7. An old hen had been sitting on a nest full of eggs, in a quiet place in the garden, until they were nearly ready to hatch. One day she left her nest a few moments to get something to eat, and, while she was gone, a bantam hen, on the watch, took possession of it. 8. When the real mother came back, she was in great distress; but the bantam kept the nest, and in a few days hatched out as many of the eggs as she could cover. 9. She then strutted about at the head of her company of chickens, and passed them off upon her feathered friends as her own. 10. Hens are usually timid, and they run or fly away when they see any danger. But in defence of their chicks they are often very bold. 11. A rat one day went into a chicken-house where there was a brood of young chickens. The old hen pounced upon him, and a fierce battle took place. 12. The rat soon had enough of it, and tried to get away; but the hen kept at him until one of the family came and killed him. 13. One day a sparrow-hawk flew down into a farm-yard to catch a chicken. A cock about a year old at once darted at him and threw him on his back. 14. While lying there he could defend himself with his talons and beak; but when he rose and tried to take wing, the cock rushed at him and upset him the second time. 15. The hawk by this time thought more of getting away than he did of his dinner; but the cock kept him down until somebody came and caught him. 16. The cock looks after the hens and chicks, and is ready to fight for them in time of danger. He scratches for them, and, when he finds something good to eat, like the gentleman he is, he calls them to the feast before he touches it himself. 17. He also has his own fun. Sometimes he will find a tempting worm and call all the hens, and, just as they are about to seize it, he will swallow it, and give a sly wink, as much as to say, "Don't you wish you may get it!" [Illustration] [Illustration: A Cozy Home.] LESSON V. _HOW DUCKS LOOK AND LIVE._ 1. Here comes a duck waddling along, another of our feathered friends on two legs. Let us take a good look at her. 2. In shape she is like the hen, only her legs are shorter and her body flatter. Her feathers are very thick, and next her skin she has a coat of soft down, which helps to keep her warm. [Illustration] 3. The duck's wings are strong, and she can fly to a great distance without being tired. Wild ducks fly a great many miles without resting. 4. The duck has no comb or wattles on its head, and its long bill is broad and blunt at the end. Its tail is short and pointed, and it has no drooping tail feathers. The duck has the same number of toes as a chicken, but its foot is webbed by a strong skin, which binds the toes together. 5. The duck is formed for swimming. It pushes itself along in the water, using its webbed feet for paddles. The down on its breast is filled with oil, so that no water can get through to the skin.