HYPNOTISM IN ANIMALS.
[To THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."]
Stn,—Within the last month I have made an interesting experiment with a fowl. Some choice eggs being sent me for hatching purposes (having no hen at that time broody and no incubator) I determined to set one of my hens on these eggs and keep her there by the force of mesmeric power. The eggs were not fresh when I received them, and to keep them with the uncertain hope of a hen becoming broody might have been fatal to their hatching, I therefore went against nature and sat my hen upon these eggs ; she was in full lay at the time, and remained so throughout the three weeks that she was sitting, laying, according to her wont, two out of three days. Those who understand poultry will appreciate that no hen will do this, having become naturally broody, although for the first day or two after being set on eggs I have had hens lay once, or even twice. Marking the eggs I set her upon I was able to know and withdraw the eggs she kept laying. The first day I placed her on the eggs it took me half an hour to bring her into a hypnotic condition, but each successive day, after having roused her to drink and eat, I was able to Booth her to drowsy placidity in much less time ; also there were days, for which I can give no reason, when I had to go to her more than once in the day, she being in a restless, excited state, trying to get off the nest. The result has been, mach to my own astonishment, that four out of seven of these eggs have hatched, and are healthy, happy little chickens. At night I can still influence their mother to her maternal duties, but in the daytime she takes no notice of them.—I am, Sir, &c.,
29 Palace Gardens Terrace, May 31st. E. T. CHAPLIN.
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