ORDER GALLING. 193 



as far as the ears, as in the common hen. The eyes are 

 round and black, and surrounded with an iris of a very lively 

 red. Under the eyes the skin is flesh-coloured, mingled with 

 blue, and naked, with the exception of a tuft of hairs, form- 

 ing a kind of mustachio, towards the ears, and concealing the 

 aperture." This hen was found in the district of Belef, in 

 the government of Tula, in Russia, and sent by the Governor 

 to the Imperial University of Moscow. 



There is one monstrosity, more common than others, in these 

 birds, and which is the production of art ; it is the horns, 

 sometimes seen on the head of the cock. They are placed 

 there by a process, which consists in making an aperture in 

 the crest of the cock, and introducing by this wound, and 

 applying on the cranium, the spur of a pullet. The pro- 

 digious growth which takes place in this spur, after the 

 union which it has formed with the bones of the head of the 

 cock, proves incontestably the similitude of animal grafting 

 with that of vegetables. 



The races of hens, to the multiplication of which a pre- 

 ference should be given, are those which furnish eggs most 

 abundantly, and whose flesh is the most delicate. These two 

 advantages, and especially the first, are found in the common 

 hens. It is principally then with this species that the poultry- 

 yard should be peopled. 



The hens to be chosen should be of the middle size, of a 

 black or brown colour, of a robust constitution, with a thick- 

 ish head, lively eyes, pendant crest, and bluish feet. Those 

 must be rejected which have large spurs, which scrape much, 

 which crow, and call after the manner of cocks. Likewise 

 those which are fierce, quarrelsome, and peevish ; for these 

 rarely lay eggs, are negligent in incubation, destroy, break, 

 and sometimes eat their own eggs. 



The hens which are too fat, and the old ones, are to be 

 removed from the poultry-yard. The first seldom lay, and 



VOL. VIIT. o 



