ORDER GALLlNiE. 197 



to those whose interest it is to cultivate it, and has little of 

 curiosity or interest attached to it for other persons. 



The season of laying commences with the hens in the 

 month of February, in cold countries. Having laid eighteen 

 or twenty eggs in succession, they usually stop there, and 

 show an inclination to sit ; but by taking away their eggs 

 according as they are laid, the hens will still continue laying. 

 Their fecundity varies in degree ; some only lay one egg in 

 three days, others one in two days, and some, but this is very 

 rare, lay two eggs in one day. In general the young hens 

 lay more eggs than those of a middle age, but they are 

 smaller, and the old ones cease to lay at the end of their 

 fourth year. The laying of hens, with some occasional inter- 

 ruptions, continues until the end of summer, when it is 

 stopped by the moulting. 



In this last state they are particularly feeble, melancholy, 

 and languishing. Their feathers bristle up, and they are con- 

 stantly employed in plucking out those which have a ten- 

 dency to fall. Sometimes the plumage is entirely changed, 

 and they are seen to pass from white to black, or from black 

 to white. 



A method has been found of making hens lay during the 

 Avinter, by selecting the most vigorous, and shutting them 

 up in a warm and light chamber. A young and strong cock 

 is put in along with them, they receive an abundant and sti- 

 mulating nourishment, and are kept with the greatest possible 

 attention to cleanliness. It has been remarked, however, that 

 this unnatural and unseasonable sort of forcing is injurious 

 to the constitution of the birds. The shell of the eggs has 

 also been observed to be less heavy, and they have but one 

 simple membrane, as is the case with eggs laid by hens which 

 are too fat. 



During the rigorous winter of 1788, some hens lost their 



