HEN AND HAWK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 54, 5 March 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

HEN AND HAWK.

It is generally supposed, and not Avithout reason, that the hen is a particularly stupid bird. 1 have in my yard, however, an old Brahma hen Avhom nature has endowed with an intelligence and originality Avhieh Avould do credit to the average dog. This old bird is so occupied Avith impressing hei; superiority upon the other liens that she has earned the sobriquet of ' The War Horse.' She lays very few eggs, but she is an unsurpassable mother, and to her are entrusted only the most valuable sittings.

Last July this hen had charge of a fine brood of chickens. One morning, as I called the half-grown broods together for, their breakfast, I heard a loud and angry cackling in the Avoods about a hundred yards distant. I continued to call, and presently the ' War Horse' appeared on the edge of the woods. She cackled louder than ever, but refused to come to breakfast.

All her chickens Avere feeding at the trough. 1 counted them. There Avas not one missing, so 1 paid no more attention to the old hen. In a minute or two she came up to the trough, but Avould not touch the food. I stepped around to pick her up, for she Avas a pet; bub the moment I approached she started off again for the Avoods, all.tlie w,hilc cackling and screaming fiercely. About twenty yards .way she stopped and looked around, as if to see if I were following. Her wishes were so plain that I determined to gratify them.

As soon as she saAv that I Avas coming she ran into the Avoods at such a pace that I lost sight of her ; but her energetic utterances Avere a sufficient guide. In a few seconds she stopped, and I came up to her. She Avas standing on the edge of a little open glade, in the centre of Avhich stood a huge liaAvk, devouring a chicken. The hen shrieked first at the hawk, and then at me, as if urging me to come forward and give battle to the marauder. I came, hotly enough ; but the hawk eluded my attack, and sailed off hastily through the tree-tops. The dead chicken proved to be one of a brood avliosc mother Avas all the time feeding comfortably in the chicken-yard. While.! Avas identifying the remains I saAv the War Horse stride over to a pile of underbrush near by, and make a great fuss as if she Avere trying to drive out something hidden therein ; and presently a chicken, belonging- to another brood, came forth, still panic-stricken, and Avas conducted by the War Horse home to breakfast.

To that Avise hen I have promised an old age into Avhich no fear of the knife shall ever intrude.