ROOSTER AND HEN 



These birds differ so widely in color and size that it is not 

 possible to describe them, if indeed it were necessary. They 

 are so common that everyone knows them at sight. 



The nest is built on or above the ground in any secluded 

 place where a supply of hay, straw or leaves my be found. 

 The number of eggs is from twelve to eighteen varying in color 

 from pure white to yellowish-brown. The size is dependent 

 on the species. The period of incubation is twenty-one days. 



The ancestors of the domestic fowls were wild species in 

 the jungles of India and Southern China. The date when these 

 birds were tamed and made useful is uncertain. Books written 

 1000 B. C. refer to cock fighting in thoSe lands at that time. 

 Domesticated birds gradually spread westward and reached 

 Europe about 325 B. C, having been carried there by the army 

 of Alexander the Great after his invasion of Asia. 



Their distribution soon became general throughout the 

 continent of Europe; and in the countries about the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea, many fine species were developed from the Asiatic 

 birds, viz., the Leghorns, Houdans, Hamburgs, Minorcas and 

 Spanish breeds. These varieties are active, good-laying and 

 largely non-sitting, but they are all small birds. They were 

 brought to this country many years ago. 



The Brahmas were imported to America from India and 

 the Cochins from China. Both of these kinds are very large 

 fowls but they are poor egg-producers and persistent sitters. 

 Hence it may be seen that the Mediterranean varieties were 

 not entirely satisfactory because they were too small to be of 



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