fiiii

?^ ^

'"^''*■^?«!^

p^

^/.

!&£.

!^*>i*2

V - ^^^i^^

.£

^^

^JlS^v^^i

'^.

P 60C 1: SS 1 N(j— O NE

_ 1 t: o n A

THE LIBRARY
. THE UNIVERSITY OF BRJTISii COLUMBIA

Bom 1871 in Wikt, itnrnl in ihe Himilayas willi iht"
Brilbh Tranipon Corpj aiul in ibc Bo»rr RtbcUion,
hclptd conilnKl tiK- CP.R, foughl with 4hc Canadian
Eapcditionary Force 19MI7, a midcnt o< Vancouver
for forty yean, rtijl a reader at ti, donated lija collcctioo
of 4.000 boolu in IK5.

v»

St.

«fc n-

iri<i>, kKun

Z'AiX'VX DtE'UUi.

-ri*-^ BY

W. B. TEGETMEIER, F.Z.S.

WITH

Pictures BvHARRiSON WEIR.

PRINTED IN COLOURS BY LEIGHTON, BROTHERS.

^/^.

THE

POULTRY BOOK

COMPRISING THE

BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT

PEOFITABLE AND ORNAMENTAL POULTRY,

QUALITIES AND CHAEACTEKISTICS ;

TO WHICH IS ADDED

"THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN EXHIBITION BIRDS,"

AUTHORIZED BY THE POULTRY CLUB.

W. B. TEGETMEIER, F.Z.S.,

EDITOR OF "the STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE," AND OF THE POULTRY DEPARTMENT OF " THE FIELD;"
AUTHOR OF " PROFITABLE POULTRY," " POULTRY AS AGRICULTURAL STOCK," ETC.

•VTITH

COLOURED ILLUSTRATIONS BY HARRISON WEIR,

AND NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

LONDON:

GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, THE BROADWAY, LUDGATE.

NEW YORK: 41G, BROOME STREET.

18G7.

LONDON :

PRINTED BY WOODFAtli AND KINDER,

MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C.

PEEFACE,

In compiling the present work, the Editor has aimed at producing a treatise that,
in the fulness of its details, and the practical character of the information
imparted, should he in advance of any of its predecessors. In order to secure
this object, he has had recourse to the most eminent authorities on each particular
variety; so that every breed of Poultry is described by its most successful
cultivators.

The original articles thus contributed form by far the most valuable portions of
the following pages, and the Editor need but to mention the names of those
friends to whom he is indebted, to secure for their contributions the attentive
perusal of all interested in the subject. Mr. Edward Hewitt, so widely known as
one of the most practised judges at the various Poultry exhibitions, has supplied
many most valuable articles, both on profitable and exhibition birds. Mr. Pi.
Teebay has given a detailed account of the methods of breeding the different
varieties of Mooneys, Pheasant Fowls, and Brahmas, that has never before been
made public. Mr. Douglas, of the Clumber Aviaries, has described his most
successful methods of rearing the large-framed Dorkings, which he has so
successfully exhibited. Mr. Zurhorst, the Honorary Secretary of the Poultry
Club, has treated largely on the economical merits of the recently introduced
French breeds, of which he has been so successful a cultivator. Mr. P. Jones
has given his experience in rearing the Polish varieties. The late Dr. F.
Horner furnished the first account ever printed of the origin of the singular
hen-feathered breed kno^Ti as Sebright Bantams. Mr. Ballance, and the Eev.
A. G. Brook, have written on Malays. Some of the more interesting changes
that take place in the plumage of fowls have been described by the Editor, who
has also furnished the chapter on the diseases of Poultry; and other authorities
will be found to have given their experience in the several chapters.

Not only have the more ornamental breeds been described with increased
accuracy, but great attention has been paid to the more practical details of

iy PREFACE.

profitable Poultry keeping. The most approved modes of fattening as follo\Aed in
Enf^laud, are given in the chapter on Dorkings; and the methods that are adopted
in Franco to produce the splendid fat capons and poulardes of the Paris fat
poultry Shows, are described at length in the chapter on French Fowls.

The illustrations, which arc from the pencil of Mr. Harrison "Weir, speak for
themselves. No work so fully and profusely illustrated has previously been
published on the subject.

The Publisher and Editor have to acluiowlcdge their obligations to the
Proprietors of the Illustrated London News and the Field for the permission
kindly accorded them to reproduce many of the woodcuts which are dispersed
throu"hout the volume.

LIST OP ILLUSTEATIONS.

COLOURED ENGRAVINGS.

Ckeveccecks .

Coloured Title .

Buff Cochin Hen

Buff Cochin Cock

Cinnamon Cochin Hen

Paetkidge Cochins

"White Cochin Cock

Light Brahmas (Grey Shanghae

Dark Brahmas

Malay Cock

Coloured Dorkings

White Dorking Cock

Spanish

Black-red Game .

DucKwiNG Game .

Pencilled Hambueghs

Spangled Hamburghs

Black Polish

Silyer-spangled Polish

Gold-spangled Polish

HOUDANS

La Fleche .

Gold and Silyer- laced Bantams

White and Ga^ie Bantams .

Turkey ....

Peacock ....

Guinea Fowl

Rouen and Buenos Ayres Ducks

Aylesbury Ducks

Toulouse Geese .

Frontispiec

5J

to face fage

39

5J

41

5}

43

;>

45

It

47

It

63

■>■>

73

If

79

?>

87

•t

99

•)t

105

•St

125

It

141

It

147

tt

157

;j

177

J)

181

5?

185

55

201

55

213

55

241

55

249

55

273

55

285

55

293

55

297

5J

305

5>

313

ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD.

Her Majesty's Poultry House
Octagonal Poultry House .
Plan for Poultry Yard

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

• Perches .

XaTIOXAL PoULTltY CoMPANY's POULTRY HoiSE

Feeder for Grain ....
Poultry Fouxtaix ....
MixAsi's Incubator . .
Her Majesty's Cochins, imported 1843
Her !^LuESTY's Brahmas, imported 1852
Dark Brahmas, imported 1853 .
Light Brahma Cockerel
Light Brahma Pullet

Dorking Fowls

CoLUMBUN Fowls ....

Black and White Spanish Fowls

DucKwiNG Game Fowls

Hen-feathered Game Bantam Cock .

Fe.xthers of different Breeds of Spangled Hamcurghs

Paduan Fowls

Skulls of Polish Fowls

Sultan Fowls

HouDAN Fowls

Crevecoeurs and Cochins

Feather of Silky Cochins

Frizzled Fowls

Begum Pilly Gaguzes

Bantams

Pekin or Cochin Bantams

Turkeys

Honduras Turkey

Guinea Fowl

Ducks

Grey Call Ducks

Sebastopol Geese

SCLEEOSTOMA SyNGAMUS

(^,7

8

12

15

23

3G

54

59

G8

GO

92

IIG

117

129

133

159

170

17 i

188

20G

207

224

227

239

240

251

2G4

272

288

296

310

312

328

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. Poultry House and Yard.
II. Feeding and the Comparative Value
III. The Sitting Hen
rV. Structure and Development of the
V. The Management of Chickens .

YI. Cochins

VII. Brahmas

VIII. Malays

IX. The Coloured Dorking Fowl .
X. The White Dorking Fowl.
XI. The Spanish Fowl
XII. The Game Fowl.

XIII. Pencilled Hamburghs.

XIV. Spakgled Hamburghs .

XV. White-Crested Black Polish Fowls
XVI. Spangled and White Polish Fowls
XVII. Sultan Fowls ....
XVIII. French Breeds :— Houdans, Crevec(e
XIX. The Silk Fowl ....
XX. The Frizzled Fowl .
XXI. The Kumpless Fowl .
XXn. Dumpies, Redcaps, Barndoor Fowls,

XXIII. Bantams

XXrV. The Origin of the Domesticated Vai
XXV. The Turkey ....
XXVI. The Pea-Fowl ....
XXVII. The Guinea Fowl

of the different Foods
Egg .

RS, La Fl

Domestic

ETIES : — T

EC he

Fowls of

LaB

HE J UNO I.

RESf

India

Fow

etc.

LS

PAGE

1

11

• 17

25

32

37

55

75

82

99

102

128

U6

154

171

179

18S

193

221

226

230

233

240

255

2G5

279

OQQ

Vlll

CONTENTS.

CnAPTER

XXTIII. DrcKs .
XXIX. Geese .
XXX. Diseases of Poultry

PAGE

29G
312
322

APPENDIX.

The Standard of Excellexce in Exhibition Birds

Cochins
Brahmas
^Malays .
Dorkings
Spanish
Game .
Hamburgh s
Polish .
Sultans

HOUDANS

Ceevec(eurs
La Fleche
Bantams
Turkeys
Ducks .
Geese .

337

339

340

341

342

343

345

347

349

349

349

350

350-

351

351

352

HER MAJESTY S POULTKY-HOUSE AT THE HOME FAUM, ^-ISDSOK.

THE POULTRY BOOK,

CHAPTER I.

POULTRY HOUSE AND YARD.

ry^HE first, and by no means the least important, consideration of every pro-
-^ spectivo poultry keeper is the situation and construction of the houses
and yards. It is true that poultry may be kept almost anywhere ; first-rate
specimens of Cochins have been reared in an attic, and many very fine ones
have never known there was any world beyond a small back yard in the street of
a country town. These, however, are extreme cases; and success under such
disadvantageous conditions can only be achieved by constant attention and great
judgment in supplying artificially those requirements of the birds which the place
of confinement does not afford.

The best of all soils on which to establish a poultry yard is gravel, or sand
resting on chalk or a substratum of gravel. If the soil is clayey, or from other
causes retentive of wet, the whole should be well drained, and a good breadth of
it raised artificially by carting on to it a foot depth of chalk or gravel, to be covered
over with a few inches depth of sand. This is more than desirable — it is almost
essential to success — stagnant wet in the soil being more inducive than any other
circumstance of cramp, roup, and some other diseases,

B

25 THE POULTRY BOOK.

The best of all aspects is south or south-east ; and the side of a gently rising
hill, if sheltered from the north and east by plantations, leaves little to be desired
on this point. If the birds can have access to those plantations and to a grass
held, and the soil is such as we have described, then, so far as the ground and
situation are concerned, nothing remains to be desired.

The houses and yards must bo constructed according to the purposes of the
proprietor. Those who keep a cock and three or four hens merely for home
supply will require a very simple building ; but the proprietor who breeds for sale
and profit must have a more elaborate arrangement.

The most essential requisites in a fowl-house may be briefly stated. They are,
warm, dry shelter ; pure air, which is dependent on a capability in the house of
being readily cleansed ; a supply of the requisite perches ; and a proper arrange-
ment of nests for the laying and hatching hens.

These four requirements do not demand any distinct building or architectural
outlay. Almost any shed, even an ordinary lean-to, can at a trifling expense be
converted into a fowl-house. Warmth, particularly in winter, is essential ; as not
only is a greater amount of food required if the fowls roost in an exposed situa-
tion, but the production of eggs is remarkably lessened. Even young pullets can
scarcely be induced to lay in severe weather, if compelled to roost in a very cold
situation. It is desirable, therefore, that the shed should open to the south;
northern or easterly aspects being particularly unfavourable during the colder
seasons of the year. The roof should not consist simply of loose open tiles, which
permit the escape of the warmth ; but should either be ceiled or constructed of
thatch, or some other warm material.

Drj-uess is one of the most essential requirements in a fowl-house. Exposure
to damp, pai-ticularly at night, frequently produces attacks of that most fatal and,
in its severest stages, contagious disease termed roup.

Pure air is ensured by such a construction of the house as admits of a frequent
removal of the dung. The house, therefore, should be sufficiently well lighted to
allow of its state of cleanliness being obseiTed, and the floor should be formed of
some hard material which admits of ready cleaning. A very easy method of
keeping a fowl-house clean consists in laying a loose board below each perch, so as
to receive the dung as it falls. This board, being perfectly loose, is readily Hfted
up and cleaned. The value of the manure will amply pay for the trouble employed
in collecting it. It is a strong, stimulating, nitrogenous fertilizer, possessing
great power of forcing the growth of vegetables, particularly those of the cabbage
tribe. As an example of its value, we may state that we have had a bed of Brussels
sprouts upwards of six feet in height, that were manured solely with the scrapings
of the fowl-house.

The form and arrangement of the perches, particularly where heavy fowls, such
as Dorkings, are kept, is a matter of considerable importance. If they arc small
in circumference, the weight of a heavy growing fowl is very apt to produce crooked-
ness of the breastbone, which detracts very much from the appearance of the bird

THE POULTKY BOOK. 3

when plucked, and consequently lessens its market Talue. The perches, therefore,
for heavy fowls should be at least three inches in diameter ; nothing will be found
to answer better than a fir or larch pole about nine inches round, split doTMi the
middle, and each half placed with the flat side downwards. The position of the
perches is even a matter of greater importance than their size. From seeing that
fowls, when at large, frequently ascend to a great height in the trees in which
they roost, many persons imagine that high perches in a fowl-house cannot be
disadvantageous : they forget that, in descending from a tree, the bird flies a con-
siderable distance, and alights without violence on the ground; whereas in a
confined fowl-house this is impracticable, and the bird flutters down almost
perpendicularly, coming into contact with the floor with great force. The keel of
the breast-bone of Dorkings is often broken by these falls ; and corns, and that
slow chronic inflammation termed bumble-foot, are the inevitable result of this
error in the position of the perches.

A very convenient arrangement of the nests and perches, where one shed or
house alone is devoted to roosting, lajdng, and hatching, is for the perches to occupy
the centre, and the slanting supports on which they rest to be so slightly inclined
that the fowls can readily walk down them instead of flj'ing off the upper perches.
A footway at each end will give ready access to the laying-boxes, and this without
rendering it necessary for the dirt to be trodden upon, — a point of considerable im-
portance where there is a due regard for cleanliness. The layiug-boxes should be
placed against the sides of the shed, and covered with a slojiing board, so as to
prevent any birds from roosting upon them. If they are raised about two feet from
the ground, an additional row of baskets or loose boxes can be placed on the floor
underneath.

Where such economy of space is not absolutely necessary as to require the nests
to be placed in a row, the employment of loose baskets will be found preferable, as
they enable the whole nest to be removed and thoroughly cleaned after the hens
have hatched, and from their not being so closely crowded together they do not
afford such a harbour for fleas and other vermin.

We have alvrays found that the eggs hatch much better if the nests are made by
placing a cut turf, and a shovel of mould, sand, or ashes, in the box or basket, and
on this a little short straw. In this way a convenient hollow nest is obtained, that
prevents the eggs rolling out from under the sitting hen. In cold weather the eggs
are thus kept of a much more equable temperature than in nests made simply of
loose straw.

In a recent number of the Canada Farmer a design for a poultry-house is
given, which offers a difference of arrangement from those usually constructed in
this country, and which, with some slight alterations believed to be improve-
ments, is reproduced in the accompanying cuts, representing the external and
sectional elevations, and the plan of the structure.

The house is octagonal, that form being chosen as offering a greater internal
space for the same extent of v\'all than the square form. The door a occupies one

B 2

THE rOl'LTRY BOOK.

of the sides, the windows n e those immediately adjiiccut. The roof is supported
by ft central pillar f, and, if desired, may have a lantern light at the top, with
louvre boards or other openings for ventilation. The centre pillar is by far the
best plan of supporting the roof, for if horizontal tie-beams are used the fowls will

SECTIOS OF POULTRY IIOU:>i:.

ri.AN- OF POULTRY HOUSE.

OCTAGONAL I'OULTl:r HOUSE.

unquestionably perch on them. Around seven sides of the interior runs a broad
stout shelf, c c, over which the two lines of perches, d d, are supported on inclined
rests. Underneath c c is a narrower shelf for the nest boxes, e e. If desired,
moveable baskets or boxes can be placed on this shelf.

The advantages of this arrangement are obvious. The fowls, following the
natural instinct which leads them to select the highest perches, roost over the shelf,
and the nest-boxes are undcfiled. The dung on the shelf is in a position in
"which it can be easily scraped away with a flat hoe or scraper, and the shelf sanded
daily. The floor is kept free from filth, and the house consequently always pre-
served clean and wholesome. The space under the nest-boxes will serve for the
cooping of the hens with chickens, if no better situation offers.

If extreme cheapness of construction be an object, the house may be built by
driving eight poles into the ground at equal distances, and closing in the spaces
between them with weather boarding. The form admits of easy ornamentation,
and may be adapted to harmonise with almost any stylo of buildings.

The following plan for a poultry yard is suitable for a confined situation — for

THE POULTKY BOOK.

example, the end of a garden in a town. It is arranged for keeping Cochins or
Brahmas, but it would answer for any other varieties, by having the nests smaller,
and perches instead of a barred floor for the roost.

ELE'/AT/OM

SCALEOFFECT

K

J n L

^..^^...j^

^-j.

