Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-24


The simians that Professor Garner
discovered In Africa and wi ich claims
can talk as readily as human beings
will have to look to their laurels. for
Professor Asgcr Hamerik OF the Pea
body institute OF Baltimore has made
the discovery that hens and roostcrs OF
the ordinary barnyard breed hold pro-
tracted and interesting conversations
with each other.
The careful attention he has given
to the subject has not been In vain
Although he Las not vet advanced 10
far in his researches nA TO be able
to discuss the topics OF the day with
his chickens, he has learned enough
TO be able to tell what hen means
when she caoltlcs. whether u IL for u
newly laid egg OF merely tale OF woe
or n paean Of triumph over the dis
covery OF fresh worm or juicy
grasshopper. lie can also tell you from
the tones of ROSTERS crow whether
he ~ signaling Victory over con-
quered foe or merely passing away the
time or heralding the approach of day.
The rooster has been the professors
pet subjects. He has been ON the
greatest terms Of intimacy with Sir
'hhnuclecT loT uHNihu VI NNNHAS
years Boosters" said he TO Il re-
porter. "as well as hens are the great
est gosslpers In the world When
they get together, they do nothing but
chatter continually. This is true also
OF the young pulleta | have watched
them for hours at n time. and they
would talk In this why" Here the
professor gave an imitation OF II hon
cluclng and other OF the sounds no
familiar In the fnrmyard
'Thnt they are converting with one
another is proved by the fact that n
rooster or hen when alone n abro-
iutely SILENT excepting on rare occa-
sions. when II sings n low lullaby. AZ
II were. TO itself, much MS humans hum
when alone or AS cat will pur when
contented. Just as soon, however, ns
the solitary hen or rooster meets an
other you will hear an animated en-
versation. / have not progressed NO far
that nm able to understand all they
say, but | understand some OF their
sounds and can initiate one or two
so successfully that hen listening will
pay close attention TO me, Thur II !
sound the note OF alarm u hen makes
when n hawk is near or some other
danger menaces she viii Immediately
fly to clover"
The professor believes chickens tell
each other current news. One day he
introduced new hen into his yard
who, the very first time she spiod the
dog. set up a great cnckling and few
around the yard In state OF evident
terror An old hen observed her for
Il few minutes. meanwhile making
some sounds that were Intended 10 re-
assure the scared fowl. but which had
no effect, for the new arrival cackled
worse and louder than ever. Finally
the old hen approached close to the
stranger. chuckling In low tone.
What she said he had no means Of
knowing. but It must have been some.
thing of reaEsuring character, for
the new hen at once ceased her clut-
ter, and never after that did she dis
play the least fear OF the dog
Growing among the ROSTERS afforded
Professor IIamerik another interesting
study. He noted the crows OF over 600
ROSTERS and never found two who
crowed alike. Each. after little prac-
tica could readily be distinguished
from the other The duration OF crow
ing IL between midnight and noon
Each crow lasts from three 10 seven
seconds Although ROSTERS may crow
at any time Of night, especially n y IL
moonlight, they CROW the most fire.
duently at dawn or Just before,
The Growing seems 10 be sort OF
telegraph service between the rooaters.
according 20 Professor Uamerik. for In
variably IN a neighborhood whore there
are many chickens the Growing Is AL
WAYS started In the morning by the
same rooster. Immediately response
comes from all the other ROSTERS. Gen.
orally there are about seven crows
given In on interval OF ten seconds.
and then there Ii silence for the space
Of perhaps twenty seconds. when the
first rooster starts again, and the per-
Torrance rs repeated, a rooster al.
ways crows. too. shortly after eating,
and never falls to voice bis SOY IN
deep toned crow after he yanquiGhes a
rival.
The professor hnr discovered. among
other things. that chickens have very
acute sense of taste, hearing and yls-
Ion. but lack the sense Of smell. The
most powerful fumes Of acid arc IND
perceptibie 10 them. An experiment
with ammonia proved that, though
overcome with Il, the hens walked
blindiy into the Same danger repeat
eddy.
The senne OF taste IS exceedingly
well developed. The professor fro
1870 ofaarusd n fshlcl<Eu After eat