THE HEX FEVER. 83 



and sometimes thi-ee a-day. I have hens that lays two 

 eggs a-day, frequenly, but I ■want to get the breed that 

 will lay three eggs a-day, reglar. If you have got anny 

 of the Cotchins that you knoio lays three eggs a-day, I 

 would like to get a few, at a fair price. I don't pay no 

 fancy prices for 'em, though. The hen fever won't larst 

 forever, I don't believe ; and then when its busted up, 

 what 's the fowls good for, even if they do lay three eggs 

 a-day? Let me hear from you, — but don't send any fowls 

 unless you are sure they lay three eggs every day ! 



Yours, &c., 



No. 24. 

 Mr. Btjrnham. — Sir : I am a gentleman, and I have 

 no disposition to be fractious. I sent you twelve dollars, in 

 a -letter, for a dozen "Cotchin" eggs, and I set them. 

 After waiting twenty-three days, I found two grizzled-col- 

 ored chickens in the nest yesterday, both of them with huge 

 top-knots on their polls ! What does this mean ? Am I 

 to be swindled out of my money thus ? By return of mail 

 if you do not refund my money, if I live I will prosecute 



question), to the "Rt. Hon. Mr. Shaw, Recorder of Dublin, to Mr. Wal- 

 ters, Her Majesty's poultry-keeper, and to J. Joseph Nolan, Esq., of 

 Dublin." This yi%a, in my opinion, one of the hums of the time, and I 

 never had occasion to change that opinion. I do not believe the hen that 

 really laid two eggs in one day ever lived to do it a second time ! I have 

 heard of this thing, however. But I never knew of the instance, myself. 