CJOC'/.'O P~A:V

The arrangement shown in the engravings is chiefly suitable to the breeding
season. Afterwards the yards and houses may be used, if desired, for keeping the
sexes separate until the next season. The front of the shed for chickens should be
of wire, and the fences to the yard should be of the same material.

The amateur of limited means may construct a poultry-house for a very small
sum. A lean-to may be erected with weather boarding, against the west or south
side of any wall, the roof being formed with inch deal boards, laid close together
up and down the slope, and projecting in front, and even over the sides, so as to
protect the walls from the drip. In order to render this shed waterproof, some
waste calico or old sheeting may be tightly stretched over it. Some tar may be
boiled with a little lime, and the mixture while still hot may be applied with a
brush ; this, soaking through the Qalico, cements it to the roof, and the whole is
rendered impervious to the weather. The perches may be arranged on an
incline, which should rise from the front of the house towards the back, They

6 THE POULTRY BOOK.

should also be cousidorablj shorter than the house is long, in order to leave a
space at each end for the nests, which may be advantageously arranged on the
floor. If preferred, a moveable frame or roost, such as is shown in the accom-
panj-ing engraving, may be used.

FRAltE FOR nOOST.

It is not essential to success that the nests should be upon the ground, though
many persons always so construct them for the use of their hens, in conformity
with the general observation that fowls, when left to themselves, usually do so.
But, whether on the ground or raised somewhat above it, they should be warm and
somewhat secluded. For a soft material to place within them we like straw, cut
into short lengths by a chaff-cutting machine, as well as anything ; though some
breeders prefer heath similarly treated. In cold weather, a thick bed of ashes
under the straw will be found to retain the heat of the hen more completely, and to
v-ield more satisfactory results. We shall, however, enter more fully into this part
of the subject in our chapter upon the management of the hen whilst sitting.

Perches, although essential to' the lighter varieties, are not necessary for Cochins
and Brahmas, who do better on a floor littered down warmly with straw, the same
as for a horse, the straw being gathered up in the morning as is done by the groom.
Some breeders of Cochins have a latticed floor without even straw. Other breeders
have latticed benches raised about six inches from the floor ; and some give the
birds nothing but a bed of sand to rest upon. All practical authorities agi-ee in
the opinion that for heavy birds to roost on narrow perches is productive of crooked
breast-bones— a result that might be anticipated, as the pressure is unavoidably in
one place during the whole roosting time. This deformity is a most serious defect
in any specimens of poultry, but more particularly in those intended for the table.

If perches are adopted for Cochins, they should not be more than one or two
feet from the ground ; for, if higher, these weighty birds, with defective wings,
are verj' liable to be lamed in descending. Wherever perches are employed, their
oblique arrangement, one above and behind the other, has merits as regards the
comfort of the birds, the economical arrangement of space, and facility for cleaning
the house. Each perch thus forms a step to the one above; and if the floor
beneath be well sanded, a common road-scraper, or similar implement, removes
the dirt with the least possible labour. In the annexed sketch the highest of the
perches is three feet from the ground, and they are so arranged as to drop into
niches formed ])y nailing pieces of wood on the bar that carries them ; these niches
should be placed two feet apart.

Latticed floors do not seem comfortable to poultry ; and as the manure that falls

THE POULTRY BOOK.

through is not always visible, it is often permitted to remain much longer than is
desirable; while a portion constantly adheres to the upper surface, and hinders

DOUBLE INCLINE OF PEKCIIES.

that perfect cleanliness which is so desirable in a fowl-house, whether it be the
abode of half a dozen or a hundred.

Every fowl-house should possess the means of admitting sufficient light. This
may either be admitted through an ordinary windov/ or through a pane or two of
thick glass in the sides, or a few glass tiles or slates in the roof. In v/et v/eather
the birds will be the more ready to take shelter within if light be there, and the
master's inspection of the state of their domicile is the more readily performed.

A rough application of the Venetian shutter, or louvre boarding, fitted to the
highest part of the interior of the fowl-house, excludes the rain and direct draughts
of wind, and allows the egress of the heated air from within, for carpenters are
seldom so accurate in the door and fittings of such edifices as not to leave suffi-cient
apertures for admitting what is required to take its place.

Neglect of ventilation is a sure forerunner of disease, and if every poultry keeper
was compelled himself to unlock the doors of the house every morning for a week,
there would be fev/er complaints on this head ; but the unfortunate cocks and hens
are too often either condemned to shiver in an open out-house, or are else impri-
soned in an atmosphere like the hold of a slaver. However easy the remedy and
evident its necessity, not one fowl-house in a dozen, even of those of most pre-
tension, are properly arranged in this respect.

For enclosing the yard, netting formed of galvanized iron wire is usually
employed, as it has the great advantage of neither rusting nor requiring any Idnd
of paint for a considerable length of time. An enclosure of this wire work, three
feet high, is amply sufficient for the confinement of Cochins ; whereas seven feet
in height is not too much for the lighter varieties, such as Game and Hamburghs.
It should be stretched to oak posts eight feet apart, and fastened by means of
small staples of the same galvanized metal. Care must be taken not to have a
bar or rail along the top of the wire-work, for, although when secured in this
manner it has a more finished appearance, yet it offers a resting place which often
tempts the fowls to perch upon it, and thence to descend into the grounds from
which we wish them to be excluded.

The most elegant and durable wire fencing that has come under our notice
is that made by Greening and Co., Manchester. Below it is sufficiently close to
be proof alike against the ingress of rats or the egress of chickens, and, being
spiked above, it affords no resting-place for the fowls, who consequently rarely
attempt to fly over it.

8

THE rOl'LTRY BOOK.

Chickens fire often unwillinj]:, in the miUl weather of summer and early autumn,
to retire to their homes as evening approaches ; on these occasions, thinldug no
great harm can happen to them, or disliking the trouble of driving them in, they
are constantly allowed to remain on the branches of the laurels or other shrubs that
have induced them to play truant. Once indulged with this license of selecting
their sleeping-places according to their own pleasure, they are afterwards most
difficult to he restrained. Although fowls roosting in shrubs and low trees are
exposed to the severity of the weather, it is astonishing to see how little they
appear generally to suifcr. The peacock and the Gruinea fowl, for instance, natives
of a much warmer climate than our own, rarely seek the shelter of a roof; and
young fowls of different varieties, in the highest possible condition, are often found
who have, even up to as late a period as Christmas, never been within a building
of any kind.

We cannot conclude this chaj^ter without directing attention to the arrangement
of poultry houses and yards adopted by the National Poultry Company, at their
establishment at Bromley, Kent.

This company has been formed for the purpose of carrying on the business of
breeding and fattening poultry on a large scale, in buildings specially erected for
that purpose, and so constructed as to secure a tolerably even temperature throughout
the year, conjoined with protection from the weather and perfect ventilation.

These buildings consist at present of a poultry establishment, 360 feet in length,
with a corridor down the middle, the " homes" or runs for the birds being on either
side. Each of the difterent breeds of fowls being placed in distinct compartments
or homes, with an enclosed and an open run to each.

TBAXSVEBSK SECTIOSAL VIEW OP VA.T10SXL POUITEY COMPAKY S TOWL-HOUSE.

The engraving shows a cross section of the building, and explains the arrange-
ment and construction of the homes or runs. On both sides of the central corridor
are the enclosed runs, each one being twelve feet in length, three feet in depth
(from front to back), and six feet six inches in height. These runs contain perches

THE POULTRY BOOK.

and ladders for the ascent of the birds. The floor is deeply covered with a thick
layer of dry pulverized earth, on which the manure falls, and which acts as a
most efficient deodorizer. The manure falling below the perches during the
night is removed early in the morning, but that deposited during the day mingles
with the dry earth covering the floor of the run, which consequently requires to be
renewed at stated intervals. At the back of each closed run is an open run of
similar size ; this is covered Avith a layer of ordinary farm-yard straw manure, so as
to afi"ord the fowls exercise in scratching for food. The fountains are placed in the
inner runs, and are raised on a shelf, so as to prevent the fowls scratching the loose
dirt of the run into the water. The feeding-troughs are on either side of the long
central corridor, and, with the laying-boxes, occupy the entire front of each run.
Over the runs for the large fowls are situated others for the 3'oung chickens :
these are of the same length and depth, diflering merely in being less in height.
The entire length of the building is constituted by a repetition of exactly similar
compartments (two only being shown in the engraving), making up a total length
of 360 feet, or 120 yards.

The interior of the corridor is used as a vinery, the vines being trained under
the glass roof. At one end of the building is an excavation containing a furnace ;
from this an air-flue proceeds under the floor of the central corridor along the
entire length of the building. In winter this will furnish a constant supply of
warm, pure air, which will ensure the efficient ventilation of the house.

Each of the homes or runs is intended to accommodate six or seven fowls — a
cock and five or six hens ; it having been found by experience that if a larger number
of fowls are placed in a run the dry earth becomes moist and ceases to deodorize the
manure. The specimens of Houdan, Crevecoeur, and La Fleche fowls are of very
high excellence. At the present time the birds have been in confinement about six
months, and are still in admirable condition — a state of things that may be attributed
partly to the judicious system of feeding, but more particularly to the employment
of dry earth in the runs. This has the cff'ect of entirely absorbing all odour, and
renders the air of the building purer than that of any ordinary poultry-house.

The ground on which the building stands is about six acres in extent, and it is
proposed to cover it with ranges of houses placed sixty feet apart, each range
being precisely similar to the one at present erected.

In order to render the whole concern as self-supporting as possible, the intervening
spaces between the houses is to be cultivated as a market-garden, the fowls sup-
plying the requisite manure to the gardens, and receiving in return the trimmings
of the green crops, which will be minced up with their food. Animal food will be
supplied in requisite quantity, and grain and meal in due proportion.

The experiment differs from many that have been previously tried ; as instead of
aiming at keeping a large number of fowls at large in a moderate space, it perfectly
secludes each set from the others. As far as the experiment has been tested, it
appears to have been successful. The building is sweet and wholesome, the air
pure, the fowls in good condition, and laying very freely when the time of year is

10 THE rorLTRY book.

taken into consideration. Whether they will continue in health for an in-
definite period remains to be proved ; and the success of the scheme, as far as regards
the number and fertility of the e^gs, and above all the rearing of the chickens, arc
points that cannot be regarded as being definitely settled until after the experience
of several breeding seasons. "Whether the scheme be eventually successful or other-
wise, it possesses considerable interest for the poultry-keeper : few persons would
have supposed it possible to have carried off a first prize at Birmingham, as was
done by the Poultry Company in 18G5, with a pen of birds that had for six months
prenously been with four others the joint occupants of a space only twelve feet by
six ; and yet these birds were sho\Mi in good condition and in perfect plumage.

To the great power of the pulverized dry loose earth in deodorizing the droppings,
and so preserving the atmosphere of the poultry-house pure and free from any
taint of deca}-iug organic matter, must be almost exclusively attributed the success
of this method of keeping fowls in health in a very limited space. We need hiirdly
point out the importance of the suggestion to every intelligent poultry-keeper.

CHAPTER II.

FEEDING, AND THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE DIFFERENT FOODS.

IN rearing fowls with any prospect of profit, a correct s^'stcm of feeding is of the
first importance, and it is most desirable to enter thns early on the subject,
especially as the scientific principles of feeding are so frequently ignored.

The purposes served by food when taken into the body are of several distinct
kinds : there is the production of animal v/armth ; the provision for the growth and
waste of the body ; the supply of mineral materials for the bones, and saline sub-
stances for the blood ; and, lastly, the supply of fat.

The warmth natural to living animals depends upon the consumption of a certain
portion of the food in the process of breathing. The substances consumed in this
manner are chiefly those which contain a large quantity of carbon, which passes off
in the breath, in the form of carbonic acid.

The most important warmth-giving foods arc starch, sugar, gam, the softer
fibres of plants, and oily or fatty substances. As the natural warmth of an animal
in health remains the same at all times, it necessarily follows that a larger supply
of warmth-giving food is required in cold situations than in those which are warm.

To supply the materials required for the growth of young animals and for the
formation of eggs, as well as those required to repair the waste arising from the
movements of the living body, a second variety of food is required ; for the starch
and other substances before enumerated have been proved, by direct experiment,
to have not the slightest action in supplying these wants. Substances possessing
this power are termed flesh-forming foods. The most important are the gluten,
and similar substances, existing in variable quantities in different grains ; in large
proportion in the varieties of pulse, as beans, peas, &c. ; and in the materials
which form the solid parts of the flesh of animals, of eggs, of milk. Sec. In con-
sequence of these substances containing the element nitrogen, which is wanting in
the other varieties of food, they are frequently termed nitrogenous foods ; whilst
the fat-forming and warmth-giving are called carbonaceous foods.

The minerakand the saline substances contained in the bones, and in other parts
of the bodies of animals, occur in larger proportion in the bran than in the inner
part of the grain. A due supply of bone-making and saline materials is absolutely
requisite to the growth of a healthy animal ; as, if wanting in the food, the bones
become soft, and the general health speedily fails.

With regard to those substances which supply the materials for replacing the

12

THE rOULTRY BOOK.

•wasto or the increase of fat ; it is now well kno^Yn tlmt the starchy materials before
spoken of as warmth-giving food are capable of l)cing convertcil, by the living
forces of tUe body, into fat ; nevertheless it is unquestioned that where it is desired
to fatten animals rapidly (or to supply fat to be consumed in generating warmth, as
is necessary in all cold regions^ it is the absolute requisite that the food eaten should
contjiiu oily and fatty matters, which can be readily absorbed by the digestive organs,
and either stored up or applied to the immediate wants of the body.

If we apply these principles to the examination of the various substances em-
ployed in feeding poultry, we shall arrive at a far more satisfactory knowledge
of their real value for the purposes required than by acting on any empirical
opinion as to this or that variety of food being more valuable.

£-

7,

6

inches.

/'

1

n

«y

C^

^

nCKDEU FOR CKAIS.

a. A flap to Ijc opened or shut at pleasure. — h. Hinged cover, through which the feeder is supplied. — (. An
incline, tlirowing the com, as wanted, into the feeding trough.

Grain of various kinds forms the chief article in the poultry dietary, and, of the
different varieties of corn, barley is unquestionably more used than any other.
This is evidently dependent on the fact that its cost l)y weight is less than that of
either wheat or oats. Barley possesses a very fair proportion of flesh-forming sub-
stances— about eleven per cent. — but is remarkable as containing a loss amount of
fatty matters than the other varieties of corn. Barley-meal is identical in composi-
tion with the whole grain, as the latter is ground without the removal of the husk ;
but it should be remembered that it is the inferior and cheaper samples which are
so used.

"Wheat is dearer both T\y measure and weight than barley, and in a sound
state is seldom employed. Its capability of putting on flesh is not so much greater
than that of barley as is usually imagined, and hence its employment is not so
advantageous as is generally supposed ; the amount of flesh-forming food in wheat
averages about twelve per cent. It fortunately happens for tlio poultry keeper that
the small wheat usually purchased for fowls is in every respect the more desirable.
To quote from the late Professor Johnston's Chcmistnj of Common Life, — "It is a
point of some interest that the small or tail corn which the farmer separates before

THE POULTRY BOOK. 13

bringing his grain to market is richer in gkiten (flosh-forming food) than the plump
full-grown grain, and is therefore more nutritious."

Oats are not so frequently used as barley, which they exceed in cost by weight.
In purchasing oats it is exceedingly desirable to procure the heaviest samples, as
they contain very little more husk than the lightest, and are consequently much
cheaper, if the proportion of meal is taken into consideration ; for example, a
bushel of oats weighing thirty pounds consists of sixteen pounds of meal and
fourteen of husk, whereas one of thirty-six pounds contains upwards of twenty
pounds of meal and less than sixteen of husk. The lighter oats are frequently
refused by fowls, and hence the low estimation in which the grain is sometimes
held ; but if soaked in water over night, so as to swell the kernel, none are refused.
The amount of flesh-forming food is greater in oats and oatmeal than in any
other grain, being about fifteen to eighteen per cent., and the amount of fatty
substances is double that contained in wheat.

Indian corn is chiefly remarkable for the quantity of oil it contains, whereas rice
consists almost entirely of starch, the amount of flesh-forming food being only
seven per cent. As rice swells enormously when boiled, it is often erroneously
imagined to be a cheap food. Granting that one pound of rice will, in boiling,
absorb five pounds of water, it does not follow that there are six pounds of food ;
there is really but one pound, and that of inferior value, especially for growing
chickens, as containing but little flesh-forming material .

Buck-wheat, which is very largely employed on the Continent as poultry food,
is about equal to barley in the amount of gluten it contains.

All the varieties of pulse, as peas, beans, and tares, are remarkable for the
extraordinary quantity of flesh-forming food and the small per centage of fat they
contain. They may be regarded as too stimulating for general use. If fowls were
required to undergo a gi-eat amount of bodily exertion, it would be desirable to treat
them as the mining proprietors of South America treat their labourers, and make
them, even if against their inclination, devour a feed of beans daily ; but the result
would be a hardening of the muscular fibres, and a firmness of flesh incompatible
with a good table fowl.

