the Aviary system; when it will be found that their plumage improves in beauty with almost every moult.

But a great merit of all the Polish Fowls is this: that for three or four years they go on growing and gaining in size, hardiness, and beauty, especially the male birds. This fact, which any amateur can verify for himself by observation, assuredly points out a very wide deviation in constitution from those Fowls which attain their full stature and perfect plumage in twelve or fifteen months. The similarity of colouring in the two sexes, almost a specific distinction of Polish and perhaps Spanish Fowls, also separates them from those breeds, as the Game, in which the Cocks and Hens are remarkably dissimilar. An additional recommendation to the Polish is, that their edible qualities are as super-excellent compared with other Fowls, as their outward apparel is superior in elegance, a point which is recorded here not from mere hearsay; although, to confirm it, Temminck quotes Sonnini's information that the Polish Fowls (les Coqs huppés) are highly esteemed in Egypt for the goodness of their flesh; and are so abundant in Upper Egypt as to be sold for 2 d. or 3d. each. At the Cape of Good Hope this breed is equally cultivated.

The

Polish Fowls are also currently reported as everlasting layers, which further fits them for keeping in small inclosures; but, as in the Hamburghs, individual exceptions are often met with, however truly the habit may be ascribed to the race. "I only know of the Goldenspangled, Silver-spangled, and Black Poland that are everlasting layers, though of the Black, I believe there are two varieties, one smaller than the other. small ones are of a purer black, with larger top-knots, and I think I have heard they are truer everlasting layers than the large variety. Some of the large ones have slight white tips to a few of their feathers. I am altogether unable to point out any difference between the Polanders that are everlasting layers, and those that are not; for I have seen several that apparently were pure

bred that were as much inclined to sit as any other Fowls." J. S. W.

Both the Poland and the Lark-Crested Fowls are, in Norfolk, trivially called "Copplecrowns."*

Before taking leave of the full-sized Fowls, it may be observed that the initiated can often distinguish the various breeds unseen, by their crow. A friend remarks, "there is an Italian proverb: ' as the old Cock crows, so crows the young,' and indeed,' the voice may be considered as a tolerably fair guide for ascertaining whether the different breeds of domestic Fowl are genuine or not. Amongst individual Cocks of the same variety, there will indeed, be frequently slight variations in the tone of crowing; but yet, a person having anything of a correct ear, may easily trace the family crow throughout. Thus, the game breeds that I have kept, have always rather a shrill, but not inharmonious crow, with a very peculiar, abrupt termination. The Blue Duns have somewhat the same style of crowing, but with a more regular and gradual finale. Cocks of the Silver Hamburgh variety are generally even more shrill than the two last mentioned, giving, however, a longer finishing note. The Polish are not, I think, remarkable for melody in crowing; they are harsh-toned, and frequently lack that agreeably sounding turn in the crow, that you hear in the Game and Hamburgh, and others. The Spanish, also, though professing to come from a land rich in musical ability, are not highly gifted with vocal powers. Their crowing is loud, indeed, and

In the "Turnament of Tottenham, or, the Wooing, Winning, and Wedding of Tibbe, the Reeve's daughter there," an old burlesque ballad, the Reeve says—

"Whoso berys hym best in the turnament,

Hym schal be granted the gre be the comon assent,

For to wynne my dozter wyth dughtynessé of dent,

And coppell' my brode-henne that was brozt out of Kent:

And my dunnyd kowe

For no spens wyl I spare,
For no cattell wyl I care,
He schall have my gray mare,
And my spottyd sowe."

not so very shrill, but squally and grating to the ear. Some few individuals are better and richer in tone, but those are the exceptions, not the rule. The Malay's voice is hoarse, and not so loud as, from the size of the bird, might be expected; while that of the noble CochinChina is deep-toned, mellow, and prolonged, like the closing note of an accomplished singer. Bantams are more varied in their crowing powers than any of the breeds above-mentioned, but one I possessed some years since was so particularly musical, that his crow sounded like two or three bars of an air whistled in a mellow key. It has, I believe, been universally remarked, that the Domestic Cock always claps the wings before, and the Pheasant after crowing. The Cock, however, as I have often noticed, will frequently give another clapping after the song is ended. These birds must sleep very lightly and watchfully, as, the instant an individual, roosting separately and at a distance, begins his clamour, the others answer, and the concert spreads from farm to farm, throughout the village. To hear this natural alarum-bell ringing far and wide between ten and twelve o'clock on a December's night is singular enough. The cause of these birds thus forestalling their morning note of gratulation has not yet, I think, been satisfactorily explained.

