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I sae: 
26 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
lours with thofe they have fhed, but this is often the 
cafe with birds of other kinds. 
Hens frequently lay almoft every day. In 
Malacca, which ‘is in Siam in Afia, they often 
lay twice a day. Warmth is very neceflary at 
that time ; and they will produce many eggs dur- 
ing the cold weather in winter, if they are kept 
in 2 fable upon warm horfelitter. As foon as 
the Hen has laid, fhe makes a noife which is 
called cackling. 
Eggs, as foonas they are laid, begin to give out 
moifture through the fhell, they lofe fome grains 
in weight every day, and in time fpoil, either for 
| producing Chickens or for eating: indeed the 
lefs frefh an egg is, the longer it is in being 
hatched. “lhofe who are accuftomed to raile 
poultry, prefer new laid eggs, and we do not 
Gnd that when a Hen makes a nett unobferved, 
and jays her eggs undifturbed, that the firft laid 
are hatched fooner than the laft; though they 
mutt have been fat upon for fometime, perhaps 
every day, fince they were laid. In order to pre 
_ ferve eggs from fpoiling, it is ufual to cover the 
fhell with butter, or with fome greafy {ubftance ; 
py thefe means they have been kept good for — 
fome months, and it is imagimed that they might 
be preferved fo for a year. 
“Whea 