Wheat meal and barley meal scarcely difier from the grain from which they are
prepared ;. but between oats and oatmeal there is a wide distinction. The rejection of
so large a portion of the husk, and the expulsion of moisture by kiln-drying,
increases gi-eatly the price of oatmeal, and, extremely advantageous as its employ-
ment undoubtedly is, it can only be used economically for fattening fowls and for
the nourishment of the youngest chickens, for which it is the best possible food.
Fine middlings, which are also known as thirds, or in London as coarse country
flour, arc very similar in their composition to oatmeal, and, employed with boiled
or steamed roots, they are most advantageously and economically used. For this
pm-pose small potatoes boiled or steamed may be used. We have found great
advantage in employing mangold-wurtzel, boiled with a very small quantity of
water until perfectly soft, and then thickened with middlings or meal.

14

THE POULTIIY BOOK.

WTieu soft food is used, it is desirable to place it iu a trough railed across at the
top, to prevent it heing trodden upon by the fowls. The feeders made by Crooks
& Co., Caruaby Street, with loose, removable tops, so constructed that the fowls
cannot stand upon them, are exceedingly well adapted for this purpose.

Animal food is sometimes given to poultry, and a little chopped raw meat is in
many cases of sickness an admirable restorative ; but when at large the insects and
worms naturally obtained are far superior to any more artificial substitute. London
tallow-melters are constantly advertising greaves as a food for prize poultry : we
merely mention the fact to warn our readers against the use of this substance,
as it rapidly throws fowls out of condition, and renders them unfit for human
food.

The following tabular view of the composition of the various grains may bo
advantageously consulted, inasmuch as it may perhaps lead to an easier under-
standing of the relative value of the different kinds of food, it being borne in mind
that all such statements are merely approximations to the truth, us the composition
of grain varies considerably with the character of the season and the soil.

TAP.LE SnOWrXG THE COMPOSITION OF TUE SUBSTANCES EMPLOYED IN FEEDING POULTKY.

Every 100 lbs. of

Oats contains .
Oatmeal .
Wheat . . .
Middlings .
Barley .
Indian Corn .
Rice ....
Beans and Peas
Milk ....

Fat or Oil.

G
G
•J
G
2

8

A trace.

2

Flesh-form-
ing Food
(Gluten, &c.)

15
18
12

18
11
11

7
25

4]

"Warmth -
giving Food
(Starch, &c.;

47

63

70
53
GO
G5
80
48

Mineral or
Bonc-niakiug

Husk or
Fibre.

•Water.

Substances.

2

20

0

2

2

9

2

1

12

5

4

14

o

14

11

1

5

10

A trace.

. . .

10

0

8

• 5

3
•f

...

87

If there is any one fact more decidedly ascertained respecting poultry keeping
than another, it is that half-fed fowls cannot be made to pay. The old Latin
proverb, " Ex nihilo nihil fit," — " Out of nothing, nothing comes," — is as true of
fowl keeping as of all other things.

Fowls are either kept for the table or for eggs. In the former case, the
olrject is to prepare the young birds so as to be fit for the market at the earliest
possible period. It is evident that they arc not only better in quality, but that thoy
realize a larger sum, if they are well fed ; and as young birds have consumed a
smaller amount of food, on account of their shorter lives, they must of necessity
return a larger profit than older ones. Eggs, again, can only be produced by the
hens out of the materials furnished by their food. A scanty supply of the former
is therefore the inevitable result of a short supply of the latter. In winter, when
eggs are most valuable, this is particularly shown ; for as there is then no insect or

THE POULTET BOOK. 15

otlier food to be obtained by scratcliiug, the productiou of eggs dimiiiislies re^
markably unless the fovds are very well fed.

As regards the number of times the stock fowls should be fed, we believe the most
economical mode is to feed twice a day. The fowls should be let out early in the
morning ; in fact, if there is no fear of foxes or other thieves, the hen-house had
better be left open, so that the birds can come out at will. This they will do at
daybreak, and, by wandering over the fields, secure a large amount of worms and
insect food. They should receive their morning meal at a fixed hour ; imme-
diately after breakfast is usually a convenient time. It may be asked. How much
corn should be given per head '? We believe it is quite impossible to give to that
question an answer that would be of any practical value ; so much depends on the
size of the birds ; it is obvious that a Dorldng of nine pounds weight, and a game
fowl of five pounds, would require very different quantities of food. Again, the quan-
tity must vary with the season of the year, much more being required to keep up the
due amount of animal heat in winter than in summer. The work going on in the
farm-j'ard, and the number of birds that are laying, will also influence the amount
required to be given ; for when a hen is producing eggs, she will eat nearly twice
the amount of food that she requires at another time. The best rule, both as to
quantity and time, is to give the fowls a full meal in the morning, and a second
shortly before going to roost. Many persons feed their fowls only once a day,
usually in the morning ; the consequence is that they go to roost with empty crops,
and as the nutriment they have obtained during the day is required to keep up the
animal warmth, particularly during the long cold nights of winter, it cannot be em-
l)loyed in the production of eggs, and thus feeding hens once a day is not favourable
to their fertility. It is necessary, therefore, to feed liberally twice a day, if any
large amount of profit be desired from fowls. There is one great advantage depen-
dent on having fixed hours of feeding ; namely, that the birds soon become accus-
tomed to them, and do not hang about the house-door all day long, as they do if
irregularly and frequently fed. They consequently obtain a greater amount of
food for themselves, and are less troublesome than they otherwise would be.

In addition to wholesome and abundant food, a supply of clean water is indis-
pensable. Some kind of fountain is better than an open vessel, in which the water
is apt to become dirtied by the fowls. A very cheap and convenient contrivance of
this kind may be made out of an earthenware jar, and an ordinary glazed flower-
pot saucer, by boring a small hole in the jar an inch and a
half from the edge. When required for use the jar is to
be filled with water, and the saucer placed bottom upwards
on the top. Both together are then to be turned quickly
over, when the water will be found to flow into the saucer to
the same height as the hole in the side of the jar, as shown
in the cut.

For those who desire a more elaborate contrivance of the same kind, the fountains
of Messrs, Crook are to be strongly recommended. These pneumatic fountains are

16 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

fur superior to those made in one piece, as they admit of beinpf cleaned readily
inside, which is not the case with those of the ordinary pattern.

Many of the most intelligent and successful rearers of chickens and pheasants
arc in the habit of administering to the young birds a chalybeate tonic in the
water given them to drink ; and they speak very highly of its good effects in
those cases where broods are weakly, or where the young fowls are inclined to
outgrow their strength. For this purpose an ounce of sulphate of iron (green
vitriol), may be dissolved in a quart bottle of water, and two or three spoonfuls
of this solution added to the water in the drinking-fountain, sufficient being
supplied to give it a slight inky taste.

The eflect of this chalybeate on the health and vigour of the birds is very
marked ; their combs brighten in colour, their appetite increases, and their general
stamina is much imjiroved.

CHAPTER III.

THE SITTING HEN..

rr^HE cause of a hen's desiring to sit, or, to use the technical phrase,
-^ "becoming broody," is involved in the same mystery as other similar
operations of Nature. The desire for incubation, from v.'hatever cause pro-
ceeding, is frequently a great anno^'ance to the poultry keeper, who is often far
more desirous of eggs than of chickens. Consequently many plans have been
suggested to check this inclination. Some of them are cruel and absurd in the
extreme — such as plunging the hen into a bucket of cold water, and keeping her
there till half drowned ; but the cruelty that can tolerate such practices is generally
disappointed of its object ; for the immersion of her warm body in the cold bath
usually leaves the seeds of disease, which, in due time, bear their certain fruit, and
justly punish the unfeeling owner.

If, from any cause, it is desired to prevent a hen sitting, the most effectual
means we have yet discovered is to allow her to sit steadily on some nest eggs for a
week. At the expiration of that time, she may be cooped for a few days ; and if,
on being liberated, she finds the nest that she was accustomed to destroyed, and
the eggs removed, she seldom takes to another. But v.'e do not believe that this
provision of nature can be constantly set aside without injury to the bird. Her
due batch of eggs having been completed, a period of rest to the whole system, and
its productive powers in particular, is now required. This we disregard when we
refuse to allow the hen to sit ; and as she will again commence lajdng long before
the period she would have done had she been allowed to hatch and rear her
chickens, she is unduly stimulated, and a drain is caused on her constitution, which
evidently must affect her a,t last. Occasionally, when we either want her eggs,
or it happens at an improper time of the year, such as at the end of autumn
or winter, we should not, of course, allow her to gratify her inclination ; but
with such fowls as manifest this desire, we should consider that one brood of
chickens at least in each year is desirable to keep them in health and vigour.
We have, indeed, often seen Cochin hens in apparent health, to whom this
license has been again and again refused, and the immediate ill eifect obviated
by a judicious system of feeding. Yet we must still think that our birds would
remain longer in a productive state, and be in better health, if they were per-
mitted to enjoy an occasional relaxation from the egg-producing process.

If the hen about to be entrusted with eggs be of our own flock, she has
probably made her own selection of a nest; and where this is not incon-

c

18 THE POULTRY BOOK.

veuiently sitnnteil, wo sbouUl do \\c\l in ullowing her to retain possession ; for,
if we move her, she may he rendered restless, and, in endeavouring to regain
the place of her own choosing, may afterwards desert the eggs. Where, however,
she is a stranger, brought to us for the purpose of hatching out a brood, it is
generally a matter of uncertainty how far she will ai)prove the change and
steadily discharge her duty. We have had hens that took immediately to their
nests when first brought to us ; and some, on the other hand, that no arrange-
ment for their comfort could induce to continue the occupation that they
had commenced elsewhere. There is another inconvenience attached to hens
thus lirought to us from other places — and that is, when their chickens arc
hatched, they, as strangers to their companions, are liable to attack, or be
attacked by, every hen about the place, and manifold evil consequences to
themselves and their progeny are the result.

In large fowl-houses, where hundreds of poultry are kept together, a separate
sitting house should be provided. If this could be so arranged as to be merely
separated by wire or lattice-work from their usual abode, and the hens were placed
in it so soon as they showed a tendency to sit, the neighbourhood of their com-
panions would reconcile them more quicldy to the change, and there would be
less difficulty in getting them to sit closely. It is absolutely necessary, however,
to secure them from the incursions of the other fowls ; and this the intervention
of the lattice or wire-work would eifect. Where three or four hens and a cock
are the sole tenants of the house and yard, there are usually spare nests, where
the eggs can be placed without risk of injury. To make them the more secure,
however, it would be well to keep the hen shut in for a day or so, when any other
fowls that might have been in the habit of laying there would have chosen another
place.

It is the practice of many persons who have numbers of sitting hens to remove
them from the nests at a stated hour daily, the morning being the preferable time ;
they should then be supplied with barley, ad Uhhum, and clean water; if prac-
ticable, they should be permitted to have access to a grass run, and, under all
circumstances, allowed to avail themselves of a dusting place. W^here there are
many hens sitting this i>lan is advantageous, as it ensures each being fed, and
prevents the eggs being cooled by the lengthened absence of the hen at times
when no food is being given. Many persons also confine their sitting hens either
by shades in front of the nests, or by placing coops over them if on the ground,
the object being to prevent their being disturbed by the intrusion of fowls that are
desirous of laying in the same nests.

As to the exact description of nest which would be most suitable for the sitting
hens, almost every poultry keeper has some favourite arrangement of his own ;
and, provided some two or three requisites are complied with, no gi-eat harm is
likely to result from his induk'in*? in it.

The recess in the unused manger, and the concealed nook in the cart-shed,
have great attractions to many hens ; and, but for the chance of accident from the

THE POULTRY BOOK.

19

exposed situation, a l3etter clutch may perhaps be expected than the more artifi-
cially constructed nest will always ensure.

Many of the most successful breeders prefer having the nests formed on the
gi-ound, by placing a little soft straw in a slight hollow ; whereas others give a
IH-eference to nests raised some few inches from the ground, solely on account of
the greater facility for the house being kept perfectly clean, by allowing the broom
to reach beneath.

But after all it cannot be denied, when we look at the secret places sometimes
selected by the hen herself for incubation, and obseiwe that, at the expiration
of the allotted time, the number of young led forth tallies pretty nearly mth that
of the eggs deposited, that fewer eggs are to be found in an addled state in such
circumstances than when they are selected and placed under the intended mother.
"SYe have reason to believe, indeed, that whatever care may be taken in keeping
eggs, their vitality is better preserved when they are allowed to remain in the
nest. Perhaps the periodical visits of the hen while adding to her store of eggs
has a stimulating influence. The warmth communicated in the half hour during
which she occupies the nest may have a tendency to preserve the embryo in a
vigorous state.

The Cochins possess one great recommendation as sitters, in the soft and
abundant suj)ply of downy feathers that so specially distinguish their race ; for
under no other hens do the eggs appear to maintain a higher or more constant
temperature.

From the shortness of their legs and the density of their fluff, the best breeds
of Cochins are especially suited for sitting. They will thoroughly cover thirteen
of their own eggs ; and though the larger varieties might be equal to a gi-eater
number, thirteen would, in all cases, probably be a wise limitation, and result in
the best and healthiest broods. An egg imperfectly covered by the hen while
sitting becomes chilled, and, as all in turn are likely to be thus more or less
exposed, the whole brood often suffers from the unwise desire to get an extra
chick.

"When very early broods are required, either for exhibition in the chicken classes
at the summer poultry shows, or for table use, every precaution should be taken to
keep up an adequate temperature. The nest should be based on a deep founda-
tion of ashes or earth, or a thick freshly-cut turf may be placed beneath the straw ;
by these means the escape of the heat is greatly prevented, and consequently a
more uniform and higher temperature secured. The number of eggs also should
be much reduced, seven or eight being an ample number during January and
February, as, even supposing a larger number of chickens to be produced, they
suffer greatly when about a month old, from being inadequately covered by the heu
at night.

For the purpose of securing early broods, it is necessary to retain a sufficient
number of early hatched pullets of the previous year. These generally begin to lay,
if well fed, about November or December, and become broody in January or

20 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

February. The prcjuclico ngaiust sottiug young hens is not founded on observation,
for wo have invariably found that they sit equally well with older birds.

"NMien hens lay away, and escape discovery in so doing, the number of eggs laid
before they sit is usually found to vary from nine to eighteen. If there are more,
it is almost always a partnership business. "Where it is desirable to induce a hen
to sit early, her eggs should be left with her ; and so soon as the number, be it
more or less, appears satisfactory to her, she is generally eager to commence her
task ; but this requires the bird to be kei)t by herself, or at least where others are
not in the habit of laying in the same nest. When the hen takes to her nest, it is
best to let her remain there, giving her three or four new eggs to sit on to test her
steadiness for a day or two ; for at times they commence somewhat irregularly,
coming ofif two or three times during the first day or so, and often going to perch
the first night, though they had occupied the nest during the whole day. At the
end of this period — or earlier if she manifests continued steadiness — the nest
being duly prepared, the eggs may be given her, and this is most quietly accom-
plished by lifting her off at night, when the eggs may be placed in the nest, and
the hen replaced, without any risk of their being broken by her struggles.

Good sitters seldom or never leave their nests more than once a day, provided
they are well fed when they come oft' ; and they seldom remain away longer than
fi-om a quarter to half an hour, rarely exceeding the latter period, unless food has
not been supplied and they have to forage for themselves.

The time a sitting hen may remain absent from the nest without injury to the
eggs depends on so many contingent causes, such as the season of the year, and
the particular stage of development at which the embryo has arrived, that it would
be impossible to give a decided statement. An absence of from twenty minutes to
half an hour is as much as should be encouraged ; but this may often be prolonged
to several hours without the inevitable destruction of the brood. It is well known
to comparative anatomists that, during development, the embryo passes through all
the phases of animal life, beginning with the simplest, and gradually becoming more
and more complex in its organization ; so that if it were possible to arrest its
growth at any intormediate day and sustain its life, an animal of lov.er class would
be produced — a circumstance that yearly occurs before our eyes in the case of the
common frog, the eggs of which hatch, not into air-breathing reptiles, with lungs,
but into lungless fish, familiarly known to us as tadpoles, and respiring by means
of perfect gills. In the simplest forms of animal existence life can be maintained
at a much lower temperature than in the higher ; and, therefore, at the earlier periods
of sitting the hen may be absent for a prolonged time without injury, whereas a
much shorter neglect of her duties would l;e fatal nearer the day of hatching. But
where we found a hen careless of her charge, and requiring to be frequently driven
towards her nest, we would avoid employing her again as a sitter. We have had
hens, however, in our possession whom we have, day by day, been obliged to take
off, as no inducement was sufficient to lead them to do so of their own accord.
Doubtless the main object in this periodical excursion is to obtain the necessary

THE POI'LTEY BOOE. 21

sustenance for supporting life in the bird herself. But another object is also served;
for by the contraction of the air in the air vesicle, when the hen leaves the nest,
and the eggs are cooled, a fresh supply of air enters, which we may suppose ad-
vantageous to the enclosed chick ; and it has been found desirable, by those who
have employed artificial incubators, to remove the eggs from the machine during
half an hour daily, so as to imitate, as far as possible, the natural cooling.

