CHARACTER. 
101 
state of polygamy, are over-bearing and quarrelsome in 
the highest degree; they fight to the death, not only with 
their rivals in the tender passion, but also for the sake of 
getting the upper hand, in general; and they show the 
most extraordinary courage and perseverance in these 
contests. Lenz gives us an example of this in the 
domestic Fowl:—“In the month of May, 1839, I hap¬ 
pened to have a hen Turkey, which had just hatched-off 
a brood of twenty chicks, and, as soon as they were fit, 
placed mother and youngsters in the farmyard. Scarcely 
were they installed in their new abode when a young 
Cockerel, barely a year old, dashed at the Turkey, 
and a terrific battle ensued. As long as the two 
birds confined themselves to flying at one another, 
matters were pretty equal; when, however, it came to 
pecking, the tide of war turned decidedly in favour of the 
Turkey, who from its superior height, had the advantage 
of being able to strike directly downwards. At last it 
punished the Cock’s head so severely that he could 
scarcely stir. I took him away, trusting he would have 
the good sense to leave the Turkey alone in future, and, 
placing him in a quiet corner, told one of my people to 
keep an eye on the bird; I then left. On returning, 
about two hours later, the person I had left in charge 
told me that he had at first forgotten the birds, and 
found them later in the yard together. It appeared that 
the Cockerel, leaving his corner, had again entered the 
yard and resumed the engagement, for he was found 
bleeding, and to all appearances dead, the Turkey, with 
bloody beak, giving him an occasional extra peck. ‘ I 
have laid him in the stable,’ said my informant. Feel¬ 
ing excessively annoyed, as the Cockerel was an especial 
favourite of mine, I went to the stable, and, to my great 
p 
