Of an Henne. chap. 18.
THe henne is called Gallina, and hath that name of Gallo, the cocke, as the Lyonnesse hath the name of the Lyon. And as some mē meane, if her members were medled with gold when it is molt, the gold should wast, as Isidore sayeth. The Henne is a soule of great laieng and bréeding, and layeth many egges with∣out treading as Aristotle sayth, libro. 5. And they bee called winde Egges, and bée more vnsauourye and lesse worthye then other Egges. And some hens haue alway twins, two chickens in one shell. And one of the twins is little, and some∣time wonderfullye shapen. After that they sit on broode•• three daies, anone to∣kens and signes of Chickens bée seene: And the Chicken is bread of the white, and nourished with the yolke, as hee saith.
Also hens that laie too much be not of long lyfe, but they die soone, as it is sayd lib. 6. Other properties of hens that bée known nigh to all men, be touched in the Glose super. Mat. 18. There it is sayd yt a hen is a mild bird about chickens: for she couereth chickens vnder her wings, and defendeth them against the Kite, and taketh sicknesse for sorrowe of her chic∣kens, and looseth her feathers, and féedeth her chickens more then her selfe. And when shée findeth meate, shee clocketh and calleth her chickens together, and to defend her chickens, shée putteth her