It is desirable daily to examine each nest when the hen is oif. An egg may be
broken, and the fragments of the shell may dry on the others in places where the
first efforts of the young chicks to free themselves may be attempted ; and this double
casing proving too much for their beaks, they may eventually die iu the shell. AYhen-
ever the nest is found iu a dirty state, from this or any other cause, take a bowl of
tepid vrater, and vdth a piece of flannel wash the eggs, gently remo^ing any sub-
stance that may be found adhering to them, replacing them again in the nest,
having previously furnished it with clean straw. Do not let the temperature
of the water exceed that of new milk, and, when perfectly dry, get the eggs
under the hen at once, so that no chill may happen. It is unnecessary to
add that, where this is neglected, the fetid atmosphere produced by the
decay of the contents of the broken eggs is as injurious to the prospective
chickens as offensive to the proprietor. In this daily inspection, count
the eggs over, so that if by accident another hen may have gained entrance, her
egg may be at once removed, — the originals having been duly marked in the first
instance by making a ring with ink or pencil around their circumference, which is
visible in every position of the egg. If from any cause the egg of a valuable fowl
has been sHghtly cracked within a few days of hatching, it may be worth while to
plaster up the fracture with a piece of paper and gum, or the edge of a postage
stamp, as numerous instances are on record where such eggs have hatched in due
time, and the progeny flourished.

Our own practice is to examine the eggs at the end of a week, and remove those
not fertile ; this is readily accomplished by taking a candle into the sitting house
at night, and on holding the eggs near the flame, sheltering the eye at the same
time from the direct action of the light, the sterile eggs are readily distinguished,
being correctly described by the adjective clear, which is usually appHed to them;
those which are fertile are at that time perfectly opaque. A little practice renders
the distinction easy. The clear eggs being removed, more room remains for those
that are fertile, and they receive a greater share of warmth. Those who follov.-
this plan will find it advantageous to sit two hens on the same day, and if, on
examining both nests at the expiration of a week, many sterile eggs are discovered,
the whole of the remainder may be given to one hen, and a fresh setting placed
under the other.

In Cornwall, it is usual to test the eggs on the eighteenth or nineteenth day, by
placing them in a bowl of tepid water ; those containing living chickens are in imme-
diate motion, bobbing and reeling on the smooth surface, — for the vessel must be
kept perfectly still. These are wiped, and returned to the hen, the others being

22 THE POULTRY BOOK.

rejected ; but uhcn the clear c^'gs are removed ou tlic eighth day, the proceediufir
is not required, aud from the hazard of chilHng the eggs hy too low, or injuring
them by too high a temperature, the plan is, iu our opinion, decidedly objectionable.

Hens' eggs are said to hatch ou the completion of the twenty-first day ; but where
the eggs are fresh, the sitter attentive, and the weatherwarm, this period is frequently
reduced by several hours. "NVc should think the brood liliely to turn out an indiftereut
one if, when the eggs were placed under the hen at roosting time, it did not present
many chipped eggs at least ou the evening of the twentieth day ; aud the next morning
the majority should be out aud strong. The chickens are constantly heard chirruping
withiu their prison some hours before the least sign of their beaks is visible,
during which time they are at work upou their covering. "Where the young bird is
vigorous and healthy, it works round the top of the shell till it has cut out a sort
of flap or cover, dividing the shell into two unequal parts ; the smaller one is pushed
back, though ou one side it is attached by the interior membrane to the larger ; iu
this manner exit is effected. In the morning the two parts are constantly found
packed away, one within the other, occupying the smallest possible amount of
room, if the hen has not ah-eady ejected them.

"Let well alone "is here a wise maxim; but our rule is to examine how
matters stand when the period of twenty-one days has passed ; and
if eggs are found billed, but the chickens within in a weak state, assistance
should be given by widening the breach. If eggs are found Avithout any
indication of life within, but apparently not addled, lireak the shell cautiously and
as near the usual position of the bill as possible ; but we arc commonly presented
with a dead chick, or one where from weakness the yolk has not been properly
absorbed. Its chances for life, therefore, are but slight. Strong, full-grown
chickens are at times found lifeless, from inaljility to break the inner film, which in
many cases would seem to present more ditficulty than the shell itself.

It is convenient to have two hens hatching at the same time ; for not only if
accidents hajipen may the two broods be united, but on the hatching day it con-
stantly occurs that, to prevent the newly born chicks being crushed by eggs that are
behind time, we wish to give all that are hatched to one hen, while the other takes
charge of the eggs alone. Not only does this give security to the chicks, v.lio run
great hazard of being crushed by the eggs if they are kept for any prolonged space
under their mother, but the uuhatched eggs also stand a far better chance ; for when
a hen finds chickens under her, she sits higher from the eggs, and less warmth is
aflforded them at the time they require most.

Having spoken at length of the sitting hen, it may be thought desirable to enter
into the consideration of the various incubators designed for the purpose of hatching
eggs b}' artificial heat.

A veiy compact apparatus of this kind, for those who desire to experiment on a
small scale, has been designed by Messrs. Crook, of Carnaby Street ; aud other
large incubators acting on the same principle have also been designed.

We have recently been requested to examine the coustruction and mode of action

THE POULTRY BOOK.

23

of one whicli is the subject of a new patent by Mr. Minasi, and whicli appears in
its present state to be as complete and as successful in its working as it is possible
for any instrument of the kind to be.

The heat necessary for the incubation of the eggs and rearing of the young
chickens in the earlier stages of their growth is derived from gas, or from the com-
bustion of naphtha in a lamp so constructed as not to require attention for many
days. The heat so generated warms a reservoir of water, the under side of which is
corrugated in a very ingenious manner, so as to support, by the aid of wires, a series
of small narrow sandbags, against which the eggs are pressed. The close contact
of the whole of the eggs (whatever may be their variation in size) with the warm
sand is insured by their resting on cushions of spiral springs ; these are contained
in drawers or sliding trays, which can be easily drawn out from under the incubator

^Jt^r^^yix »R!??3!

MISASI S PATEXI ISCUEATol;.

for the purpose of examination. As the eggs hatch they are removed to a part of
the apparatus above the reservoir. This is most ingeniously constructed : there is
a small tray for the chickens until such time as they are thoroughly dried and
strong, when they are passed under a kind of artificial mother, which is peculiarly
constructed in imitation of the plumage of the hen. It consists of a number of
woollen wicks, each about four inches in length ; these hang down loosely between
the legs of low stools placed over the warm reservoir. The chickens nestle between
the pendant locks of wool, which thus form an admirable imitation of the warm
featheiy plumage of the parent hen. Connected with this part of the apparatus is
a large feeding cage, into which the chickens run for food, water, and exercise.

24 THE POULTRY BOOK.

Our rcftders may form nu accurate idea of its general character and structure from
the enrrraving, representing a 200 egg machiue, with four drawers, each capable of
containing fifty hens' or seventy pheasants' eggs. In the woodcut one of the drawers
is shoAATi partly pulled out, and under the nearer drawer the ingenious hut simple
lifts hy which it is raised to the required height arc shown. In front are the two
artificial mothers, one of which is raised up to show the depending locks of wool.
These are both covered with flannel. In front is the hatching tray, and the feeding
cage is shown at the back. The stool by Avhich the gas or lamp is raised to the
required height is seen through the open door ; the chimney to carry off the pro-
ducts of combustion from the lamp, and the thermometer by which the temperature
is regulated, requu*e no further description.

We have recently seen one of these machines in active operation, and examined
and handled many of the chickens hatched by it, some of which had been reared by
the machine itself, and others under hens. The chickens svere of all ages, and were
strong, healthy, and vigorous. The same may be said of the ducks, guinea-fowls,
and pheasants which had been hatched in the machine. We did not see one sickly
or diseased chicken of any age in the large poultry yard attached to the establish-
ment, and can therefore recommend the apparatus as well adapted for hatching,
where numbers of fowls or pheasants are required.

;Mr. Upham, of 5, Houghton-place, Harrington Square, is the proprietor of the
patent.

CHAPTER IV.

STRUCTURE AND DEYELOPME^'T OF THE EGG.

BEYOND the fact that an egg consists of yolk, white, and shell, little is popu-
larly known respecting its structure ; and even a less amount of knowledge
prevails regarding the changes that occur in it during the devolopment of the
embryo. In these, as in all other cases, ignorance leads to serious errors in
management, and consequently to severe losses in practice. We have therefore
deemed it desirable to enter somewhat more fully than is usually done in popular
v»'orks into the consideration of this interesting subject.

. The first part that claims our notice is the shell. This, which usually weighs
about one-tenth of the entire egg, is formed of carbonate of lime, the same sub-
stance that, in a different state of aggregation, constitutes marble, chalk, and old
mortar. The materials of the egg-shell do not, however, form a uniform layer,
but are arranged in such a manner as to leaves pores, or minute apertures, through
M'hich the moisture of the egg can evaporate, and the external air gain entrance
to support the breathing of the unhatched chick. The particles of carbonate
of lime are arranged in somewhat the same manner that the bricks are placed in
a dome or arch ; by this means enormous strength is given to the shell. It may,,
perhaps, surprise many persons to be told that the strongest man cannot crush an
egg if his strength be fairly and uniformly applied. This experiment is soon tried
by placing an egg endways between the palms of the hands ; it will be found that
the greatest exertion fails to crush it when it is fairly placed and evenly pressed
from end to end. As this strength, however, would render the exit of the young
chick a matter of great difficulty, an exquisitely beautiful provision of Nature is
arranged in order to permit it to find its way out of

' ' that antenatal tomb,
Where the young LirJ dreams of the life to come."

The structure of the shell that gives its great strengih to the fabric is entirely
disarranged during the process of incubation ; at the period of hatching the
particles of carbonate of lime are confused together, and have lost all their regu-
larity of arrangement ; hence the egg-shells at this time become very brittle, and the
exit of the young bird is easily accomplished. So different is the arrangement of
the particles in the shells of hatched and unhatched eggs that they can readily be
distinguished by microscopic examination. It is this peculiar change of structure

D

2G THE rOULTRY BOOK.

tbat causes the cracked sound that is given out on moving together the eggs
in n nest when they are nearly hatched.

Inside the shell is the mcmhrane or skin. This, which is formed of delicate
interlaced fibres, appears single, hut is in reality double. The two skins separate at
the larger end of the egg, forming an air-chamber, the size of which is a very good
criterion of the freshness of the egg. When first laid, this air-chamber is not
larger in extent than a threepenny piece ; but as the egg is kept the moisture
evaporates through the pores of the shell, and as the fluids diminish, air necessarily
enters to supply their place ; hence the air-chamber gets larger and larger, so that
on breaking the large end of a stale egg we sometimes see a cavity that seems to
occupy a quarter of the shell. In the dispute between the Big-endians and the
Little-endians, immortalized by Swift, the Big-endians most certainly had the best
of the argument, for by opening the egg at the large end we can sec its degree of
freshness, an advantage which could not be claimed for the method advocated by
the Little-endians.

Inside the skin or membrane is the substance known as the white of the egg ;
this is a thick glairy liquid, forming, usually, more than half of the entire weight.
Most persons imagine that the v.-hite is uniform throughout, but in reality it pos-
sesses a peculiar structure, being arranged in laj'ers like those constituting the coats
of an onion ; these layers, which arc firmer and more dense towards the centre, can
be readily seen, and separated from one another in the white of a hard-boiled egg.
The difficulty of mixing white of egg with water or other liquids depends on the
existence of these layers, which must be broken down or " beaten up " before it can
be dissolved.

The white is formed of a pecuKar animal substance, termed by chemists albumen, ■
and water. This albumen possesses remarkable properties, rendering it of gi-eat
value, not only in cookery, but in many of the chemical arts. It forms a very
large proportion of many parts of the bodies of all living animals, and is eminently
nutritious. Beaten up with water it dissolves, and hence it is termed soluble
albumen, but when heated to a temperature of about 180° Fah., that is to say,
thirty-two degrees below the boiling point, it alters its character, becomes opaque,
white, solid, and is no longer soluble. Even a weak solution cannot be heated to
the boiling point without the albumen it contains coagulating and forming flocks,
which separate from the liquid in a solid form and rise to the surface as a scum.
On the other hand, if the white of egg be dried at a moderate temperature, it
forms a pale yellowish substance, remains unaltered in its properties, and can be
dissolved in water again without change.

The remaining portion of the egg is known as the yolk, or yelk. This consists
of albumen and water, mingled with a very large proportion of yellow oil ; the
•whole being so intimately mixed as to be eminently digestible. The yolk, in fact,
is designed 1^ Nature to form the first food of the chick at the period of hatching,
and is one of the most nutritive of all known articles of food. The yolk is en-
closed in an exceedingly delicate membrane, which prevents its admixture with the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 27

white. In breaking a number of eggs into a basin there may be observed a small
circular speck on each yolk. This speck is the rudiment of the young chick, and
the construction of the egg is such that on whicheyer side it is turned the rudi-
mentary germ is always uppermost, so as to receive the heat from the breast of
the sitting hen. The mechanism by which this is managed is very simple : the
lower side of the yolk is weighted or ballasted by two twisted heavy masses of very
firm albumen, termed the chalazie, which, hanging dovv^n, keep the germ constantly
uppermost, on whichever side the egg may be laid.' Contrary to general belief,
these ballasting weights are found in all eggs, whether laid by pullets or old
hens.

If an egg has been sat on, even for a few hours, the size of the germ is in-
creased, and if left in the nest of a sitting hen for twenty-four hours, small blood-
vessels may be seen, forming a beautiful zone around it. It should not be
imagined that the yolk is a more unorganized liquid ; it is composed, like the
white, of concentric layers, which may be seen when it is boiled hard ; and from
the germ a tube runs to a central hollow cavity — that is also often to be noticed
when an egg boiled hard for salad is cut across.

When a fecundated egg is placed under a hen, or deposited in an incubator and
subjected to a temperature somewhat above 100° Fahrenheit, the germ undergoes
a remarkable series of alterations, being gradually developed into the perfect chick.
During the period required for the complete development, various chemical and
physical changes occur, the most important of which may be briefly alluded to.
The air-vesicle at the end gradually becomes larger in proportion as the water of
the albumen evaporates through the pores of the shell. During the development
of the chicken, its nourishment is derived chiefly from the yolk ; and shortly
before birth the remainder of the yolk is drawn into the abdomen, and passing
into the digestive canal, constitutes the first food of the newly-hatched animal.
During incubation, the blood of the chick is aerated by passing through a series
of vessels in a temporary respiratory membrane which lines the porous shell ; this
makes its appearance on the third day, and gradually extending, gives rise to that
opacity of the fertile egg which has been already alluded to. It is not until the
nineteenth day of incubation that the beak of the chick ruptures the enlarged air-
vesicle, and it then first commences to breathe by means of its lungs. This is
accompanied by a peculiar sound ; and we feel much indebted to the late Dr. F. R.
Horner, of Hull, for the following abstract of a paper on this subject, which was
read by him before the British Association for the Advancement of Science : —

'* I think the Poultry Book the fittest medium for the promulgation of a fact,
or rather discovery, on a subject concerning which views altogether erroneous
prevail ; I mean the manner in which the chick first breaks, and liberates itself
from, the shell.

"It is universally believed that the continued * tapping '-like sound, so percep-
tible within the egg, is produced by the bill of the bird constantly striking or
coming in contact with the shell in its efforts to break it. Indeed, philosophers

D 2

28 THE rOVLTRY BOOK.

nml naturalists, both of this and other countries, — even those who have most
recently written on the development, &c., of the chick, — have stated that such is
the ciise ; whilst the latest authors on Poultry continue the same error. ' The
tapping which is heard,' writes the author of 'Domestic Poultry,' * and which opens
the prison doors, is caused l>y the hill of the enclosed chick ;' similar lapguage
being employed by all others.

" Though opposed to the many gi-cat authorities who have written on this
subject, and opposed, also, to the adopted views of all, I do not hesitate to assert,
in contravention, the facts as observed by myself, especially as such facts can he
so simply and so readily tested and substantiated by every one.

" Whilst recently engaged in some investigations concerning the young chick at
various periods of its growth in the egg, I was led to doubt the correctness of the
common explanation of the (so-called) tapping-like sound, from observing, first, that
it was so continuous, or prolonged, it being heard for about forty -eight hours before
a fracture in the egg was made, thus involving an amount of labour and effort on
the part of the young tenant not commensurate with the small effect produced — a
small fracture, when the whole remaining circle of the egg could be seen to be
broken often in from two to six hours ; and, secondly, as the slightest scratch or
tap with the nail, or similar hard substance, on an egg, produces, when the ear is
applied, a very much louder sound than that made by the chick, I considered that
the tapping, if really produced by strokes of the bill breaking the shell, ought to be
threefold more distinct and louder than they really are.

