My uncle was in the fertilized egg business when I was young. He had
several hundred young layers, called pullets, and 8 or 10 roosters whose
job was to fertilize the eggs. My uncle kept records and any rooster or
pullet that didn't perform well went into the pot and was replaced. Now
this took an awful lot of time. So when my uncle saw a set of eight tiny
bells that each rang a different tone he promptly bought them.

He glued a piece of foam rubber to each clapper shaft so the bell
wouldn't ring except when violently shaken. He hung a bell on each
rooster's neck and went and ripped the top off a VB. Now he could sit
on the porch and sip while filling out an efficiency report on the
roosters by listening to the different tones of the bells and marking
down each encounter.

My uncle's favorite rooster was old William. William was a fine
specimen, but his bell didn't ring all morning. Uncle went to investigate.

Several roosters were chasing pullets, bells a-ringing. Wiliam had his
bell in his beak so it couldn't ring. He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his
job and walk on to the next one. Chagrined at first, Uncle was soon so
proud of William he entered him in the Easter Show.

He was an overnight sensation. They not only awarded him the No Bell
prize but also the Pullet Surprise.