28 gallinim;. 



Mathews, Esq., of Spring Vale (Down), informed me, that about fifty 

 of these birds kept there, flew about in company every evening before 

 roosting, and then settled for the night on old ash trees, which were the 

 highest about the place. On a field of barley being reaped, a nest of 

 these birds was discovered, containing between two and three 

 hundred eggs. 



Holy wood House, Sept. 1847. It is amusing to see a guinea hen and 

 common hen here, jointly taking care of a few young guinea fowl 

 brought out by the former. The hen had not lost any chickens lately, 

 but a few months ago performed the maternal duty to a brood of young 

 ducks, which she incubated. The mother proper and foster mother 

 are the best of friends in taking care of the brood, but the latter is 

 much the more attentive to them, by pointing out food, &c. She also 

 protects the young birds under her wings during the night, while their 

 own mother perches on high. 



The Turkey {Meleagris gallopavo) was introduced from North 

 America, where it is still found in a wild state. 



Common Fowl. Gallus domesticus. Mr. Poole remarks : — " It is 

 well known that magpies are very destructive neighbours to the fowl 

 yard. Of this a game cock belonging to a neighbour seemed to be 

 aware, as during one season he killed four of these birds, which in- 

 cautiously ventured within the fowl house where he roosted." 



Though perhaps not a rare instance in the case of this species, it 

 may be worth noticing, that a fine cock kept in our own yard, on more 

 than one occasion assaulted an old cook who nowise meddled with him, 

 though she did sometimes lay hold of some of the members of his 

 seraglio. She was once indisposed for a few days after his attack, on 

 which occasion, according to her own version, he had struck her 

 " severely with his spurs between the ribs." 



In April 1842, the following paragraph appeared in a Dublin news- 

 paper : — " On Sunday se'nnight, a child named Martha Collins, living 

 at Harold 's-cross, was sent by her mother to a livery-stable yard in the 

 neighbourhood, kept by a Mr. Smith. On entering the yard, a cock 

 flew at the child, and struck her three or four times in the face and 

 other parts of the head, cutting her with each blow. A woman, also 

 named Collins, resident in the yard, hearing the screams of the little 

 sufferer, ran to her assistance and rescued her. On the Tuesday 

 following, it was considered necessary to have medical aid, and the 



