322 BIRD BEHAVIUUK 



nor 49 the Mandarin a^d, Carolina Ducks as a rule 

 equal the length of life qf the Mallard,, which is 

 itself less long-lived than the Muscovy. 



Fowls are usuaJOiy not allowed to live long, but I 

 have seen a hen which, I was told, was twelve years 

 old — she certainly looked it ; and I have also seeu a 

 Bantam-cock of seven, which, though elderly- 

 lookiug, had sired chicks the year I made his acquaint- 

 ance. The historical game-cock who killed the 

 fox, also, was three years old at the time, and was 

 winning contests with his own kind at six years. 

 It wo\i,ld be interesting to know how Iqng Hum- 

 ming-birds live, and Mr. Ezra's two specimens have 

 given us some information ; at the time of writing 

 he had had them a year an,d a half, and they were 

 adults when received, so that at any rate these 

 birds are not sihort-lived like insects, as many 

 people seem to think they should be. 



They do, however, resemble insects in beconjing 

 torpid when exposed to cold, and those species 

 which range to Canada, Abska, and Patagqpist 

 presumably undergo this torpidity regularly ev^ry 

 night in spring and autumn ; Gould's pair of the 

 Ruby-thrpat {Trocbilus coMbris) certainly did so 

 when on board ship in cold waters,, but this may 

 have shortened their lives, as one died in the 

 Channel and the other on reaching London. V^ry 

 young birds, whether nestlings or chicks.^ also 

 become torpid when exposed to cold. 



Generally speaking, the temperature of birds is 

 exceedingly high, and maintained und^r all Qvrt- 



