66 BATCHING. 



ill bran; the date and description having been 

 marked in pencil on each, (fig. 6.) 



One glance then suffices for selection, and the 

 eggs are in nowise shaken. See that your hen 

 be well fed, and has water, before putting her on 

 the nest ; if hungry, she will be restless. 



If you get sitting hens from a distance, they 

 should be carried in a basket, covered over with 

 a cloth, never with. the head downwards, as is too 

 often seen, at the risk of suffocation, and the 

 certain dissipation of their maternal dreams. 



Brahmas and Cochins are excellent sitters, 

 and have no objection to enter into your views of 

 a fitting domicile for them, during their retrdite; 

 but Dorkings occasionally rebel, and refuse to 

 sit, unless in their own way. You must be very 

 gentle with them, and try, by kindness, to induce 

 them to take to the nest selected. You cannot 

 allow one hen to sit where others can have 

 access to her nest. If you really have no room 

 for her elsewhere, put a wire coop over her in her 

 usual house, with something hung round it, to 

 keep her secluded from every eye. Want of ac- 

 commodation may compel you to do this ; but, if 