" The facts are simply these : — The so-called repeated ' tapping ' is not caused hi/
the stroke, nor hjj any other mode of contact of the cliick's hill witli the shell — it is
simply respiratory, and produced during the expiration of the breath. Perhaps the
more homely words, * clicking,' or * smacking,' would more accurately define the
sound ; it exactly resembles that which may be made by puffing small quantities of
air through the closed lips, as in the act of smoking ; and, indeed, from my own
observation, I conclude that it is produced in a manner analogous, by the air
passing, at each expiration, through the lungs of the tender chick.

"It is further observable that the so-called ' tapping' sound begins to be heard,
though indistinctly at first, at that very period of incubation at which physiologists
state that air first enters the lungs, viz. on the nineteenth day, or two days before
hatching. I also remarked that the sound in question was sometimes heard, not as
a single, but as a double sound ; the latter of the two being louder than the former,
and thus corresponding to the expiration and inspiration of the breath.

" I perceived that the egg was really broken (at first with a star-like fracture) by
occasional smart blows with the horny tip of the bill, and which impinged, with no
inconsiderable power, against the shell, as any one may satisfy himself by placing
the ear close to the opening just made. At the period of hatching the chick obtains
great additional space in the egg, by which it is enabled to make enlarged eff'orts.
Thus, by the nineteenth day (by which I mean two days before it liberates itself),
it is seen to occupy the smallest space in the egg ; nearly one-third, at the larger

THE POULTRY BOOK. 29

■end, is at this time filled with air only ; but now, by its frequent struggling efforts,
the chick gradually works itself up till it fills the whole space ; and by this partial
unpacking, as it were, of itself, acquiring more liberty for action.

On pressing the egg against the ear it Avill be found that the young chick
breathes, when first heard, about eighty times in a minute, as denoted by the
' tapping,' or respiratory sound ; but afterwards generally not more than sixty. It
makes the struggling efforts five or six times per minute, while the sharp strokes
with the bill, by which it breaks the shell, are repeated at unequal intervals of from
one to five minutes : I perceived that sometimes these strokes were repeated in
immediate succession. The action of the heart is so rapid that it cannot be counted
with accuracy.

*' The chick gradually Avorks itself round in the shell during its struggles, break-
ing it in its progress, till at length the lid-shaped upper portion of the shell is
detached. In this process the ' tapping,' or breath sound, generally, though not
always, continues ; and any one may, at this stage, satisfy himself by observation
that it is only by the occasional blows vdth the bill, suddenly and forcibly made,
and generally at the commencement or at the termination of the struggle, that the
shell is broken.

"I shall now detail the simple expedients by which I proved that the 'tapping'
was not caused ' by the contact of the chick's bill with the shell.'

" I broke a small hole in the round end of the egg, when the ' tapping ' was
distinctly audible. M. Eeaumur, unlucldly, attempted to satisfy himself as to the
cause of this sound by holding the egg before the light of a candle ; had he broken
a hole in the shell, when he examined it, he would have avoided his error. By
this means I saw the bill in situ, and plainly perceived that, though the sound
continued, the bill itself did not come in contact with the shell. Nay, in some
early instances, the sound was heard before the bill was visible, or had protruded
through the enveloping membrane. To satisfy myself again I watched in other
examples, till a small fracture had been made in the shell by the chick ; this breach
I then enlarged considerably, brealdng away the shell so as to bring the bill of the
chick into open view — to isolate it, indeed, and to x>rcvcnt the possihility of its
coming in contact ivith the s/(^?/— still the same ' tapping ' sound continued as
before, and, as I now clearly sav/, was produced solely by the breathing of the chick.
Further remark would be wholly superfluous.

" It appears to me probable that the reduction in the frequency of the tapping or
noisy respiration, soon after I had made an enlarged opening in the shell, was
dependent upon the free admission of the pure atmospheric air, by the vivifying
influence of which the respiratory organs speedily gained a more perfect and normal
action. In some cases the sound ceased for a while, when a free aperture had thus
been made ; and the chick gaped widely and repeatedly, as if expanding its lungs
with air. In the weakest chickens I generally found that the respiratory sound was
most continuous ; indicative, I conceive, of less power in the respiratory organs to
gain a more perfect action.

so . THE POULTRY BOOK.

" Asa still stronger proof that this sound is respiratory, I found that by placing
the ear or the stethoscope against the breast or back of the chick the day after it
was hatched, precisely the same sound was heard, proving incontcstably that it is
caused by the transmission of air through the lungs. It is, indeed, nothing more
than the natural respiratory sound in the lungs of the young chick."

Having devoted so much space to the consideration of the structure of the egg,
it may be desirable to make a practical appHcatiou of the knowledge, and describe
the best method of keeping eggs, both for culinary and hatching purposes. When
exposed to the air an egg soon loses its original freshness, in consequence of the
escape of part of its moisture, and the consequent entrance of air. This evil may
be prevented in several modes. One of the least troublesome is to grease the sur-
face of fresh eggs intended for cooking, and so close the pores. It is not very
material what grease is employed, provided it is fresh and sweet. Butter is, perhaps,,
the least desirable, as it contains curdy matter, which becomes tainted after long
exposure to the air. Lard, or melted suet, is better, and in France melted bees'-
wax and olive oil is sometimes employed, and answers remarkably well. Another
mode of preventing the access of air is to plunge the eggs into a thin creamy
mixture of freshly slaked lime and water, in which they will keep good, for pastry
purposes, for many months.

Eggs intended for hatching should be kept in a situation where the evaporation
of moisture through the pores of the shell is prevented as much as possible.
Placing them with the larger end upwards in a box, with bran, is a very common
mode of keeping choice eggs intended for hatching. If the eggs are to be kept
any length of time the position is a good one, as the presence of the air-vesicle and
chalazae prevents the germ rising to the top and adhering to the membrane of the
shell. The extreme care sometimes bestowed on eggs intended for incubation,
however, is quite unnecessaiy. The yolk is so perfectly suspended that no injury can
occur to it by any violence likely to be suficred by the egg, short of actual breakage.
Ef^crs have been hatched in England that were laid in America, the vibration and
shaking to which they have been submitted on the voyage not having injured the
vitality of the delicate germ. Nor can a uniformity of temperature be considered
requisite : no other eggs hatch so well as those laid by the hen in a nest hidden in
some hedge or coppice ; these are necessarily exposed to great alternations of tem-
perature prior to the hen's becoming broody, — alternations arising from the dif-
ferences of the heat of day and night, and from the hen warming up the whole
batch on laying everj' additional egg.

We believe that by keeping the eggs covered so as to prevent the loss of the
internal moisture by evaporation we have done all that is requisite in ordinary
cases. Should we be desirous of keeping eggs an unusual time, wo think that the
employment of air-tight jars perhaps offers the best mode of proceeding. Those
with patent air-tight stoppers, sold by Messrs. Crook, of Carnaby Street, are
eminently adapted for this purpose.

V/ith regard to the transport of eggs intended for hatching, there is no plan so

THE POULTEY BOOK. 31

desirable as packing them in hay, in a basket or tmali hamper. The hay by its
elasticity prevents any of the eggs being broken, and they may be conveyed
hundreds or thousands of miles without injury. If packed in a box with bran,
sawdust, chaff, or oats, as frequently adopted, the continued vibration to which
they are subjected on the journey shakes the packing into smaller compass,
and the eggs are liable to come in contact and be broken.

CHAPTER V.

THE MANAGEMENT OF CHICKENS.

TN rearing chickens, as in all other operations of the poultry yard, the nearer we
J- can imitate nature the hetter. A hen that has "stolen" a nest invariably
brings out a strong and healthy brood, although there is no poultry maid to
remove the first hatched chicks, and place them in a basket by the side of the
kitchen fire. "We believe that all interference with fowls at the period of hatching
is especially undesirable. Many hens resist any examination of the eggs, especially
when their maternal instincts are excited to the utmost by the chirping of the
chicken beneath them. Cochins, perhaps, may submit to have egg after egg
pulled out and examined, but few other varieties will allow of any interference
at this period.

"We are quite certain that more chickens are destroyed by the struggles of the
hen, and by untimely assistance, than are saved by any aid that can be ren-
dered at the period of hatching by the hand of man or woman either.

Chickens require neither food nor drink on the day on which they are hatched ; in
fact, both are injurious, as they interfere with the natural digestion of the yolk,
which is absorbed into the bowels at the period of hatching, and constitutes the
first food. If grits, oatmeal, &c., are spread before the hen on the twenty-first day,
she is induced to leave the nest, and the last-hatched chickens are unable to follow,
and, being weakly, perish. "VMiereas, if undisturbed, the hen seldom leaves the nest
on the twenty-first day, and on the twenty- second day the chicken will be found
strong enough to follow her.

The plan of cramming peppercorns or grains of barley dovm the throats of newly-
hatched chickens is exceedingly injurious. The best food for newly-hatched
chickens is two-thirds sweet coarse oatmeal and one-third barley meal, mixed into
a crumbly paste with milk or water ; the chickens make surprising progress upon
it ; they are also very fond of a little cold oatmeal porridge, and, by way of variety,
they may sometimes have a few grits given to them.

Milk is frequently used to mix the barley or oatmeal, but it soon becomes sour in
Bummer, and is decidedly injurious if employed in that state ; no more food, there-
fore, should be mixed with milk than can be eaten in a few hours. Sopped bread
is by no means desirable : it does not appear to aflford the necessary resistance to
the natural grinding action of the gizzard, and consequently the chickens soon
become weakly and affected with diarrhoea from its use.

lu order to satisfy the hunger of the hen, which is usually very great when she

THE POULTRY BOOK. 33

leaves the nest, it is very desirable to give her as much corn as she can consume,
when, having satiated her own appetite, and quenched her thirst, which at this time
is considerable, she will brood over her callow young and keep-them at rest whilst
they are digesting the yolk that has l)een absorbed just before hatching. After the
first few days some whole corn, such as small-tail wheat, or some barley, may be
given to the young brood ; and disproportioned as the size of the grains may appear,
it will be found that they will be greatly relished, and doubtless afford a wholesome
exercise for the extraordinary grinding power of the gizzard.

It is scarcely necessary to state that it is requisite that chicken should either
have a constant supply of food or be fed at very short intervals. The first food
should be given at daybreak, and if the birds are hatched in the very early part of
the year they must be fed in the after part of the day, by candle light, if rapid
progress be desired.

With regard to animal food, there is none equal to the natural supply of worms
and insects obtained by the hen ; small worms, or a barrow full of mould con-
taining an ants' nest, may be given if the chicken are in a confined situation, and
will be found far superior to boiled egg, chopped meat, or any more artificial
substitute. Choi^ped curd, frequently used, doubtless furnishes the very best
substitute for the natural insect food.

The plan frequently adopted by gamekeepers who are rearing pheasants, of
hanging up a large piece of horse-flesh, in order that the young birds may have
a plentiful supply of maggots, is by far too offensive to be employed near a dwell-
ing. But it may be so far modified as to be employed in an innoxious manner,
and with great advantage. If any dead animal be exposed for a few days
during spring or summer, it will soon become a nidus for the eggs of the
common blow-fly. In this state it may be buried about a foot deep in some dry
corner of the poultry yard. Under these conditions the eggs of the fly hatch,
the maggots grow to their full size, and then, preparatory to changing into pupie
or chrysalises, work their way to the surface ; in this condition they are soon
devoured by the fowls, and furnish an admirable supply of animal food for a
clutch of chickens.

Cooping, which is so frequently employed to restrain the wandering of hens
with chicken, is not desirable. In many cases it is a necessary eyil, but not the
less an evil ; a hen, when cooped, has no power of scratching for insects and worms,
which are the best of all possible food ; the chicken are therefore confined strictly
to the artificial diet with which they are supplied. Another objection to the
employment of coops is that the hen does not so soon recover the eflccts of her
confinement in sitting as when she is allowed her liberty and obtains green food to
peck at.

It is frequently said that when hens are not cooped they roam so far that the
chickens become fagged, and that oftentimes they are left behind by the hen. If
the hen and chicken are well fed, and at short intervals, this will not occur ; but
should giving them their entire liberty be objectionable, the plan of enclosing a

34 THE POULTRY BOOK.

small run with laths, wire-work, or net may be had recourse to. These wire-runs
may be easily made so as to be movable, and the hens prevented flying over by
stripping the ten flight- feathers of one wing, which will be found far more cftectivo
than cutting those of both wings. These small runs may advantageously be fur-
nished ^^•ith a common boarded coop, for shelter against sudden storms and rain.

The remark is often made, that chickens reared in the country by cottagers are
more vigorous and healthy than those bred in the most expensive poultry houses ;
this is entirely owing to the more natural circumstances under which they arc
brought up. Fresh air, fresh gi-ass, and fresh ground for the hens to scratch in,
far more than counterbalance the advantage of expensive diet and superior
lodging, if these latter are unaccompanied with the more necessary circumstances
just described.

At the same time, when very early chicks arc required artificial aids must
necessarily be had recourse to. The hens in winter or early spring require
housing ; a dry sanded floor in a sheltered out-house, or, still better, a corner of
the poultry- woman's kitchen, are conditions which must be had recourse to if early
chickens are required for exhibition at the summer or autumn chicken shows, or
for an early supply of table-fowl.

CHAPTER YI.

COCHIXS.

THE conclusion of the Chinese war in 1843, when the northern ports, inchiding
Shanghae, were thrown open to European vessels, may be stated as being
the period of the first introduction of these remarkable fowls into this country.
The date usually assigned to their importation is frequently some few years later,
and there are several claimants to be regarded as the first holders of this variety ;
but the fact that a group of them belonging to her ]\Iajesty were, under the name
of Cochin-China fowls, represented in the accompanying engraving from the
Illustrated London Xeics for December 23, 1843, carries the period of their
existence in this country back to, at least, some months antecedent to that date.
These, then recently imported, birds were described in the following paragi-aph : —
"Her Majesty's collection of fowls is very considerable, occupjing half-a-dozen
very extensive yards, several small fields, and numerous feeding-houses, laying-
sheds, hospitals, winter courts, &c. It is, however, in the new fowl-house that
the more and curious birds are kept, and to these — as the common sorts are well
known — wo shall confine our attention. The Cochin-China fowls claim the first
consideration. These extraordinary birds are of gigantic size, and in their pro-
portions very nearly allied to the family of bustards, to which, in all probability,
they are proximately related- — in fact, they have already acquired the name of the
' ostrich fowl.' In general colour they are of a rich glossy brown, tail black,
and on the breast a horse-shoe marking of black ; the comb cleanly and neatly
formed, with shallow serrations; the wattles double. Two characters appear' to
be peculiar to them — one, the arrangement of the feathers on the back of the
cock's neck, which are turned upwards ; and the other, the form of the wing,
which is jointed, to fold together, so that, on occasion, the bird may double up its
posterior half and bring it forward between the anterior half and the body. The
eggs are of a deep mahogany colour, and of a delicious flavour. These birds are
very healthy, quiet, attached to home, and in every respect suited to the English
climate. They are fed, like most of the other fowls, on a mixture of boiled rice,
potatoes, and milk."

There may be traced perhaps to the author of this, the earliest account of these
birds, many of the ridiculous errors respecting them that gained a ready credence
with the public in the early days of what was then known as the Cochin mania.
The suggestion that they were allied to the bustards, we need scarcely say, was
entirely without foundation. The statement that the wattle was double evidently

38 THE POrLTRY BOOK.

took its rise from the largely developed ear-lobes of tlio birds, and tlio description
of the power of doublin*]; the wing obviously took its rise from the observation of
specimens with twisted primary quill feathers — a defect, it is hardly necessary
to iufoi-m the Cochin breeder, much more frequently found in that variety
than in any other. The birds fij];ured by the artist, and described in the para-
graph quoted, were what would now bo regarded as very bad, fetilty, clean-legged
partridge Cochins, the hens hanng well-pencilled plumage, and the cocks having
brown breasts, with a horse-shoe or crescentic mark of black.

Notwithstanding the introduction of these birds, however. Cochins remained
comparatively unknown for some years.

At the poultry show held at the Gardens of the Eoyal Zoological Society,
Regent's Park, in May, 1845, there were prizes especially oflfered for " Malays and
other Asiatic breeds ;" but these brought to the exliibition no other Eastern variety
than Malays ; and the celebrated stocks of Mr. Moody and Mr. Sturgeon were
not obtained by them until the year 1847. Respecting the latter, Mr. Sturgeon
gives the following details : —

" The history of my Cochins is a very absurd tale, and full of ill-luck, or perhaps
carelessness — a term for which ill-luck is often substituted. I got them in 1847
from a ship in the West India Docks. A clerk we employed at that time happened
to go on board, and, struck by the appearance of the birds, bought them on his
own responsibility, and at what I, when I came to hear of it, denounced as a most
extravagant price — some 6s. or 8s. each ! Judge of my terror, after my extra-
vagance, when I found a younger brother had, immediately on their arrival, killed
two out of the five, leaving me a cockerel and two pullets ; nor was my annoyance
diminished on hearing him quietly remark that they were very young, fat, and'
heavy, and would never have got any better ! The cock shortly after died, and,
beyond inquiring for another, which I succeeded in obtaining shortly after
the original died, together with a number * of hens which reached this country
under peculiar circumstances, I personally took but little interest in them till the
eve before their departure for Birmingham, 1850. Neither my brother nor
myself, before we obtained these birds, had taken any particular interest in
poultry, and why we came to prefer the light-coloured birds still remains a
mystery to me : but so it was. I have often laughed at the dreadful passes my
now famous breed has been reduced to, and the very narrow escapes it has had of
utter extinction, — first the attack of my brother, already narrated ; then the death
of the cock ; and, in the third year, the incursions of some mischievous greyhound
puppies, who killed, one morning, five young birds, just as they were getting
feathered, besides many more on different occasions. Our birds all came from
Shanghae, and were feather-legged. It is to the cock of the second lot that I
attribute our great success. I have had fifty others since, in four or five lots, but
not a bird worthy of comparison with my old ones."

