200 



ON THE CHANGE OF 



ral. Willoughby has said, that hens may be brought 

 into an " effete or barren state in three years," by for- 

 cing them to lay eggs oftener than they would na- 

 turally do, by the practice of removing their eggs 

 as fast as laid, and dipping the hens in cold water 

 when they cluck, or shew a disposition to hatch their 

 eggs by sitting ; but he does not speak of having 

 observed any changes in their plumage at this time. 

 It is evident, however, from the following quota- 

 tion, that Aristotle had observed changes similar to 

 those already mentioned, to take place in old do- 

 mestic hens ; but ornithological writers subsequent 

 to him, (especially in England), have seldom or ne- 

 ver adverted to the circumstance in their writings. 

 For a knowledge of Aristotle's remarks, as well as 

 those of many other authors, I am indebted to the 

 kindness of Professor Jameson, who has favoured me 

 with the following extract from his Lectures, which 

 are rendered most interesting to all classes of persons, 

 from the abundance of facts they contain, and which 

 have afforded me the most important and useful 

 information in the various departments of Natural 

 History, during my residence at the University 

 of Edinburgh. " Gallinae cum vicerint gallos, cu- 

 currunt, maresque imitandi subagitare conantur. 

 Attollitur etiam crista ipsis, simul et elunes (uropy- 

 gium) ; adeo ut non jam facile dignoscantur, an 

 foeminae sint. Quibusdam etiam calcaria parva sur- 

 riguntur." — Aristotle, His. Anim. lib. ix. c. 36. 



