WILL SHORTLY BE PUBLISHED BY THE SAME AUTHOR,

A TREATISE ON THE

DOMESTICATION OF THE WILD ANIMALS
OF NORTH AMERICA.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Natural History of the Domestic Cock.-Its Origin.-Species.

-Varieties.-Anatomy.-Moulting.-Duration of Life P. 17

CHAPTER II.

The different Breeds or Races of Fowls reared in the United

States.The Game Fowl.-Top-knot.-Italian. - Malay.-

Bantam. Which to be preferred.-Colour.-Change of Breed.

-Choice of Cocks.-Proportion to the Number of Hens.-In

some cases dispensed with altogether

CHAPTER III.

28

Necessity and Advantages of Confinement. - Poultry-yard.-

Substitute for it. - Feeding-hopper. - Water-tank. - Gravel-

box.-Lime.-Sand or Ashes

-

CHAPTER IV.

39

Fowl-house.-Various Plans.-Situation.-Arrangement of the

Roosting Perches.- Productiveness in Manure. Laying-

room.- Nests. -Nest Eggs. Not always essential. - Best

Time for gathering Eggs.-Secret Nests.-Noxious Vermin,

and Means of destroying them.-Kinderhook Bait . 55

CHAPTER V.

The Egg.-Its Composition.-Anatomy.-Monstrous Deviations

in Form, Size, and Weight.-Distinction of the future Germe.

-Quantity.-Season of Laying.-Uses and Value of Eggs.-

Mode of preserving them. Those unimpregnated the best

for that Purpose .

CHAPTER VI.

73

Incubation.-Anatomical Changes in the Egg during that Period.

-Artificial Hatching.-Chinese.-Egyptian Mode.-French.

-The Eccalebeion. More curious than useful.-End of In-

cubation

CHAPTER VII.

88

First Food for Chickens.-Various forms of Coops.-Substitutes.

-Forcing-frames. - Situation.-Clogs to prevent Scratch-

ing.-Food.-Artificial Food.-Return to the Poultry-yard.—

Feeding-coop.

104

CHAPTER VIII.

Various Substances used in fattening Chickens.-Confinement.

-Fattening-coop.-No Gravel.-Sugar and Molasses.-Indian

Meal.-Animal Food.-Fish.-Objections to its Use

CHAPTER IX.

P. 111

Caponization.-Its Origin.-The Instruments.-Operating-table.

-Precautions. The Operation. - Change in Habits. -In-

creased Size and Value.-Operation on the Female . . 115

CHAPTER X.

Diseases of Fowls.-Gapes.-Chip.-Purging.-Costiveness.-

Distention of the Crop.-Inflammation of the Oil-bag.-Roup.

-Lice.-Amputation of the Wing

CHAPTER XI.

126

Ordinary Food of Fowls.-A frequent Change necessary.-Esti-

mate of the comparative Value of Eggs and Chickens.-Hints

to Writers on this Subject. Determination of the Age of

Fowls exposed in the Markets.-Value of the Poultry in the

United States

CHAPTER XII.

138

The Duck. Domesticated Species.- Mallard. - Muscovy.-

Wood Duck.-Best Mode of fattening them.-Canvass-back

Duck.-Attempts to domesticate it

CHAPTER XIII.

148

The Goose.-Domesticated Species.-Common Goose.-Large

Bremen Breed.- Wild Goose.-Mongrels.- Chinese.-The

Brant.-Plucking Live Geese as practised in England -Rem-

edy proposed.-Extensive Pastures required.-The Swan 153

CHAPTER XIV.

-

The Turkey.-Its Origin.-Food in Summer chiefly Insects.-

Treatment of the Young. -To be guarded against Wet.-

Mongrels.-Caponizing.-The Christmas and Thanksgiving

Turkey.

CHAPTER XV.

164

The Peacock.-Merely Ornamental.-Guinea Fowl.-Pigeons.

-Dovecote.-Squabs and Squeakers.-The Pheasant.-The

Curassow.-Conclusion.

. 172