THE MAGPIE Japanese Cocks--Cock Splendens! THE GUINEA-HEN [_At sight of this_ COCK _whose tail is eight yards long._] Oh!--In a swallow tail! THE MAGPIE Clump-backed-- THE BLACKBIRD [_Perceiving that this_ COCK _is absolutely flat at the back._] In a monkey-jacket! THE MAGPIE [_Finishing._]--or Tailless Cock! THE GUINEA-HEN [_Beside herself._] He has nothing whatever behind! This is the crowning moment of my career! [_To the newcomer, effusively._] Charmed! No tail! This is-- THE BLACKBIRD I like his cheek! THE MAGPIE [_While more and more heterogeneous_ COCKS _appear._] Cock Walikikili, called Choki-kukullo! Pseudo-Chinese Cuculicolor! THE GUINEA-HEN What a choice gathering! THE PEACOCK Kaleidoscopically cosmopolitan. THE MAGPIE Blue Java! White Java! THE BLACKBIRD [_Losing all shame._] Won’t Java cup o’ coffee? THE GUINEA-HEN [_Falling upon the_ JAVA COCKS.] Charmed, charmed! THE MAGPIE Brahma Cock! Cochin Cock! THE PEACOCK [_Proudly._] The great vicious Cocks, representatives of the corrupt East, the putrescent Orient! THE GUINEA-HEN [_Intoxicated._] Putrescent! THE PEACOCK Unwholesome, morbid grace! THE GUINEA-HEN [_To the_ COCHIN COCK.] Charmed! Charmed!--Do notice his obscene eye! THE MAGPIE [_Announcing wildly, infected with the general delirium._] Chili Cock, curled hindside fore! Antwerp Cock, curled inside out! ALL THE HENS [_Fighting for the newcomers._] Oh, putrescent!--Oh, hindside fore! THE GUINEA-HEN Inside out! THE MAGPIE Shankless Jumping-cock! A HEN [_Fainting with emotion._] I suppose he jumps with his stomach! THE GUINEA-HEN An India-rubber Cock! THE PHEASANT-HEN [_To_ PATOU, _who from his wheelbarrow is looking off into the distance._] And Chantecler? PATOU Will be here soon. THE PHEASANT-HEN Can you see him? PATOU Yes, off there, scratching up the earth. Now he is on his way. THE MAGPIE Ghoondook Cock with Umbrella Topknot! CRY OF ENTHUSIASM Oh! THE MAGPIE Iberian Cock with Lint Side Whiskers! CRY OF ENTHUSIASM Oh! THE MAGPIE Cock Bans Backin or Fat Cheek of Thuringia! CRY OF ENTHUSIASM Oh! THE MAGPIE Yankee Cochin of Plymouth Rock! [_Sudden silence._ CHANTECLER _has appeared at the entrance, just behind the_ COCK _last announced._] CHANTECLER [_To the_ MAGPIE.] Pray simply say, “The Cock!” SCENE FOURTH THE SAME, CHANTECLER, _later_ THE PIGEONS, _and_ THE SWAN. THE MAGPIE [_After looking_ CHANTECLER _up and down, disdainfully._] The Cock! CHANTECLER [_From the threshold, to the_ GUINEA-HEN.] Your pardon Madam,--my humble duty!--for venturing to present myself in this plumage-- THE GUINEA-HEN Come in, I pray! CHANTECLER I hardly know whether I should. I have a limited number of toes-- THE GUINEA-HEN [_Indulgently._] Oh, never mind! CHANTECLER I cannot claim to be a Carpathian, and--I hardly know how to conceal it from you--I have feet! THE GUINEA-HEN Oh, let not that distress you!