November 18. 
THE COTTAGE GATIDENER. 
117 
dominant colour, and only a few Idack patches about the 
; size of a crown-piece could 1)0 observed. Upon the sxio- 
, oeeding moult, all tlie black spots disappeared, and the hen 
liecame uniformly of a pure white like that of a swan. As 
she was at this time old for a fowl, that is, not less than ten 
yciirs, it might be thought that old ago, which whitens the 
human hair, likewise whit(ms the feathers of certain birds ; 
but, in that case, JI. Eeaumur says, the transition from the 
ruddy to tlie white ought not to have been made, as it really 
was, through the black; and he was of opinion, as the hen 
was still vigorous and healthy, that she might again change 
her colour, if slie lived, to brown or black. 
“ M. Eeaumur makes some interesting remarks oji a cock 
which ho obseiwed with more attention than the hen, so as 
to establish proofs, that the white colours of the feathers 
were not, at least in that instance, cairsed by age. The 
owner of tlio cock was struck-, the first time ho moulted, 
with the singuliu- change in liis colour; and for five succes¬ 
sive motilts, there was always a considerable change of 
colour. In his first year, he had some of the ruddy brown, 
mixed with white, so common in dunghill cocks; in the 
second, he was all over ruddy brown, or rather red, 
without any white; in the third, ho becamo unifonnly 
black; in the fourth, uniformly white; and in the fifth, 
when he was presented by the prior of Einy to M. 
Itcaumur as a curiosity, he had white feathers mixed with 
a good deal of ruddy colour and brown, bordering upon 
chestnut, his neck, back, wings, and bellj', being ruddy ; and 
ev(m whore there were white feathers, they were mingled 
with ruddy ones. During the summer vacation at I’aris, 
M. Eeaumur was two months without seeing the cock ; but 
in this period he became so changed as not to be recognisa¬ 
ble, his featliers having become all over of the finest wlute. 
The following year ho had partly white feathers, but the 
greater portion was ruddy, or rather of a fair red. Hero, 
then, was a transition from white to a light brown, indi¬ 
cating that the whiteness of his featliers was not owing to 
the number of his years. 
“ It has been remarked by several scientific observers, that 
hen birds of various species, but more pai-ticulai'ly hen 
i pheasimts, put on, under certain circumstances,the plumage 
' of the male. The cclelirated physiologist, Mr. .lohn Hunter, 
; in his work on the “ Animal Economy,” is of opinion that 
! ‘ this change of ch.aracter takes place at an advanced age of 
the animal’s life, and does not grow up with it from the 
beginning.’ Mr. Eutler expresses a similar opinion still 
more strongly, namely, that ‘ all hen pheasants, as well as 
common fowls, would assume the j)lumago of the cock, to a 
certain degree, if they were kept to a certain age.’— (Mem. 
jrenier. Soc. vol. iii.) Though this, however, to some extent 
may be true, the reasons, or rather the accompanying cir¬ 
cumstances and changes of constitution, were first pointed 
out, it is believed, by Mr. Yarrell, who sooms to h.ave deter¬ 
mined that the change of coloiu’ depends on disease, or 
removal of the ovarium of the fowl. Among seven hen 
I pheasants, whose plumage more or less resembled that of 
' the male, he formd the organ in qirestion diseased, with 
; some variation as to extent, and the progress of change 
observable in the plumage boro a corresponding .analogy. 
, At the commencement of this internal disease, the plumage 
; does not seem to bo affected, for ‘ hen pheasants in con¬ 
finement, and female of Eie common fowl in the poultry- 
yard, had been known to have ceased producing eggs two 
years before any change was observed in their plumage.’ ” 
We have yet three or four modern works to notice, 
and must, tlierefore, defer our concluding rem.arks to 
a future week. 
COVENT GAllHEN. 
It is astonishing how many subjects arc suggested to 
the mind during our observations on the produce offered 
for sale in Covent Garden Market, and in the prepa¬ 
ration of these reports; subjects both of historical and 
economic, as well as financial interest. There are many 
articles produced here which recall the names and 
experience of names honoured in some department of 
horticulture, and others which suggest systems by wliich 
wo may improve and increase our internal resources. 
Among these last, we have often thought that a great 
deal might be done by an extensive and judicious 
planting of the best varieties of fruits. The importation 
of Ajiples, Pears, and Plums is every year becoming 
greater ; and, surely, fruit of our ow-n growth, produced 
in market with all the freshness of recent gathering, 
must be far more acceptable than that which has been 
stowed, and heated, and mouldy, and, in many instances, 
gathered before it is nearly ripe. 'There was a great 
outcry, some years ago, when the duty was taken off 
foreign fruit. Gur growers, like a boy flinching under 
a threatened blow, hung down their hands, at what they 
thought was an approaching calamity; and, instead 
of planting more extensively, and withstanding the 
ajiproach of the foreigner, they cried out for help, and 
in the midst of their despair quite forgot to help them¬ 
selves. Within the last few years a re-action has taken 
place. When the foreign fruit was admitted, prices fell, 
and the mechanic who had an apple-dumpling only 
once a week before, had it three times then ; the demand 
and consumption increased; the home-grower had not 
enough to supply it, and the foreigner, of course, reaped 
as gi’eat an advantage as he did. Our growers began to 
find this out, and they set-to planting more extensively. 
Still, however, the demand increases; the prosperity of 
the country, and the increasing comforts and luxuries of 
the working classes cry, “ give, give." Railways bring 
town to cotintiy and country to town, and year alter 
year we find consumption on the increase. Now, tlie 
first ohject to be kept in view in planting new planta¬ 
tions is the varieties of the fruits. 'J’he sorts in general 
cultivation twenty or thirty ycai-s ago will not do now; 
and it is our intention, next week, to allude more 
particularly to the varieties which we consider best 
adapted for this purpose, and which w'ill bo most re¬ 
munerative to the grower. Meanwhile, wm shall proceed 
as usual to record the state of the market for the past 
week. 
Fruit. —The supply of Appi.es during the week has 
been rather short. Many of the growers are holding 
back in expectation that the supply will bo short. 'There 
is no doubt that the crop this year is much shorter 
than last, and prices will be higher, but we question if 
it will be judicious on the part of holders to overstand 
the market while they can realise a fair price. The 
consequence of holding back will be, a considerable 
rise, and also a large importation, and then comes the 
usual reaction—a fall. And it ought, also, to be borne 
in mind, that there are many feeders to London now; 
fruit is brought from districts in England in the present 
day which either consumed or destroyed the crop in the 
olden time for want of an outlet; and a higli price will 
jiay to send from great distances. The prices which 
have been made during the week are, for cooking 
Apples, .‘Is. (id. to (is. per bushel, consisting of Yorkshire 
Oreenings, Kentish Broadeiuh, Gatshcads, Beauty of 
Kent, and Flower of Kent. Dessert Apples are making 
4s. to 8s., and are liibstons, Blenheim fwiiins, Fearn's 
