INCUBATION AND AGE OF BIRDS.
The full period of incubation by the hen in this country, is well known to be twenty-one days. In warmer climates it is said to be a day or two less. The periods of incubation vary much in different species of birds. We introduce the following table, which has been compiled from different authors by Count Morozzo, in a letter from him to Lacépépe, to show the periods of incubation compared with those of the life of certain birds.
| Names of Birds | Periods of Incubation (Days) | Duration of Life (Years) | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan | 42 | About 200 | Aldrovande |
| Parrot | 40 | About 100 | Wulmaer |
| Goose | 30 | 80 or more | Willoughby |
| Eagle | 30 | Period of life not known. | |
| Bustard | 30 | ||
| Duck | 30 | ||
| Turkey | 30 | ||
| Peacock | 26 to 27 | 25 to 28 | Aristot. & Pliny |
| Pheasant | 20 to 25 | 18 to 20 | A Treatise on Pheasants |
| Crow | 20 | 100 or more | Hesiod |
| Nightingale | 19 to 20 | 17 to 18 | Buffon |
| Hen | 18 to 19 | 16 to 18 | Buffon |
| Pigeon | 17 or 18 | 16 to 17 | Several observations |
| Linnet | 14 | 13 to 14 | Willoughby |
| Canary | 13 to 14 | 13 to 14 | A Treatise on these birds |
| Goldfinch | 13 to 14 | 18 to 20 | Buffon |