122 
natural mSTOKY. 
ing, and will grow fat, while many of the 
wilder fpecies pine away, and refufe even 
common fnllenance. 
It is particularly remarkable of this clafs 
of birds, that, though naturally fond of fo- 
ciety, their fenliial appetites are fuch, as to 
admit of no connubial fidelity, which is fuch 
a diltinguifiiing chara£terill;ic in birds of the 
rapacious kind, fuch as the eagle, dec. wliofe 
connexions, when once formed, never end 
but with their lives. 
The cock, like the bull, wild and irregu- 
lar in his appetites, ranges from one hen to 
another, ftruts about the farm yard, like a 
Sultan in his feraglio, and confiders every one 
of his fex as his rival and enemy. Carelefs 
of his progeny, he leaves to the female all 
the care of providing for the young ; which 
file performs with tlic greatefi: maternal care 
and tendernefs, till they are capable of provi- 
ding for themfelyes. 
The hen, equally devoid of fidelity and at- 
tachment with the cock, when he meets and 
engages v/ith a rival,' ftands an unconnefted 
fpeclator of the confiift, and readily receives 
the embraces of the conqueror. 
Tl'he cock, w hen oppoled to a bird of prey, 
is timorous and cowardly ; but when in oppo- 
jition to one of his own fpecies, he is na- 
turally valient, feldom leaving his antagonift 
until he is killed or taken from him ; many 
fliamcful inftanccs of which are too fi'f 
quently 
