74 
DOMESTIC FOWL. 
assimilate perfectly with the common species in habits and in kind of food; 
but they have this peculiarity, that the cocks and hens are so nearly alike 
that it is difficult to distinguish them. They have also a peculiar gait and 
cry. The head is covered with a kind of casque, with wattles under its bill, 
and the whole plumage is either black or dark gray, sprinkled with regular 
and uniform white spots. The pintado is a native of Guinea and South 
America, and in the wild state makes its nest in the holes of the palm-tree. 
It is gregarious, and is often found in large flocks. 
These birds lay abundance of eggs, rather smaller than those of the com¬ 
mon hen, and speckled. They may be reared by placing the eggs under a 
hen ; but the chicks are extremely tender, and very often a sudden change 
of the wind in March will sweep off a whole brood in a few hours. 
DISEASES OF FOWLS. 
One of the first diseases of domestic fowls is what is called the pip, a 
white scale or skin growing upon the tip of the tongue. To cure this, scrape 
off the skin with your nail, and rub the tongue with salt. An imposthume, 
or boil, on the rump, is called the roup; this should be opened with a large 
needle, and the part afterward washed with salt and water. Another 
disease is the flux, or looseness of the bowels, which is generally cured by 
good solid food, and a few coriander seeds. Another disease is called the 
chip, in which the poor little creatures, about six weeks after they are 
hatched, sit chirping and moping in corners. It is a kind of consumption, 
and when so affected the chickens should be put into flannel, and placed in 
a basket near the fire, which will occasionally restore them. The gapes is 
another disease, or rather a similar disease with different symptoms. The 
sun or fire warmth, generous diet, and a small quantity of black pepper, 
are the best remedies. 
Sometimes it happens that a fowl will overfeed itself, and be unable to 
dispose of the great quantity of grain lodged in the crop, which will puff 