As in the case of many other varieties of fowls. Cochins are known popularly by
a name to which they have no claim. Mr. Robert Fortune, who has passed many

r- ^

& WI «t<

1

feu -J 7 ^©tjnin "jri: iTo

THE POULTRY BOOK. 39

years in various parts of China, says : — " The man who first gave these fowls the
name of ' Cochin-Chinas ' has much to answer for. I firmly believe that what are
called ' Cochin-Chinas ' and ' Shaughaes ' are one and the same. One thing is
certain, — the breed you have in this country as Cochin-Cliinas are plentiful about
Shanghae. They were discovered there after the war, and were frequently brought
to this country, and taken to India, by captains of trading vessels. Was not this
the date of their introduction to England ? And what grounds has any one for
supposing the fowls ever saw Cochin-China ? " It may be thought that this variety
might have been earlier known, owing to our long-established commerce with
Macao and Canton, but Mr. Fortune says that it is a breed but little kno\\'n in
those warmer parts of China, and that, " in fact, the southern Chinese were as
much struck with the size of the breed as we were." He adds, " The Shanghae
breed seems to be more common about Shanghae than anywhere else in the north ;
but I found it over all the low country of that part of China. The southern breeds
have been long weU known to ship-captains and English residents ; but there is
nothing very marked in their character."

Having stated the date of introduction and the place from whence they v/ere
derived, Mr. Fortune informs us as follows respecting the characteristics and
treatment of the birds as they occur at Shanghae itself. In the letter alreadj^
quoted, he says, " The Shanghae breed occurs both with feathered and unfeathered
legs, but more frequently unfeathered. The most admired kinds there are the
game-coloured ones. Hovcever, I am safe in saying that the Chinese do not attach
so much importance as we do to purity of colour : large size and large eggs are
what they most admire and prize. The young birds are most extraordinary-look-
ing creatures. They may be frequently seen half-clad with feathers, and oftentimes
hai'e long tufts on their feet, making them seem to have several extra toes, v/hen
they are wet. The old gentlemen have, in Shanghae, as in this country, most
abortive-looking tails, and they may be readily known all over the world by their
* sweet voice.'

" The Chine fie are not particularly careful in managing their poultry. They
feed them in the same way as our cottagers do in the country; that is, the birds
are allowed to get as much as they can for themselves, and I need scarcely tell j'ou
they are not verj' particular. AYhen the Chinese housewife feeds them, she gene-
rally gives them ixuhhj ; that is, unhusked rice."

Although it is certain that the Shanghae fowl is frequently met with in its native
district with unfeathered legs, even more frequently than with feathered or hooted
legs, nevertheless, in our own countiy fashion has decided most imperatively in
favour of the feather-legged birds, to v.'hich alone prizes are now awarded at our
poultry shows.

In accordance with the facts that these birds were imported from Shanghae, and
comparatively unknown in Cochin-China, it has been thought by some writers
desirable to endeavour to correct the popular but erroneous name of Cochins, and
to substitute that of the port from whence they were originally obtained ; but the

4D THE rOULTRY BOOK.

effort 1ms not licen crowned with success, and to the largo majority of poultry
breeders they are known only as Cochins. In the United States both names are
employed ; those birds that arc feather-legged being termed Shanghaes, whilst the
dean-legged specimens are known as Cochins.

Mr. Sturgeon, who was the first extensive breeder of Cochins in the form iu
which they are at present known, furnished the following account for the original
edition of the Poultry Book. Although in some parts not in accordance with the
taste of the present day, these opinions possess a historical value, and therefore wo
have thought it desirable to reproduce them. Perhaps the most decided objection
that could bo taken to Mr. Sturgeon's opinion would be respecting the length of the
back ; all Cochin breeders of the present time regard a short back as an essential
requisite iu first-class birds.

"A Cochin, to please me," writes Mr. Sturgeon, "must have a stout curved and
yellow beak, with plenty of substance at the base, and the shorter the better. The
outline of the head should seem to be round in the hens when looked at from the
side, and when the eye catches the comb and wattles ; and I like just so much comb
of a fine quality as will stand up, and give that appearance of roundness. In the
cock the comb \s-ill be larger ; but the most careless observer will easily note the
great difierence of quality — some races showing a close and smooth texture, delicajte
as a lady's hand, and others a considerable roughness. The cje should be red and
full — it gives a nice brisk look to a sufficiently quiet bird, harmonizes better with
the general colour, denotes more constitution, and is less liable to disease. In all
cases of contracted pupil and blindness, the pearl or broken-eyed birds have been
the sufferers. The neck cannot be too short, nor the body too long, deep, and
broad ; nor the shank and tail too short. But why need I take up time here on
points that are obvious to all, beyond observing on what I believe to be the true fofm
and carriage of the bod}-, which, both in the cock and hen, I like drooping forward,
and with the hinder parts consequently raised ? A great depth from the base of the
neck above, to the point of the breast-bone, with its weight of flesh, tends to
produce this form, and to show to advantage the fluff and feathers peculiar to the
Cochin. The length of the breast-bone is to be desired and looked to. With
this form all will appreciate the neat head, short neck, and the broadness of the
back, continued from across the wings to the tail ; and that redundant supply of
feathers immediately before the tail which gives the broad, square look that dis-
tinguishes the high-cast birds, and which makes their tails apparently so short.
The small compact wing will accompany these qualities. On the back, before the
tail, will be found a profusion of feathers, and that fluffincss about the thighs and
the tail and hinder parts of the body that forms with the feathered legs one of
the chief characteristics of the race. Too much importance cannot be attached to
straight, well-boned, short shanks ; and if you want appearance, weight, and con-
stitution, they must be wide apart. To my mind, this is a capital requisite.
For colour, I prefer the light buffs; but I do not place colour first. It
stands with me thus — form, size, colour ; and for these reasons : — No bird can be

Lll«ll'iu^, IIHOS.

2i TJ T'i' (C D D H 'J n (D ® X; 21,

THE POULTRY BOOK. 41

perfect if exception can be taken to its form (and our standard here is arbitrary) ;
but unless a bird (I speak of matured specimens) lias attained a certain weight, I
should say it ought not to be eligible for a Jirst prize. I do not mean that birds
are to be judged by the scales, but that they ought to show the size and form that
would ensure those weights in fair condition. Now, in colour there must be more
latitude, and different persons will prefer other shades, do what you will.

" As to dark hackle, although I prefer to have but little, I do not dislike that
little, provided it be not of a dead black, or painted on, if I may so express myself;
but if merely a tinge or stain of a darker hue, I would nearly as soon have it as
not. I dislike very much a broken, mealy appearance, either in cock or hen, but more
especially in the former, which I prefer of a light red, deepening on the saddle.
The comb should be indented, but not too deeply ; and in both sexes the appearance
of sprigs is very objectionable.

" In forming a standard for Cochins, we ought to insist on those points that
are peculiarly theirs, and to discountenance those that in any way imply the possi-
bility of an admixture with another breed. Take a stubby spriggycomb, a lengthy
beak and head, a long neck, a long or clean shank, or a closely feathered body, and
you see qualities that distinguish or are at least found in the Malay, and which
should be condemned accordingly in the Cochins ; and more especially as all the
opjjosites are found distinguishing the best specimens of that race.

" In neither cock nor hen do I like to see the tail sticldng up ; it should form
a nice agreeable line with the back, or be very slightly elevated, and terminate
in nice soft drooping feathers in the cock ; the tail in the hen wearing a much
shorter appearance from the dense mass of feathers around it. I object to a
white ear-lobe, but I like a tinge of red on the back of the yellow legs, Avhich
should be stout, short, and well-feathered."

In preparing the present work for the press, the Editor has sought to avail
himself of the experience of the most successful rearers of all the different varieties
of poultry who have Idndly responded to his request and placed their experience
at his disposal.

To Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, so well known as one of
the most experienced and able judges of the day, we are indebted for the following
Characteristics of Buff Cochins : —

" In size and weight the larger the better, if without coarseness. Sometimes the
cocks attain the weight of thirteen pounds and a half; but from eleven to twelve
pounds are good average birds. The hens weigh from eight to ten pounds ; if they
continue healthy and are well fed, they generally increase in weight until their third
year.

" The carriage and form of the cock should be fine, noble, and very majestic ; the
breast very broad, forming a straight line from the crop to the thighs ; the back
short and wide ; the tail only very slightly raised, compared with that of other
fowls • the wings exceedingly short, and held tightly to the sides ; the legs, thighs,
and saddle unusually large in proportion to the rest of the body. The head small,

E

■i^ THE rOULTRY BOOK.

aud cai-rioil well up. The carriage of the hen similar to that of the cock in
geuenil character, but the head is carried much lower, aud the neatness and fine
expression of face is extremely pleasing in really high-bred specimens.

" The plumage in the cock is very soft, owl-lOve, and exceedingly downy, giving a
peculiar softness to the general appearance. Cochins possess a great bulk of
feathers, each one being wider across than in other fowls. In the hen the peculiar
softness of the plumage is more marked even than in the cock, especially on the
thighs and saddle.

" The neck-hackle of the cock is extremely full, and of a rich but light bay
colour, spreading over the base of the wings. It is desirable that there should
not be any markings whatever on the hackles. The haclde in the hen should
be a distinct clear buff, without any markings whatever ; but a slightly pencilled
hackle is far less objectionable than a clouded one.

" The saddle of the cock should be very full, and free from peucillings of any
Idnd. Cockerels of the year will sometimes moult out perfectly clear at two years
old, though imperfect as chickens. The saddle of the hen should be without any
markings whatever ; the colour being a clear buff from the roots to the tips of the
feathers.

** The tail of the cock is very short and compact, soft, and free from hard stiff
feather* ; if the isrincipal feathers are bronzed in colour, it adds much to the
appearance of the bird, but a black tail is also admissible. The tail- coverts are
pecuHarly brilliant, flexible, and fine. The hen's tail is much less conspicuous
than that of the male ; buff tails the most approved, although the colour generally
approaches to black in the larger feathers. Wry tails, in either sex, are an
abomination.

" The breast in both cock aud hen should be clear buff, well furnished with
feathers, each one of which is prone to run somewhat lighter in colour towards the
tip ; but the more pure the self-colour throughout, the better.

♦' The upper wing-coverts and shoulder in the cock should be clear, but a little
darker than the body generally ; in the hen, the same colour as the body. The
lower wing-coverts of the cock approach to a clear deep-coloured bay. If the
wings are light in their first year, the birds are apt to become grizzled with white
after a few moultings, which is a great imperfection. A clear dark-winged cock
always produces the best-coloured chickens. The lower wing-coverts in the hen
are of the same colour as the body.

"Both primary and secondary quills should be clear buff, without admixture
of other colours.

"The thighs of the cock are stronger than those of any other variety; exceed-
ingly heavy in the feathering ; all the feathers sit very loosely, and are peculiarly
downy, forming in part what is commonly called the fluff. The shafts of these
feathers should be weak and flexible, contrasting with the firm stiff feathers pro-
ducing the " Fulcon-hock," which is to be regarded as a defect. In the hen the
fluffiness of the thighs is far more conspicuous than in the cocks.

C H H H il KI © IT .0 ^D (D IH "J i? 11 '£ IL

THE POULTRY BOOK. 43

*' The legs and feet of both sexes should be perfectly yellow, well-feathered down
the outside of the legs and on the outer and middle toes ; the feathers should be the
same self-colour as the body, without any admixture of black or grey whatever. In
very highly-conditioned birds, the inside of the legs and webs of the feet assume
a decidedly pinky hue. If short upon the legs, the stronger in the bone the better.
*'The comb in both cock and hen should be flat, evenly serrated, and stand
perfectly erect on the head, without any inclination to either side ; any curvature
whatever is a serious defect. The wattles of the cock should be thin, fine, without
coarseness, and perfectly florid in colour. Those of the hen should be thin, fine,
and delicate.

*' The ear-lobes of both cock and hen must be exceedingly well developed, very
long, thin, and fine ; they frequently hang as low or even lower than the wattles ;
any disposition to white is a decided defect, as they should be entirely florid in
colour, and perfectly devoid of coarseness. In the hens the same traits of character
exist, but on a smaller scale.

** The eye of the cock should be yellow-ochre coloured ; the bill also perfectly
yellow. In the hen, the eyes are often a little darker than those of the cock,
and are exceedingly expressive, mild, and docile in appearance."

It should be remarked that depth and shade of colour in Buif Cochins varies
from rich deep buff to pale lemon ; all shades are admissible as exhibition birds,
but it is imperatively necessary that they should match in the show pen. The
variety termed Silver Buffs are of a very pale light silvery tint, almost approaching
to that of the breed known as Silver Cinnamons, but wanting the well-defined
coloured hackle and tail of that variety.

The other varieties of Cochins will not require at our hands so lengthened a
notice, inasmuch as their general characters are, or should be, precisely identical
with those of the Buffs, differing only in the markings of the plumage.

The Cinnamon Cochins, which are now always classed with the Buffs at the
poultry shows, are characterized by the rich dark reddish cinnamon colour of the
hackle and saddle feathers of the cock, the colours extending over the back and
wings. The tail should be rich bronzy black, the side feathers edged with cinnamon,
and the breast, thighs, and fluff the colour of wetted or dark cinnamon. In the
hens the same wetted cinnamon colour prevails throughout the entire plumage.

The Silver Cinnamons, if well marked, constitute an exceedingly beautiful variety.
In the cocks the haclde and saddle and tail feathers are cinnamon, varying from a
light to a rich bright tint, and slightly striped with white ; the thighs, breast, and
fluff being a pale buff. In the hens the hackle is of a deep cinnamon, and the rest
of the plumage of a very pale buff, which in many specimens is so light as to appear
almost creamy white. The contrast of the light body with the dark hackle is
exceedingly pleasing.

The darker varieties of Cochins are distinguished and known as Partridge and
Grouse Cochins. In these birds the cocks should have bright red hacldes and
saddles, with a well-defined black stripe down the middle of each feather ; the

44 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

back and -vviug Low of a dark rich red, with a wide lustrous greenish Llack bar
across the wings. The quills should be rich bay on the outer webs, the secon-
daries ending in black tips. The tail should be glossy black ; not unfrcqucntly,
however, some white appears at the base of the feathers ; this is always to be
regarded as objectionable when found in a show pen, although not a positive dis-
quahfication to prize-taking. Fashion demands imperatively a black breast in
a Partridge Cochin cock, mottled-breasted birds being disqualified, according to
the Poultry Club *' Standard of Excellence," in exhibition birds. The Partridge
Cochins originally imported had brown breasts, resembling those of brown-
red game cocks, and the hens much more closely resemble brown-red than
black-red hens. The judges, however, demanded black breasts in the cocks ;
consequently, such birds were bred by crossing a partridge-feathered cock with a
pure black Cochin. Nevertheless, a reversion to the more natural colour occasion-
ally takes place, and some of the best partridge cocks show the brown feather not
unfrequently.

In the Partridge hens the neck hackle feathers should be bright gold, each
having a broad black stripe down the centre. The remainder of the plumage
should be light brown, well and distinctly pencilled with dark brown. It is an
important point that the pencilling should be well marked on the upper part of
the breast. The shafts of the feathers should be creamy white, contrasting
pleasingly with the darker colour of the webs of the feathers.

In the gi-ouse hens the ground colour is darker, and the shafts of the feathers
do not oflfer that contrast to the other parts of the feathers.

Black Cochins were largely exhibited some few years since, but seem almost to
have disaj)peared from our poultry shows. They should possess all the character-
istics of the other varieties as to form and size, and the plumage should be per-
fectly black throughout ; but most of the birds formerly shown were coppery red or
" brassy " on the haclde and wings ; consequently, this variety did not find any
great favour with amateurs, especially as they did not generally breed true to
colour.