"The growth of the spur in the gallinaceous order of birds is often irregular and unaccountable. Among Fowls especially, it is a very misleading guide to denote the age. You may see an old Hen, eight or twelve years of age without the slightest semblance of a spur; and again, in a last year's Hen you may observe them of some length, and even in a Pullet of the same season (as in the case of one of the Game Pullets you sent me,) the spur is highly developed. The same remarks will apply, though in a less degree, to Cocks also. Many are the persons who have been thus woefully deceived when purchasing Pheasants for the table; as they afterwards find to their annoyance, when the bird is undergoing the process of mastication."-H.H.

BANTAM FOWLS.

Hermia. Now I perceive that she hath made compare
Between our statures, she hath urged her height;
And with her personage, her tall personage,
Her height, forsooth, she hath prevailed with him,—
And are you grown so high in his esteem,
Because I am so dwarfish, and so low?
How low am I, thou painted maypole ? speak;
How low am I? I am not yet so low,

But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes.
Helena. O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd :
She was a vixen, when she went to school;
And, though she be but little, she is fierce.
Hermia. Little again ? nothing but low and little ?—
Why will you suffer her to flout me thus?
Let me come to her.

Midsummer Night's Dream. Act III.

We are now timorously approaching the most treasured pets of the Fancy. We have advanced with a tolerably steady footstep through the flocks of well-sized creatures that crowded beside our path-the Turkeys, the Peacocks, the Geese, and the Swans,—and should not have feared to encounter even an Emeu or a Cereopsis, had chance planted one in the way; but a sudden fear and trembling creeps over us as we draw near to these mysterious elves and pigmies of the feathered world. Gulliver got on very well in Brobdingnag, so long as he did not attempt any leap beyond his strength; but the minute Lilliputians teased him sadly by their numbers, their activity, and the unseen and unsuspected places from whence they issued. But twenty or thirty years back

Bantams would have supplied a more formidable musterroll than they now do.

Bantam is the name of a town and kingdom in the island of Java, famous for its trade in pepper, of which the Dutch despoiled us, and for its unrelenting punishment of thieves. "The Laws of this country" (Achin, the north-western part of Sumatra, famous for the juicy and refreshing fruit called the Pumple-nose, and the seductive and intoxicating herb Ganga or Bang) "are very strict, and offenders are punished with great severity. Neither are there any delays of justice here; for as soon as the Offender is taken, he is immediately brought before the Magistrate, who presently hears the matter, and according as he finds it, so he either acquits, or orders punishment to be inflicted on the Party immediately. Small Offenders are only whipt on the back, which sort of punishment they call Chaubuck. A Thief for his first offence, has his right hand chopt off at the Wrist: for the second offence off goes the other; and sometimes instead of one of their hands, one or both of their feet are cut off; and sometimes (tho' very rarely) both hands and feet. If after the loss of one or both hands and feet, they still prove incorrigible, for they are many of them such very Rogues and so arch, that they will steal with their Toes, then they are banish'd to Pulo Way, during their Lives.

"On Pulo Way there are none but this sort of Cattle : and though they all of them want one or both hands, yet they so order matters, that they can row very well, and do many things to admiration, whereby they are able to get a livelihood; for if they have no hands, they will get somebody or other to fasten Ropes or Withes about their oars, so as to leave Loops wherein they may put the stumps of their Arms; and therewith they will pull an oar lustily. They that have one hand can do well enough; and of these you shall see a great many, even in the City.

"Neither is this sort of punishment peculiar to the Achinese Government, but probably, used by the other