Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-08-20
THE BARNARD RULERS.
THE ANcIENTS HELD THE HEN
I'M HIGH HONOR.
There Is Evidence That This Valuable
Fowl Was Domesticated In Pre-
historic Times-HOw to
Silence Cock.

The period at which fowls were first
domesticated is lost in obscurity. The
earliest Greek writers mention it as a
bird held from remote antiquity in high
honor. and Peisthetarus says that it is
called the Persian bird, and at one
time reigned over that country. It is
to the east, then. that we must look
for the ancestors Of the domestic fowl,
although 1t is not known how the breed
was introduced into Greece or the south
of Europe. 1t may either have come
through Northern India or Persia, or
have been introduced by Phenician
traders. 1t figured early on Creek
and Roman coinage and was carried
in public shows OF those nations. 1t
was dedicated by the Romans both to
Apollo, Mercury. Esculapius, and
Mars; and the Latins. good judges in
matters gastrOnomic, had already dis
covered that it was best fattencd and
crammed in the dark.
Probably the Phpnicians brought
them to Britain when they went for
tin; at any rate. the cock was there be-
fore the invasion of Caesar. who tells
US that the Britons abstained from
tasting the hare. the cock and the
goose, although they hired them for
pleasure probably, in tho case of the
cock, for its fighting powers.
AS poultry have been found domes-
ticated in widely different localities
among peoples having no communica-
ton with each other and even in
islands in the South Seas. which must
have been cut off from communication
with the mainland for vast periods of
time, it is evident that their domesti-
cation must have taken place in the
very earliest times, or that there was
a natural fearlessness and desire for
mans companionship on the part of
the fowl that marked it out as special
ly adapted for the work of domcstica-
ton.
The hand of man has brought about
many changes in the bird by the inter-
mingling of species, says the Satur-
day Evening Post; by careful breeding
to render accidental peculiarities per-
manent. and by other methods; by
these great variety Of breeds have
now been established differing widely
from each other in size and in plum
age. The domestic fowl, doubtless
owes its popularity partly to it's ap-
pearance and courage, but still more
to the flavor OF its flesh. its great power
of increase, and to its productiveness
in the matter of eggs.
While the cock is. above all things,
warrior, the hen is the type of the
careful housewife and affectionate
mother. Nothing can exceed the care
and attention she bestows upon her
young. feeding guarding and teaching
them with constant attention, and with
occasional chidings when exposed to
wander from her. She is no gadabout,
and her whole thoughts are centred
upon her duty. But although so af-
fectionate mother and submissive a
wife, the hen is mindful Of her posi-
ton as the spouse OF a warrior, and as
the wife OF the knight of old would, on
OCCASION don armor. and in her hus-
bands absence defend his castle, so the
hen is ready. when danger threatens
to face boldly the dog or the hawk in
defence Of her children.
Neither the cock nor his spouse
possesses the power of singing. al
though they can utter large variety
OF sounds, from the gentle cluck of
contentment and the incessant talk bv
the mother to her children. and her
triumphant announcement of the law
ing OF an egg, to the bold challenge
to battle. tho latter being rs UNIQUE a
sound among birds IA is the brav of
the donkey among beasts.
Poets have, with their usual i,ac-
curacy. been accustomed to associate
the Growing Of the cock with the dawn
ing of morn. The neighbors of per-
sons who keep fowls know better.
Unfortunately, the cock appears to be
entirely unaware that it is possible to
have too much even of a good thing,
and is ready at all hours of the day or
night to lift up his voice in defiance of
all or any within hearing. or to accept
the most distant challenge borne upon
the air. This constitutes a grave de-
feet upon the part of the cock. Among
human beings we are accustomed to
consider the constant braggart to be a
coward. No such suspicion can at
tach to the cock; but it is a pity that
it is useless to be uttering defiances at
all times when the interposition of
strong wire netting renders combat
impossible. The cock can. however,
be silenced. just as the donkey can
not bray without Strengthening its tail.
the cock cannot crow without standing
perfectly erect A light plank. or
even latch placed above his perch,
so as to prevent him from raising his
head to the fullest will efYectually
silence him.
The domestic fowl. although itself
affording delicate eating. is in no way
particular about its own food. and is
in this respect almost Omnivorous.
Insects, slugs. and worms are doubt
less its natural food, but it delights
in grain OF all kinds. and will eat with
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