THE MAGPIE c.o.c.k--

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Out of her senses._] No, I say, no! There can't be any more!

THE MAGPIE c.o.c.k 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 c.o.c.k of Andalusia!

THE GUINEA-HEN Your egg, I presume, was laid in the vibrating hollow of a guitar!

Delighted and honored,--both!

THE MAGPIE c.o.c.k Langsham!

THE PEAc.o.c.k A Tartar!

ALL THE HENS [_Smitten with amazement at sight of the black giant._] A Tartar!

THE MAGPIE Gold-penciled Hamburg c.o.c.k!

ALL THE HENS [_At sight of the gold-laced_ c.o.c.k _in the c.o.c.ked hat._] Gold-penciled Hamburg!

THE GUINEA-HEN My kitchen-garden party will be famous! [_To the_ HAMBURG c.o.c.k, _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 c.o.c.k--

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Jumping._] No, I can't believe it!

THE MAGPIE --of Burma!

THE GUINEA-HEN Burma! [_Increasing general agitation._]

THE PEAc.o.c.k 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 c.o.c.ks--The Dutch Padua of Poland!

THE GUINEA-HEN Dutch of Poland! This is really more than I ever aspired to!

[_The_ PADUA c.o.c.kS _enter, shaking their plumes._]

THE MAGPIE The Gold c.o.c.k! The Silver c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_In ecstasies of admiration before the flowing plume of the latter._]

With a waterfall on his head!

THE BLACKBIRD And a suspension bridge!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_No longer conscious of what she is saying._] And a suspension bridge!

THE PHEASANT-HEN [_To_ PATOU.] Poor Guinea-hen, she will say anything after anybody!

THE MAGPIE [_Announcing in a louder and louder tone ever more extraordinary_ c.o.c.kS.] Bagdad c.o.c.k!

THE PEAc.o.c.k [_Dominating the tumult._] Consummately Arabian Nights.

THE GUINEA-HEN Did you hear? Consummately Arabian Nights!

ALL THE HENS To be sure! Awfully Arabian Nights!

THE PEAc.o.c.k Kamaralzaman himself is hardly more so.

THE MAGPIE Bantam c.o.c.k with ruffles!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Transported._] How eighteenth century this is! Look, oh, look! A dwarf! A dwarf! Dwarfs! Little cunning bits of dwarfs!

THE YOUNG GUINEA-c.o.c.k [_Low._] Mamma, do control yourself!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Screaming in the midst of the_ c.o.c.kS.] No, no, I can't and won't! That is Kamaralzaman! I don't really know which I prefer, which I--

THE MAGPIE Guelder c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Rushing to the newcomer._] This is truly a treat! Another Belgian!

THE MAGPIE Serpent-necked c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Rattled._] To you, dear Seac.o.c.k, I owe this Perpentneck!

THE MAGPIE Duck-sided c.o.c.k! Crow-billed c.o.c.k! Hawk-footed c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Who has fallen upon the new arrivals, bursts into shrill volubility before the last of them._] This surpa.s.ses all! An albino! Charmed, my dear sir, honoured, enchanted! Oh, on his head he wears a cheese!

A HEN So he does, a cheese!--A cream cheese, to be sure! A cream cheese!

ALL THE HENS A cream cheese!

THE MAGPIE Creve Coeur c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Rushing to meet him._] Oh, he has horns on his head!

THE PEAc.o.c.k Satanic.