"WTiite Cochins are very beautiful birds, and are making steady progress in
general estimation. For the following admirable description of the characteristics
of this variety we are indebted to F. W. Zurhorst, Esq., of Donnybrook, one of
the most successful breeders and exhibitors of these birds : —

" Let us look round the yard : there is my favourite hen. Notice her great depth,
bringing her straight and pointed breast])one apparently close to the ground, sunk
between two very short and widely- set shanks, covered to the end of the outer and
middle toes with thickly-placed, laterally-spreading feathers ! My favourite has
some sign of vulture-hock ; I know well that she ought not, but I also know that
rare shank-feathering cannot be had without it ; and if I do not see it so accom-
panied in the show pen I have my own idea as to what has become of it. Look
at her fine broad back, where, two inches from the fiill of the thick and ample
neck-feathers, the rightly-named cushion begins to rise, softening, thickening, and

LKlf*liTON, ERoa.

IP ii 2i ^ IP. 3 'J) © *-£ 'D ® © in a 1? So

THE POI'LTKY BOOK. 45

widening till it reaches the short, round, blunt tail-feathers. Notice that short
and well-set neck, with its rich soft feathering ; the small head ; the bright hazel
eye ; clear yellow bill, surmounted by the straight, fine-grained, and evenly-serrated
comb, not high or thick, but just enough to set off, with her orange legs, that soft
and pure white plumage which makes this hen the most attractive feature in my
yard.

''See, she has turned ; and now you see her thick and ample flufi", soft and white
as swan's down, and wider than herself, as she canters before us up the 'j-ard,
thickly clothing her wide stern, and bulging out in hea\'y masses beyond her tightly
clipped-up wings. If, as Mr. ^Teller asserted, ' vidth and visdom ' go together,
she must be sage indeed ! How genial her temper, how easily controlled her wan-
derings— a yard-high fence keeps your white Cochin at home. And what glorious
large pink eggs she keeps on laying ! Talk of Cochin eggs being small, why one of
this hen's eggs will make two of those of her coloured relatives — ay, and cheaper
eating, too, for your white Cochin is a nice feeder, and will eat much less than her
buff neighbour.

" So much for our favourite who lives ; now for her departed mate, who lives only
in his two sons. Short of leg, too, was he ; well-feathered were his shanks,
straight and well-covered were his toes ; he, too, should have had no sign of vulture-
hock, but soft and nicely rounded into the top of the yellow shank, ^yide was his
breast, and well filled out withal in its lower parts, making him look, as the sailors
say, ' a bit down by the head ; ' his neck clothed with rich-falling hackle ; a
strong curved yellow bill ; Avide, firm, upright comb, springing from the nostrils
and going from front to back almost in a semicircle, evenly serrated and finished
with a plain round piece, which, though nearly touching the neck, was rounded
under and just tucked nicely in to finish on the crown. His back was short, and
rising to the glossy and straight- falling saddle hackle which covered the tips of his
short and tightly clipped-up wings. For his tail — well, he ought not to have had
any hard feathers in it, but nice soft, rolling plumes, maldug him look almost
tailless. I know the winning pens at Birmingham never have tails or vulture-
hocks either ; but my old friend had, though a compulsory moult might have made
him also look soft-hocked and tailless. In back, loins, and fluff he was matched
only by his sultana. His wattles were long, very red, and pendulous ; and his
deaf ears might be similarly described. His glorious white colour was a thing to
be remembered, though the summer sun made sad havoc with its purity.

" White Cochins will not suit a city ; but when a garden has to be protected and
a bit of green can be given, commend me to my whites. They are handsome and
massive to look at ; where they have a fair chance they will be snow white. For
the table, killed under six months old, they carry plenty of meat, with a slight and
most palatable gamey flavour. Both as old birds and chickens I have ever found
them exceedingly hardy. They have not had as much written about them as the
Brahmas, but I believe the strength in which they have of late appeared will get
justice done them in the prize-lists."

•16 THE P.OULTRY BOOK.

Cuckoo Cochins arc occasionally exhibited : they arc of a grey colour, each
feather Avith transverse markinj^'s resembling those on the breast of the binl from
which they derive their name. They arc inferior in character to the other
varieties, and are not likely to come into general estimation.

The singular variety known as Silky Cochins, or sometimes as Emu fowls, is
simply an accidental variation of plumage which occasionally occurs, and which
may be perpetuated by careful breeding. The cause of the coarse fluffy appearance
of these remarkable fowls is to be discovered in the fact that the barbs of the
feathers, instead of being held together by a series of hooked barbules (so as
to constitute a plane surface, as occurs in all ordinary feathers), are perfectly
distinct; and this occasions the loose, fibrous, silky appearance from Avhich
the fowl obtains its name. Silk Cochins are usually inferior in size to the
ordinary varieties ; they are good layers and sitters, not difteriug in these
respects from the other specimens of the breed from which they have evidently
been derived.

Having spoken at some length on the characters of Cochins, we have now to
consider their general habits and value as a profitable fowl. To E. Hewitt, Esq.,
we are indebted for the follo\Aiug notes on this breed : —

" These fowls are of an extremely quiet and domestic disposition. A very low
fence, of three or four feet high, quite prohibits their straying : hence their advan-
tage where the range appropriated to them is scanty and confined. They are
extraordinarily hardy, if not over-fed; the chickens are raised without any
difficulty, and they are undoubtedly the very best laj^ers of eggs in winter-time of
any varieties with which I am as yet acquainted. If properly managed, this
propensity may be so arranged as to yield very remunerative returns. The most
lucrative plan I have yet tried is to obtain some strong and well-grown pullets
that will commence laying about November : let these be comfortably housed at
night, where they will be but little exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, and
be allowed to have access at pleasure into the same building during the daytime,
of which they will avail themselves for protection in case of sudden storms. They
should be liberally supplied with food, and have the advantage of a field-run, for
they consume a far greater quantity of grass than any other kind of fowls, — a
circumstance which lessens the expense of keeping them very considerably, —
when they will then continue lajdng very freely until about the middle or end
of the following March : if profit alone be the consideration of the owner, they
should all then be disposed of, for, if retained any longer, tbeir keep will most
undoubtedly lessen very considerably the profits that have already arisen. The
cause of this is very easily explained. Every succeeding year of their lives their
laying commences later in spring, being retarded by, and altogether dependent
upon, the completion of their annual moult : indeed, I have knoANii some of my old
favourite hens that have not had their new feathering altogether restored until
after the winter-laying pullets I have just described had ceased laying.

" It is well known how much more valuable eggs are during mid-winter than

l.t-KiMTOK.UIlOI.

"57 'H r. !P 'ii t; © TJ in H H 03 ® € m.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 47

in the height of summer, whether we view them as matters for sale iu general
market or sim2)ly for home consumption ; therefore, the advantages to he attained
hj production of eggs in winter will he easily acknowledged, and need not he further
insisted on. I am convinced there is very little even if any difference respecting
the productiveness of the different varieties of Cochins as to their colours ; my own
impression heiug that prolificacy depends more upon the quantity and quality of
their plumage, and the consequent general warmth of their bodies during inclement
seasons, than on the colour of the plumage. The reason why some Cochins lay
so much better than others is, that those that most abound with 'fluff,' as it is
termed, or downy covering towards the roots of the feathers, are comparatively
less influenced by sudden changes in the atmosphere, and consequently their
laying is unimpeded. I have noted, as a rule without exception, that diminution
of plumage, and a scanty, ' weedy ' build, is always accompanied with propor-
tionate decrease in the number of eggs produced.

"I am confirmed in this opinion from the fact that the best layers of Cochin
fowls I ever yet met with were white — a colour generally reputed by those who
keep any kind of livestock as being the most weakly in constitution. They were
the fowls with which I obtained the first prize, or silver medal, for Cochins, at the
Birmingham Poultry Exliibition in December, 1853. They were most extraordi-
nary fowls as to the superabundance of ' fluff.'

" As with all other poultry. Cochins will not lay freely if excessively over-fed.
Extreme fatness in all domestic animals always counteracts productiveness ; and
Cochin hens have a tendency to increase greatly in weight, from internal fatness,
as long as they live. There is still another and far more cogent reason why
Cochin fowls should not be unwarrantably forced by over-feeding. They arc
peculiarly prone to apoplexy ; and, although I attribute many of the complaints
that we hear of so constantly under this head to the folly of endeavouring to
force nature beyond endurance, purposely to increase size only, it is equally certain
that, in many instances, this has occurred where it could not have resulted from
other than natural tendencies.

"Although the largest variety of domestic fowls, they endure the privations
attendant on really close confinement better than any others ; but, in all cases,
they must be supplied with full abundance of green food, or they soon become
ragged in their feathers, and their general constitution sufters proportionably.
Whilst I unhesitatingly admit the superior advantages of the largest-sized birds
in the exhibition pen, providing all other points are equal, long and carefully-
managed trials prove, most decidedly, that birds of moderate size are the most
prolific, whether we consider the number of eggs laid or their subsequent fertility.
It is best to breed from fowls a little darker in colour — more particularly the cock
bird — than the chickens you are anxious to procure, as they generally ' breed
lighter.' From my OAvn experience, I am of opinion that the male bird has most
influence on the colour of the chickens, and that in form and general character-
istics they usually follow the female parent. To do well, the young growing

■IS THE POULTRY BOOK.

chickens, especially the cockerels, require hi^li feeding autl considerable scope for
exercise, or they very rarely Iteeomc superior specimens.

" As exhibition fowls, no doubt the most opportune moment for their owner to
hope for success in prize-taking is the period when the pullets arc just about to
commence laying their first eggs. If they have been well attended, kept studiously
from intercourse with the male bird, and all means used to prevent them laying
early, they will then be as perfect in appearance as possible. The countenance
of a Cochin pullet at this time of her existence possesses much beauty that is
rarely present in after-life; for at two j-ears old many Cochin hens appear really
careworn and aged ; besides which, in very many instances, the comb becomes
irregular, not standing in a straight line, but forming what is technically termed
a ' waved ' or crooked comb. Cockerels for exhibition should, if possible, be two
or three mouths older than their companions, or they will certainly appear compara-
tively immature. As a general rule, young Cochins show to much greater advan-
tage than old ones. But in breeding chickens, it should be remembered that
those produced from the eggs of old hens not only acquire their feathers much
more rapidly than those hatched from the eggs of pullets, but mostly possess
more bone, and consequently make larger birds. Old hens, and a one-year-old
cock, are therefore the most useful stock birds. Cochin fowls are very attentive
and indomitable sitters, and usually bring out any chickens that are confided to
them very strong ; they are apt, however, to lay again too speedily, and desert
their offspring before they are sufficiently advanced to be left to themselves."

These valuable remarks of Mr. Hewitt so nearly exhaust the subject that little
more remains for the present Editor than to record his own opinion on some points
not noticed by that gentleman ; — namely, the cost of the keep of Cochins, and their
value as table and market fowls.

The cost of keeping Cochins has been estimated by some authorities as upwards
of fourpence per week each, others regarding the entire expenditure required
as little more than a penny per head per week. As usual, the truth lies between
the two extremes. At the average prices of corn, Avhcn Cochins arc entirely
hand-fed, and have not the advantage of the stray grains of the farm and rick-
yard, it will be found that they cost each about twopence per week, provided they
are confined to a not very extensive run. If, however, they have a free range,
they supply themselves with a very considerable quantity of food, as they graze, if
the term may be allowed, to a much greater extent than any of the other varieties,
the quantity of clover consumed by them in this way being very large. But,
with these advantages, they still consume much more than smaller breeds would do
in the same situation. It is contrary to all experience to imagine that a bird
weighing from ten to twelve pounds should not require a greater amount of
nourishment than would suffice for the support of another of half the weight ; it
would not be more en'oneous to assert that a cart-horse could be kept on the same
amount of provender as a Shetland pony, as to state that a gigantic Cochin could
be maintained at the same cost as a spangled or pencilled Hamburgh.

THE POULTRY BOOK.. 49'

The value of Cochins us profitable fowls has already been insisted on by Mr.
Hewitt ; their strongest point is their unrivalled excellence as winter layers. As
supplying chickens for sale in the London and other first-class markets they hold
a very inferior position in the scale of merit. They have, in fact, many draw-
backs to their value : instead of the smaller bone of the Dorking, they possess
coarse spongy bones of a large size, and of a much greater weight. It is evident
that all the food which has been required to form the extra quantity of bone,, in
a profitable point of view, has been uselessly employed. The Dorking, Game or
Polish fowl is as superior to the Cochin as is the short-horn steer to the coarse,
unimproved varieties of domestic cattle.

The yellowness of the skin and fat is a serious drawback to the saleable value
of Cochins, yellow- skinned fowls not being appreciated in the markets. Again,
they accumulate large quantities of fat internally, where it is useless ; but on
the breast they scarcely fatten at all. From their terrestrial habits, the pectoral
muscles are very slightly developed ; consequently, there is less meat on the
breast than might be expected from the size : hence, when dressed, the keel of
the bone is prominent, and requires, like that of a turkey, to be broken down.
It is frequently remarked that Cochins make up in size of leg what is Avanted
on the breast. This is true : but it is no recommendation to a table-fowl to
develop largely the inferior portions at the expense of the finer parts. In the
improved breeds of cattle the best joints are developed, and the inferior lessened
in size ; there is small bone and very little offal. The same pecuHarities should
distinguish a table-fowl : it should be as nearly as possible all breast, ^dth short
limbs and thin bones.

It should be recollected, that unless a fowl has naturally a full chest, it is
impossible to put flesh or muscle on it by fatting ; for there is this distinction
between the flesh of quadrupeds and that of birds, that in the former, the flesh
can be increased in size by the intermixture of fat between the fibres, which gives
rise to the marbled appearance seen in prime beef. This, however, cannot be
done in the case of birds, their muscles being always destitute of fat, which is
deposited under the skin, or in the interior of the body only.

The great value of Cochins, as furnishing poultry for home consumption, is not
to be denied. They grow rapidly when chickens.; they are so exceedingly hardy
that they can be reared at all seasons, and in winter with an amount of accommo-
dation under which Dorkings would inevitably perish. Broody Cochin hens are
always to be obtained ; and eggs for sitting are not wanting even in the coldest
weather. Their flesh, though inferior in shortness to that of the Dorking, and
of a more game-like flavour, is juicy to a high degree. For family use they are
certainly not to be surpassed, although as furnishing first-class fowls for the
market they are valueless. It is frequently said by their partisans, that the
pullets are at least equal to other fowls (a tacit aclmowledgment that their
cockerels arc unequal) ; but it must be borne in mind that there is a tendency
in Cochins to produce an extraordinary number of cocks in nearly every brood.

F

50 'JIIK POULTRY r.OOK.

Another recommciulutiou they sometimes receive is, that the feathers arc quite
or nearly as valuable as those of the duck and goose. If old birds arc killed,
or chickens after they haVe perfectly completed their autumnal moult, and become
full-plumaged birds, this statement may have some weight ; but ut this period
of their lives they are valueless, or nearly so, as market-fowls ; and if killed at
the age when they are in the highest condition, it will be found that the feathers
are mixed with stubs, containing so much blood, that their value is very small ;
whereas in a duckling of from eight to ten weeks, the feathers of the breast are
perfectly formed, and consequently valuable.

To sum up, it may be stated that the Cochins are chiefly valuable from their
hardihood, from the ease with which they can be kept in a small space, and
the manner in which they bear confinement ; from their great prolificacy, in
winter especially ; from their docility and the readiness with which they sit in any
place, and at any time of the year ; also from the quickness of their growth and
size as a family fowl ; but as a first-class table and market fowl, it will be found
that any attempt to breed them for this purpose will terminate in disappointment.

In treating of each variety of fowl, it may be regarded as desirable to speak
of a few of the more useful cross-bred birds, which, although generally of no
value for exhibition, are frequentlj' extremely useful for table and economical
purposes. When Cochins were first introduced, many persons turned down a
cock into their poultry-yards with a view to the improvement of the ordinary
farm-yard stock. Never was there a more fallacious idea : fowls that are bred
between Cochins and the common barn-door breeds are about the least useful
variety of poultry that can be imagined ; gaunt, weedy, stilty, big-boned, angular,
yellow-legged birds are the produce of such a cross ; and it is only requisite to
ask the opinion of the poultry salesmen at Leadenhall, and of the higglers v.'ho
collect the fowls for them from the country, to know the estimation in which such
birds are held.

Many persons who keep as their principal stock non-sitting varieties of fowls,
such as Spanish, Polish, and Hamburgs, employ Cochin hens to act as sitters and
foster-mothers, and frequently rear half-bred birds for home consumption. In
favour of the first of these crosses little can be said, — the Spanish is a long-legged
bird, and this is a character which it is not desirable to engraft upon a Cochin
stock. The offspring of Cochin hens running in a yard where Polands and
Hamburgs are kept, are compact and short-legged, and are useful as sitters,
although the sires are of non-incubating varieties. The cockerels serve to supply
the kitchen ; but they are of course useless for stock birds.

