So 



The Illustrated Bool^- of Poi'ltkv. 



So far Mdllc. Robiiict iis rendered by Air. l-'rerc. But during nianj- 3-cars a preference has 

 been growing in tlie best poultr\--districts of I-"rance for feeding the caged birds witli food mixed 

 ihini)-. One of tlie most strenuous advocates of this system is M. Jacque, whose work called 

 " Le Pouiaillcr" has always since its publication been considered the standard authority on the 

 poultry of France. After describing the natural feeding, and the cramming with pellets (as we 

 have quoted from Mdlle. Robinet), M. Jacque enters upon what he terms the third method of 

 fattening, as follows. We give as literal a translation as possible : — 



" This third method wc may call funnelling, or tlie cramming by means of a funnel, witli 

 farinaceous food in a liquid form. This last method will in the end be uni\-ersall)' adopted, it is 

 so simple, eas\', and rapid. This is how it is done. 



" Those who wish to fatten fowls provide themselves with barley-flour and not with broken 

 barle}' ; for it is not desirable that the bran should be mixed with it, on the contrary, it ought to be 

 properly sifted. They take some meal and mi.x it smoothly with milk and water in equal parts. 



Fis. 44. 



This mi.Kturc ought to he of the thickness of clear soup when it begins to boil ; and I repeat that 

 the milk and water must be in rqiial proportions, for experience has .shown that if there be more 

 milk the fattening process stops at the end of a few days, and the bird falls off and dies. 



" It is alsCT Jiecessaty to get a funnel of tinned iron, large enough to hold as much as is proper 

 to give at a meal to every sort of fowl (see Fig. 44). The upper opening is o.iom. (4 in.) broad, 

 and 0.06m. (2v in.) deep measuring down the middle. The pipe or neck is o.ogm. (3V in.) long. The 

 upper part of the pipe has an outside width of 0.025m. (i in.), and the lower end 0.015m. (Jin.). This 

 end, intended to be placed in the bird's throat, is cut offslantwi.se, and turned up .so as to make a 

 rounded edge. This edge is further softened by a small tin rim carefully soldered on. At the 

 upper edge of the funnel is fixed a small ring intended for the first finger of the right hand ; the 

 place of this ring is very important, for we must be able while holding the fowl's head with one 

 hand to introduce the funnel in the proper position, which can only be easily done when the ring 

 is in the right place. 



" The opening of the lower end of the tube (which as wc have already stated is slanting) ought 

 to be turned from the side of the operator ; this is why the ring in question is soldered on the upper 

 edge of the funnel 0.05m. (2 in.) to the right of the direction of the lower opening of the tub* 



" Persons who are quite accu=.tomcd to it use the funnel without any danger, but with tho.<;e 



