San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-04-02
Written for the LIGHT.
HEN0L0GY.
The Habits and Peculiarities of the
Domesticated Hen.

study Henology? linen thou mast
naught to do but put aside for
a short while the monstrous din
and cares of city life and HE away
to some near farm; exchange for
an indefinite time, the heaven
reaching, enrapturing notes Of the
latest prima donna, for the barn
cocks shrill clarion, or the festive
rondelay Of the speckled pullet.
Whilst studying Henology in syl-
van retreats of the farm yard, |
will from experience, suggest be-
fore hand that you not be over
friendly with the already too gen.
tie friend for she is very apt at the
time of laying that all important
egg, to Overstep her own real es-
tate limits and enCroach upon the
sanctity Of ones abode. At this
critical period in the hens exist
ence, when her mind seems com.
pletely absorbed in the one desire
to furnish man with fresh supply
Of hen-fruit, her preparations are
elaborated as we'll as eccentric in
choosing a nest, which at one time
she may construct at the depths
Of some dark ravine, orjat another,
upon the cold marble of our most
expensive centre-table. Her idea
Of when and where to locate
seems at first vague and confused
in her mind and gives her
no little uneasiness and anxiety. |
have known our modern hen
poise half day upon the highest
old fashioned bed post in the
house meditating upon her future
maternal responsibilities, or as to
the most satisfactory locating
point, and upon the slightest re-
monstrance from the house-maid
gave vent in her wrath to the
shrillest, most hysterical cackling
ever heard; upon further remon-
STRANGE knocked right and left all
bric-a-brac, bottles OF ink, ETC.,
finally making an exit through
the most convenient window pane.
We are since convinced that
reasoning with a fruitful insane
hen proves fruitless, as we'll as use
less, for the longer we thwart her
in her valuable scheme, the more
persevering and delinquent she
will be. Sometimes she is very
tasteful, preferring very often our
own white cOunterpaned bed of
ease, to the rough straw on the
garnet florr, and has been known
to appropriate peek boo bonnet
if left conveniently within range.
Old discarded hats, frocktail coats,
ETC., help very much to compose
her nest. She will change her
mind fifty times in one short hour
and when at last she is compelled
to lay, the rest of the day is spent
in loud Vociferous speech-making
and thanksgiving. After estab-
fishing permanent location the
foundation of which is nest.egg,
the hen loses a great many OF her
eccentric manners and becomes
more sedate and mysterious each
day until she sees her fOndeSt hopes
realized by nest running over
with choice fresh eggs, provided
it be not at that season OF the year
when hen fruit is generally laid
in an added state.) Then comes
the most remarkable change in the
hens short existence, that of inCu-
batting. Her manner, which has
heretofore been as placid as a sum
meT's day lake, now becomes as
rough as the stormy waves Of the
ocean. From the small festive pull
let Of month ago she has now be.
come a veritable hypochondriac.
Woe be to the four-year-oid that
should cross her domain as she will
tackle it with as much ferocity as
she would an innocent poodle or
bull pup. Kind reader, didst thou
ever wrestle with hen that had a
wild desire toincubate. Then thou
hast but the slightest idea of the
perseverance Of the domestic hen
over man. No matter how often
her nest may be ravaged, she still
clings to her old homestead with re-
fidelity; any commodity
from a china egg, down to an
empty dry goods box, will serve
for the missing parts of her once
full nest and she will set patiently
three or four weeks, none the wiser,
upon a solitary egg, and if at the
end of that time she is fortunate
enough to produce chick, she will
strut with it out into the wide,
wide world, as happy in her small |
as Rothschild with his |
millions. Much can be said of the |
bravery of the domestic hen as
we'll as her affection for her young
family. We have never heard of |
the hawk that came to an untimely |
end while protecting her brood, al