ORDER GALLINiE. 187 



how to maintain them in every thing of importance, and how 

 to relax in matters of minor consideration. Though a despot, 

 and a lover in the midst of a numerous seraglio, he is yet an 

 attentive husband, and a tender father. The females and the 

 young which they conduct, are to him a people that must 

 obey, but must be governed with mildness. Their weakness 

 and his strength secure submission on the one hand, and pro- 

 tection on the other. For himself, he desires no food but 

 what is sufficient to support his strength ; and if he meets 

 with any thing delicate, he touches it not, but calls his family 

 around him, who answer immediately to the voice of a master 

 who summons them, and of a husband and father who invites. 

 He shares his acquisition between the mothers and the chil- 

 dren, replying to their murmurs of gratitude by low and 

 gentler accents. He protects his progeny by acting either 

 on the offensive or defensive against every enemy that can 

 hurt them. He combats and repels all intruding animals. 

 With the other birds of the poultry he acts as a master, and 

 obliges them to keep at a proper distance from his establish- 

 ment. But it is against one of his own species and sex that 

 he exhibits the greatest irritation ; with him, he will con- 

 tend until either his own strength fails, or his adversary flies 

 or is destroyed. If successful, he claps his wings, and utters 

 several shrill and reiterated crows, in token of his triumph. 



The cock is of a vigorous and warm constitution, and one 

 will suffice for fifteen or twenty hens. The choice of a cock 

 is however of great importance to those who are engaged in 

 the breeding of poultry. He is judged to possess all the 

 requisite qualities when he is of a fine shape, but middle 

 size ; when he holds his head erect, has a lively and animated 

 eye, a voice powerful and clear, and a bill thick and short. 

 The comb should be of a bright and polished red, the wattle 

 membranous, of a considerable volume, and as highly coloured 

 as the crest. The chest should be bi'oad, the wings strong. 



