THE MAGPIE His lordship, the Cock-- THE GUINEA-HEN Heavens, what Cock? THE MAGPIE Cock of Mesopotamia with the Double Comb! THE GUINEA-HEN Double! Oh! [_Dashing to welcome the newcomer._] Charmed, charmed indeed! THE PEACOCK Out upon the obsolete! I wished to show you a few young gentlemen slightly superlative and veritably precious. THE GUINEA-HEN [_Returning to the_ PEACOCK.] How shall I thank you, Peacock, dear friend? [_To the_ PHEASANT-HEN, _patronizingly._] You will excuse me, I know, you charming little thing. You must understand, my dear, that his lordship the Cock of Mesopotamia has just arrived! [_Running to the_ COCK, _who bows his two combs._] A proud day for us! Charmed, delighted, enchanted! MAGPIE Cock d’Orpington of the Feather-ringed Eye! THE GUINEA-HEN Feather-ringed--Oh! THE BLACKBIRD The plot thickens! THE MAGPIE [_While the_ GUINEA-HEN _is flying toward the_ ORPINGTON COCK.] Bearded Cock of Varna! THE PEACOCK [_To the_ GUINEA-HEN.] A typical Slav! THE GUINEA-HEN [_Leaving the_ ORPINGTON _for the_ BEARDED COCK.] Oh, the Slav soul we have heard so much about! Charmed, beyond words, charmed! THE MAGPIE Rose-footed Scotch Grey Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN [_Leaving the_ BEARDED COCK _for the_ SCOTCH GREY.] Oh, that rose foot! I do admire that rose foot! Think of introducing that rose foot at my tea! [_With conviction._] What a social event! THE MAGPIE Cock-- THE GUINEA-HEN [_Out of her senses._] No, I say, no! There can’t be any more! THE MAGPIE Cock with Goblet-shaped comb! THE GUINEA-HEN [_Who at every name rushes excitedly toward the newcomer._] Charmed, I am sure! Oh, what a novel notion! Goblet-shaped! THE MAGPIE Blue Cock of Andalusia! THE GUINEA-HEN Your egg, I presume, was laid in the vibrating hollow of a guitar! Delighted and honored,--both! THE MAGPIE Cock Langsham! THE PEACOCK A Tartar! ALL THE HENS [_Smitten with amazement at sight of the black giant._] A Tartar! THE MAGPIE Gold-penciled Hamburg Cock! ALL THE HENS [_At sight of the gold-laced_ COCK _in the cocked hat._] Gold-penciled Hamburg! THE GUINEA-HEN My kitchen-garden party will be famous! [_To the_ HAMBURG COCK, _whose breast is striped with black and yellow._] Oh, what a wonderful waistcoat! May I ask what it is made of? THE BLACKBIRD Of zebra! THE GUINEA-HEN Zebra, you don’t say so! It will be the pride of my life, of my whole-- THE MAGPIE Cock-- THE GUINEA-HEN [_Jumping._] No, I can’t believe it! THE MAGPIE --of Burma! THE GUINEA-HEN Burma! [_Increasing general agitation._] THE PEACOCK An East Indian. THE GUINEA-HEN Oh, I can see his Hindu soul right in his eyes, the Hindu soul we hear so much about! [_Running to the newcomer, in an adoring voice._] Charmed, charmed! The Hindu soul--oh! THE MAGPIE Padua Cocks--The Dutch Padua of Poland! THE GUINEA-HEN Dutch of Poland! This is really more than I ever aspired to! [_The_ PADUA COCKS _enter, shaking their plumes._] THE MAGPIE The Gold Cock! The Silver Cock!