DOMESTIC FOWL. 29 - 



child was shown to Dr. Monks, who at once pronounced the case fatal. 

 The child expired the next day. An inquest was held on the 

 body, and a verdict according to the above-mentioned circumstance 

 returned.* " 



Aug. 24, 1846. Mr. Joseph Mc Kelvey states, that a hen of his 

 at Milltown, Falls, having " sat " beyond the ordinary time on a 

 number of eggs, he yesterday examined them, and finding them addled, 

 commenced breaking the eggs in the presence of the hen, who shrieked 

 at beholding the operation, and hurried from the place. When passing 

 the nest, about an hour afterwards, Mr. Mc Kelvey observed the hen 

 on it, and, going to the spot, found her quite dead, without any 

 appearance of external injury : he concluded she had died of grief. 

 From my knowledge of my informant, I can vouch for the truthfulness 

 of what is here related ; although the accuracy of the conclusion as to 

 the cause of death may be questionable. 



Fowls and eggs form such great items of exportation from this 

 country, that the following note is given to show the important difference 

 between a good and a bad breed. 



In August 1845, William Ogilby, Esq., of London, informed me 

 that he last year sent a pair of the grey Dorking fowls to a friend in the 

 county of Londonderry. Within five months the hen laid seven dozen 

 of eggs — laying two days in succession, ceasing the third day, and so 

 on during the period. From these, five dozen of young, with the aid 

 of other hens as mothers, (the Dorking hens are themselves excellent 

 parents) were reared. All the eggs were not " set," some having been 

 eaten. They are very large, sometimes weighing S\ ounces. Cocks 

 weigh from 10 to 12 lbs. ; hens, when fat, 8 lbs. ; chickens four or five 

 months old, 4 or 5 lbs. ; one cock of this age was 6 lbs. Mr. Ogilby 

 has spread these fowls as much as possible over the neighbourhood, and 

 they are greatly valued by the peasantry, as for their eggs they receive 

 fifty per cent, more than for ordinary eggs — the one kind sells for id. 

 per dozen, the other for 6d. My friend is not aware whether the 



* The Bishop of Norwich, in his ' Familiar History of Birds,' mentions an un- 

 gallant and furious assault of a cock-pheasant upon a young lady when quietly walking 

 on the highway, but who, nevertheless, seized her assailant and carried him home. 

 A mousing hen being alluded to in this work (3rd ed. vol. ii. p. 97,) reminds me that 

 in my young days there was a hen of our own stock which took an especial 

 delight in mouse-hunting : I have often seen her carrying the victims about as if in 

 triumph. 



