

 ingly their contentions are trivial, and, excepting the cock, we 

 seldom find them engaged in violent contests. They are also 

 without that unconquerable propensity to liberty, which in birds 

 is so general. The poultry kind, if well fed, seldom desire to 

 range; and from the first moment of their confinement, seem sat- 

 isfied if their supply of food be plentiful. Their increased plump- 

 ness in such situations, shows their contentment ; while ue 

 wilder species, if cooped up in cages, unless inured to it when 

 very young, fall into languor, and sometimes pine to death 

 amidst the greatest profusion of the most delicate food. These 

 circumstances evidently display the infinite wisdom of the 

 Author of Nature, in adapting every creature to its particular 

 destination. 



THE COCK 



Perhaps exhibits a greater number of varieties than any other 

 animal of the feathered race ; for scarcely any two birds of this 

 tribe exactly resemble each other in plumage and shape. This 

 may probably proceed from the effects of domestication, as of 

 all the different kinds of birds the cock seems to be that which 

 was first reclaimed from the forest, and taken to supply the lux- 

 uries of the table. 



The time when the cock was first domesticated in Europe is 

 not ascertained ; but he is supposed to have been introduced 

 from Persia. In the island of Tinian, and many others of the 

 Indian Ocean, this bird is found in his native state. In those 

 islands, and in the woods of Malabar, his plumage was black 

 and yellow, and his comb and wattles are yellow and purple. In 

 those of the Indian woods, there is also another peculiarity — 

 their bones when boiled are as black as ebony ; those of the 

 European cock, on the contrary, are white. 



No animal whatever displays greater courage than the cock ; 

 and in every part of the world, from which it is not yet banished 

 by refinement and polished manners, cock-fighting constitutes 

 one of the most popular diversions. In China, India, and the 

 Philippine islands, it is one of the principal amusements of the 



