242 COMMON OR BARN-DOOR FOWL, 
has the recommendation of being easily and universally 
procurable, and not over expensive; and, with this, 
one feed of good corn, in the middle of the day, will 
be advisable and sufficient. In the absence of potatoes, 
the two sorts of meal just mentioned, with a third part 
of sharps or fine bran, will make a suitable mess. 
The Poultry Yard should be enclosed in such a man- 
ner, as to render it convenient for confining the birds 
when required ; but the more they axe at liberty be- 
yond its narrow range, the better for their health at 
all times, on account of the quantity of green food and 
insects, requisite to make up their proper nourishment. 
Before dismissing this portion of our subject, and 
commencing with a short account of the Domestic W ater 
Fowls, we quote the following from the work of the 
celebrated White of Selbome : — 
“ In so extensive a subject, sketches and outlines are 
as much as can bo expected ; for it would be endless to 
instance, in all the infinite variety of the feathered na- 
tion. We shall, therefore, confine the remainder of this 
letter to the few Domestic Fowls of our yards, which are 
most known, and therefore best understood. And first, 
the Peacock, with his gorgeous train, demands our atten- 
tion ; but, like most of the gaudy birds, his notes are 
grating and shocking to the ear : the yelling of cats, 
and the braying of an ass, are not more disgustful. The 
voice of the Goose is trumpet-like and clanking ; and 
