THE MAGPIE Ptarmigan c.o.c.k!

THE PEAc.o.c.k Aesthetic.

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Rushing up to him._] Oh, he wears on his head an a.s.syrian helmet!

THE MAGPIE White Pile--

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Rushing up to him._] He wears on his head--[_Stopping short at sight of his docked comb._] Nothing whatever. He wears nothing whatever on his head. How odd it looks!

THE CAT [_From his apple tree, to the_ BLACKBIRD, _indicating the_ WHITE PILE GAME-c.o.c.k.] There is the champion. The dust conceals a razor on his lean foot. [_The_ GAME-c.o.c.k _disappears among the throng of fancy_ c.o.c.kS, _who are surrounded by a swarm of cackling_ HENS.]

THE MAGPIE Negro c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Gone quite mad among the mult.i.tude of_ c.o.c.kS _now filling the kitchen-garden with their extraordinary head-gear aigrettes, and plumes and helmets, double and triple combs._] Charmed, honoured, enchanted--enchanted, honoured, charmed!

PATOU She has taken leave of her wits!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_To the empty air._] Charmed, charmed, enchanted, en--

THE MAGPIE c.o.c.k with Supernumerary Toe!--Naked-necked c.o.c.k!

THE GUINEA-HEN Naked?

THE MAGPIE Necked!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_To a_ HEN.] My dear, now we shall see something worth while!

THE MAGPIE j.a.panese c.o.c.ks--c.o.c.k Splendens!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_At sight of this_ c.o.c.k _whose tail is eight yards long._] Oh!--In a swallow tail!

THE MAGPIE Clump-backed--

THE BLACKBIRD [_Perceiving that this_ c.o.c.k _is absolutely flat at the back._] In a monkey-jacket!

THE MAGPIE [_Finishing._]--or Tailless c.o.c.k!

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_ c.o.c.kS _appear._] c.o.c.k Walikikili, called Choki-kukullo! Pseudo-Chinese Cuculicolor!

THE GUINEA-HEN What a choice gathering!

THE PEAc.o.c.k 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 c.o.c.kS.] Charmed, charmed!

THE MAGPIE Brahma c.o.c.k! Cochin c.o.c.k!

THE PEAc.o.c.k [_Proudly._] The great vicious c.o.c.ks, representatives of the corrupt East, the putrescent Orient!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_Intoxicated._] Putrescent!

THE PEAc.o.c.k Unwholesome, morbid grace!

THE GUINEA-HEN [_To the_ COCHIN c.o.c.k.] Charmed! Charmed!--Do notice his obscene eye!

THE MAGPIE [_Announcing wildly, infected with the general delirium._] Chili c.o.c.k, curled hindside fore! Antwerp c.o.c.k, curled inside out!

ALL THE HENS [_Fighting for the newcomers._] Oh, putrescent!--Oh, hindside fore!

THE GUINEA-HEN Inside out!

THE MAGPIE Shankless Jumping-c.o.c.k!

A HEN [_Fainting with emotion._] I suppose he jumps with his stomach!

THE GUINEA-HEN An India-rubber c.o.c.k!

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 c.o.c.k with Umbrella Topknot!

CRY OF ENTHUSIASM Oh!

THE MAGPIE Iberian c.o.c.k with Lint Side Whiskers!

CRY OF ENTHUSIASM Oh!

THE MAGPIE c.o.c.k 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_ c.o.c.k _last announced._]