Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-31
AevzcuHuraI
THE POULTRI' I.ERD.

"See those cocksr cried Themistocles,
looking at two fcathered combatants, "they
fight with Hellenic ardor, as if for their
hearths and freedom" And in truth, fight
ing cocks are the most resolute of combat
ants. Their heads bent downward, head
against head, and with blazing eyes, they
wait the favorable moment to commence the
onset The feathers bristle, the comb swells,
and now the furious fight begins. The spurs
are used as weapons. A second step, and
again they take aim, and again the spurs
clank together. But the contest is undecid-
ed. Blind with fury on rush the champions,
cutting to pieces neck and head, and not
giving over the fight till one or the other,
faint with loss of blood is obliged to retire.
Civilization has not tanned their hasty rage,
nor broken their angry spirits. Neither has
their hot blood been cooled in our northern
regions. For its warlike propensity and
bravery the cock was used by the Grecans
as a symbol for the adornment of their
shields and war gods.
With the first appearance of day, while
the world is yet buried in sleep, the voice
of this bird rises on the air, calling to the
ifeighboring fowls, who answer from far and
near; but soon all is still again, and the
many-voced chorus sink to a solo, as if the
victor was rejoicing. Still it is too early.
Soon the alarm sounds again. "Clear the
way there" he shouts, "here am Iv' Cau-
tiously placing foot before foot, head and
feathers properly shapen, and crest raised,
he gaily enters the fresh world, his shrill
tones waking the echoes. Neck and feet
outstretched, and with fluttering tail and
wings keeping time, he assumes airs of
consequence, and announces to the whole
fowl race that their lord and master is at his
post. Growing he announces the day, crow
ing he triumphs over his shrill sounding
rival, and growing he announces a change
of weather, and growing he collects the scat
tered hens together. Yet his voice is differ
ent at different times, as may be observed
by any one familiar with the idioms of the
hen language. He searches right and left
for food, and seeing kernel, cries: "Come,
come, come all p So his voice sounds. The
hens quickly fly to him and soon dispatch
the corn. He is the same careful parent
that we see among ourselves, granting moth
ing to himself, while his scratching feet dis
cover ever new treasures for his offspring
As he stands yonder, he is like a Sultan in
his harem; but among the Sultans he is moi
favorite. Still his fatherly care extends
equally to all.
Cock and hen, however, are two different
characters. The hen is the ideal of woman
hood. The cock has scarcely anything to
do in caring for the wants and education OF
his descendants. Not even for a moment
does the careful mother leave her chickens
she trusts no one to guide them. Industri-
ously looking, she goes in the midst of her
little flock, seeking for food on the ground,
and in the grass; and if she finds a kernel
or worm, she calls most ioyfully carefully
cutting it into small pieces, that it may not
be too large for her little children, she pla-
ces it before them, more attentive by far to
them, than the cock to her. Hank Some
thing unusual is in motion. The hen calls
her young, and quickly gathers them under
her spreading wings. STOPPING down, She
awaits the enemy. 1t is he circlng hawk,
the sly, hypocritical cat, or the crafty little
weasel. The cat lies in ambush, but seldom
begins the attack; and so also the other
natural enemies of the hen scarcely ever
disturb her "ancient and solitary reign"