Of the other crosses, that with the Dorking is one which calls for special
attention. There is no doubt whatever tliat many of our prize Dorkings have had
their size increased by the breed being crossed with Cochins, and then bred back
again for two or three generations from the Dorking ; in fact, birds with the
apertures in their legs from whence the feathers have been extracted, have before
now graced the first prize-pens at some of our poultry shows.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 51

If it be considered necessary to cross the Dorkings for the purpose of producing
a hardier fowl, such a plan as the following offers the greatest probability of success.
It is based upon the fact that, in cross-breeding, the pullets usually are like the
mother, and the cockerels like the father. To obtain a brood in May it will be
necessary, in the beginning of the year, to put tAvo or three large Dorking hens with
a short-legged, compact Cochin cock, either of the common buff or of the Partridge
variety. Of the chickens, choose those pullets wiiich possess in the highest degree
the Dorking character, — viz. fine bone, short white legs, and compact body, square
on the limbs ; and, in the following season, mate these with a good Dorking cock.
The result will be a breed three-fourths Dorking, which if care has been taken in
the selection, will show very little trace of Cochin descent ; whilst the size and
constitutional vigour of the birds will have been much improved by the infusion of
new blood from the hardiest of races. One caution, however, is needed ; — if these
birds are permitted to breed amongst themselves, they Avill sometimes revert to the
Cochin type ; it will be, therefore, necessary to mate the pullets again with a
Dorking cock. As in all cases of rearing for size and strength, great care must be
taken to avoid breeding closely, viz. from birds related to each other.

The cross-bred birds produced by mating Cochins with the large French
table-fowls known as the Creve Coeur, La Fleche and Houdan varieties, are
very remarkable for their rapid growth and for the great size they eventually
attain. We have reared chickens early in March from Cochin hens running
with a Creve Cosur cock, that were never housed, being in a lean-to shed
open to the v,-est ; the hens being cooped on wet days, whilst the chickens had
the run of a grass field at all times and seasons. Some of the cockerels were
killed in May, wdien less than twelve weeks old, weighing four pounds six ounces
each as caught up out of the field, and when trussed ready for the spit they
weighed precisely three pounds each, the birds being then five months old. In
the first week in August the weight of the cock chicken was seven pounds, that
of each of the pullets rather over four pounds ; although they had not been put up
to fatten, or even fed on soft food, or any attempt made to restrain their wander-
ings in the fields. To those who wish to breed large hardy birds for the table, a
better cross than Cochin hens with a Creve Coeur or La Fleche cock cannot be
recommended. The chickens produced will be of rapid growth, large size, and
great constitutional vigour, and, when cooked, will be found plump, and with skin
and fat much whiter than that of the Cochins. There is, it must be confessed, one
great disadvantage attending the rearing of cross-bred fowls — they are quite useless
for the purposes of exhibition, and unsaleable as stock birds. This itself is really a
very serious drawback, as, after giving a high price for good fowls, the breeder not
unfrequently looks forward to the sale of some of the chickens as a remuneration
for the outlay.

The general consideration of the diseases to Avhich fowls are subject, and the
best method of treating each complaint, v.'ill form the subject of a separate chapter,
by which arrangement much needless repetition will be avoided ; nevertheless, our

F 2

52 THE POtTLXrvY BOOK.

nccouut of each variety must be legarcled as incomplete, unless some mention is
made of the diseases to which the fowls belonging to it arc most prone, and the
readiest mode b}' which these may be obviated.

Cochins, as already stated, have a great and unusual inclination to accumulate
internal fat ; this hinders the action of the respiratory and circulating systems,
and the result is that, in highly-fed birds, apoplexy not unfrequently supervenes.
The mode of preventing this sudden and usually fatal illness is self-evident : it is
Bimply to diminish the amount of food, and to avoid the use of those kinds which,
like Indian corn, are of a very fattening character. When internal fat accumulates
very largely in the hens, the abdomen becomes quite pendant, nearly touching the
ground, and the animal assumes the perpendicular attitude of the Penguin. It is
needless to say that such hens are useless for stock purposes.

"NMien heavy Cochins are allowed to roost in houses where the perches are either
high, or small and angular, they are very subject to an inflammatory afiection of
the feet, Avhich often ends in suppuration ; this disease is also apparently not
unfi-equently caused by the runs which arc paved with loose sharp-edged stones.

"White comb — a skin disease of an obstinate chronic character, the first symptom
of which is a scurfy whiteness of the comb — is another result of over-feeding, and
of employing food of an unduly stimulating or unwholesome character. Cochins
are remarkably free from liability to that pest of the poultry yard known as roup ;
and, as chickens, are as hardy and as httle — perhaps it would be more correct to
say less — liable to disease than any other variety whatever.

W§^M¥^

' ir /in^ '

IP

CHAPTER YII.

BEAH.MAS.

ALTHOUGH Bralimas are amongst the latest introductions into our poultry
yards, there is perhaps no other variety of fowl over which more angry dis-
cussion has taken place regarding its history and origin : according to one party the
breed took its rise on the banks of the Brahmapootra or Burrampooter river,
in India, from which supposed origin it derived its name ; according to the opposite
view Brahmas, as they are now generally termed, are either grey Cochins, or a breed
originating in a cross between the Cochin and the grey Chittagong, a large variety
of Malay formerly common in the United States of America.

Without attempting in the slightest degree to depreciate the merits of this very
magnificent breed of fowls, which is now firmly established in public favour, and
which possesses characters as fixed and as capable of being transmitted as those of
any other variety whatever, candour, nevertheless, compels us to dissent altogether
from the statement that these fowls originally came from the region from whence
they derived their name. There is not a particle of evidence to show that they
came from India. The banks of the Brahmapootra have long been in the
possession of the British — at least the lower part of the course of the river — and
no such fowls were ever seen in the locality.

In fact, Brahmas originated not in India, but in America ; and the two varieties
of the breed, now known as light and dark Brahmas, had unquestionably very
distinct origins.

The light Brahmas undoubtedly originated in, or were identical with, those grey
birds that from the very first importation came over from Shanghae with the buff
and partridge birds nov,- universally known as Cochins. But public attention was
first called to them in consequence of an acute American fancier, Mr. George P.
Burnham, presenting a consignment to Her Majesty; and these birds were subse-
quently exhibited by His Pioyal Highness the late Prince Consort at the Metro-
politan and other shows as Brahmas. Of the origin of these birds it will be best
to let Mr. Burnham tell his own tale. In his amusing and unscrupulous work,
entitled " A History of the Hen Fever," published at Boston in 1855, he says : —

" An ambitious sea-captain arrived at New York from Shanghae, bringing with
him about a hundred China fowls, of all colours, grades, and proportions. Out
of this lot I selected a few grey birds, that were very large, and consequently very
fine. I bred these, with other grey stock I had, at once, and soon had a fine lot

''>6 THE r:^t'LTRY HOOK.

of birds to clisi>ose of — to which I <^iivl> whiiL 1 hjivc ulwuys Joenicd their only
true aud appropriate title (as they came from Shanghae), to wit, Orei/ Shanf/haes.

" In 1851 aud '52 I had a most excellent run of luck with these birds. I dis-
tributed them all over the country, aud obtained very fair prices for them ; and,
tinally, the idea occurred to me that a present of a few of the choicest of these
birds to the Queen of England wouldn't prove a very bad advertisement for me in
this line. I had already reaped the full benefit accruing from this sort of ' disin-
terested generosity ' on my part towards certain American notables, and I put
my newly-conceived plan into execution forthwith.

" I then had on hand a fine lot of fowls, bred from my imported stock, which
had been so much admired, aud I selected from my best ' Grey Shanghae '
chickens nine beautiful birds. They Avere placed in a very handsome black
walnut- framed cage, and after having been duly lauded by several first-rate notices
in the Boston and New York papers, they were duly shipped across the big pond,
addressed in purple and gold as follows : .

TO H. M. G. MAJESTY, VICTORIA,

QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN.

To he Delivered at Zoological Gardens,

LONDON, ENO.

From Geo. P. Bcrnham, Boston, Mass. U. S. A.

" The fowls left me in December, 1852. The Illustrated London News of
January 22nd, 1853, contained the following article in reference to this consign-
ment : —

" ' By the last steamer from the United States, a cage of veiy choice domestic
fowls was brought to her Majesty Queen Victoria, a present from George P. Burn-
ham, Esq., of Boston, Mass. The consignment embraced nine beautiful birds —
two males and seven pullets, bred from stock imported by Mr. Burnham direct
from China. The fowls are seven and eight months old, but are of mammoth
proportions and exquisite plumage — light silvery-grey bodies, approaching white,
delicately traced and pencilled with black upon the neck-hacldes and tips of the
■wings and tails. The parent stock of these extraordinary fowls weigh at maturity
upwards of twenty-three pounds per pair ; while their form, notwithstanding this
great weight, is unexceptionable. They possess all the rotundity and beauty of
the Dorking fowl ; and, at the same age, nearly double the weight of the latter.
They are denominated Grey Shanghaes (in contradistinction to the Red or Yellow
Shanghaes), and are considered in America the finest of all the great Chinese
varieties. That they are a distinct race, is evident from the accuracy with which
they breed, and the very close similarity that is shown amongst them ; the whole
of these birds being almost precisely alike, in form, plumage and general charac-
teristics. They are said to be the most prolific of all the Chinese fowls. At
the time of their shipment these birds weighed about twenty pounds the pair.'

" This was a very good beginning. A few weeks afterwards, the Illustrated

THE POULTRY BOOK. 57

Londoit Neics contained a spirited original picture of seven of the nine Grey
Shanghae fowls wliicli I bad the honour to forward to Queen Victoria. The
drawing was made by permission of the Queen, at the royal poultry-house, from
life, by the celebrated artist Harrison JVeir, and the engraving was admirably
executed by Smythc, of London. The effect in the picture was capital, and the
likenesses very truthful. In reference to these birds, the Illustrated London
News has the foUoAving : —

" ' Grey Shangh-\e Fowls for Her Majesty. — In the Illustrated London
Neics for January 22nd, we described a cage of very choice domestic fowls, bred
from stock imported by Mr. George P. Burnham, of Boston, ]\Iass., direct from
China, and presented by him to Her Majesty. We now engrave, by permission,
these beautiful birds. They very closely resemble the breed of Cochin-Chinas
already introduced into this country, the head and neck being the same ; the legs
are yellow and feathered ; the carriage very similar, but the tail being more up-
right than in the generality of Cochins. The colour is creamy white, slightly
splashed with light straw-colour, with the exception of the tail, which is black,
and the hackles, which are pencilled with black. The egg is the same colour
and form as that of the Cochins hitherto naturalized in this country. These fowls
are very good layers, and have been supphdng the royal table since their reception
at the poultry-house, at Windsor."

We have to express our obligation to the proprietors of the Illustrated London
Neivs for the permission to reproduce this engraving.

The receipt of these birds Avas graciously acknowledged by the following
letter : —

'• Buckingham Palace, Marcli 15, 185:^.

"Dear Sir: I have received the commands of Her Majesty the Queen, to
assure you of Her ]\Iajesty's high appreciation for the kind motives which prompted
you to forward for her acceptance the magnificent ' Grey Shanghae ' fowls which
have Deen so much admired at Her Majesty's aviary at Windsor.

" Her Majesty has accepted, with great pleasure, such a mark of respect and
regard, from a citizen of the United States.

" I have, by Her Majesty's command, shipped in the ' George Carl,' to your
address, a case containing a portrait of Her Majesty, of which the Queen has
directed me to request j'our acceptance.

" I have the honour to be,

" Sir, your ob't and humble servant,

" C. B. Phipps.
" To Geo. P. Burnham, Esq.,
" Boston, U. S. A."

The portrait thus sent was that of Her Majesty in the robes of the Order of the
Garter, and it was reproduced by Mr. George Burnham as the frontispiece to his
book, in a style that was especially creditable to the Transatlantic wood engravers.

53 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

AVhen tlioso liinls first came over ami were in domiind, those who had grey
Cochius immediately proceeded to utilize them, and numerous birds were bred
from grey imported hens that had previously been regarded as valueless. The light
Brahmas with pure white or cream coloured bodies and elegantly pencilled hackles
were in great favour ; they were universally admired for their beauty and esteemed
for their good qualities, when suddenly a new variety sprang upon the scene.
A pair of birds were shovMi at Birmingham which were said to have been sold for
100 guineas ; these were dark in colour, and very diflerent in general character ;
they were the first dark Brahmas seen in this country. For their history let us
turn again to Mr. Burnham, who states : —

" By one of the British steamers, in the summer of 1853, the express of
Edwards, Sanford & Co., took out to Europe from my stock, for Messrs. Baker, of
Chelsea, Baily, of London, Floyd, of Huddersfield, Demiug, of Brighton, Simons,
of Bu-mingham, and Miss Watts, Hampstead, six cages of these extraordinary
birds. The best of the hens weighed nine to nine and a half pounds each, and
three of the cocks drew over twelve pounds each-! There were forty-two birds
in all, which, together, could not be equalled, probably, at that time, in America
or England, for size, beauty and uniformity of colour. The sum paid me for this
lot of Greys was eight hundred and seventy dollars.

" Of the three fowls sent to Mr. John Baily (above mentioned), and which he
exhibited in the fall of that year in England, the following account reached me,
subsequently : —

" Mr. Geo. P. Burnham, of Melrose, sent out to England, last fall, to Mr. John
Baily, of London, a cage of his fine * Grey Shanghaes,' which were exhibited
at the late Birmingham Show. The London Field of Dec. 24th, says that ' one
pair of these fowls, from Mr. Burnham, of the United States, the property of
Mr. Baily, of Mount- street, were shown among the extra stock, and were purchased
from him, during the exhibition, by ■Mr. Taylor, of Shepherd's Bush, at one hun-
dred guineas.'

" This was the biggest figure ever paid for two fowls, I imagine ! Mr. Baily
paid me twenty pounds sterling for the trio, and I thought that fair pay, I
remember."

These birds were subsequently figured in the Field, having been drawn by Mr.
Harrison AVeir, and we have also to express our thanks to the proprietors of that
paper for their kind permission to reproduce the portraits.

On comparing these two plates of the birds sent over by Mr. Burnham, it will he
Eeen that the fowls are essentially distinct in their characteristics. The origin of
the light birds has already been given ; of the dark breeds Mr. Burnham states tliat
tliey were grey Chittagongs crossed with Cochins. Of this, he says, "no one
now entertains a doubt ; they were the identical fowls all over — size, plumage and
characteristics."

If further proof were wanting respecting the close approximation of Brahmas and
Cochins it may be discovered in their osteological characters and anatomical

THE POULTRY BOOK. 61

2)eculiarities. It has been remarked that it is a fact uuiversally recognizfed by
comparative anatomists, that the distinguishing characters of nearly allied varieties
are more strongly marked in the bones of the skull than in any other part of the
body. Now, the skull of the Cochin is vaulted and arched, both from before back-
wards, and from side to side, and possesses a peculiarly marked groove, extending
from before backwards on the frontal bone ; and, what every anatomist will regard
as a character of great value, the long axis of the aperture through v,4iich the .spinal
cord issues from the skull, is the perpendicular one., Now, in these characters the
skull of the Brahma is identical ; whereas, in all our ordinary breeds of fowl the
long axis of the occipital foramen is placed transversely, the skull wants the
distinguishing' frontal peculiarities ; and the remarkable arched or vaulted cha-
racter formed both these breeds.

Having allowed to those v.'ho maintain one view of the question as to the
origin of the Brahmas, space to advocate their opinions, it will be but fair that Ave
should afibrd a like opportunity to their opponents. We have therefore much plea-
sure in transcribing the following from the " Poultry Yard," as it is unquestionably
the ablest defence of the opposite view that has appeared in print : —

"In many instances the Brahmapootras have been most unfairly judged,
because birds of unquestionable impurity of race have been taken as a standard,
and an opinion thereon has not only been formed, but published. This has not
been wilfully done, but the conclusion has been arrived at, without due preliminary
inquiry, that they are simply Cochin-China fowls of another colour than those we
have hitherto possessed.

" To form a just opinion, it is necessary to study their habits, and to breed
them. We see enough in their shape to justify us in holding them distinct
from the Cochin-Chinese ; but still more do we find it in their habits and
produce.

''In the shape of Cochin-China fowls no one can fail to remark the absence of
breast, which is indeed one characteristic, as the lack of it enables the fluffy thigh
to become more apparent ; and the wedge-like shape of the bird, while wide
behind and tapering to the breast, favours the development of those points which
constitute the chief beauties in that breed. Now, in the Brahmapootra, this lack
is materially supplied, inasmuch as there is a breast amply developed, and pos-
sessing a rotundity approaching, when in hand, to what game-fowl breeders and
amateurs call cleverness; which is, that a well-proportioned fowl, placed breast
downwards on the palm of the hand, should balance. This cannot be where the
breast is wanting.

" A main merit of the Cochin-China fowl is its domesticity, and its happy, con-
tented disposition ; satisfied with a small run, and never seeking to roam. This is
the admitted character of the bird, and it never deviates from it. We have known
instances where seventy of these birds were kept in a small yard, with a grass-run
of three-quarters of an acre, and where it has been necessary to drive them forcibly
out of the yard to the grass; and the owner assured us he thought there were

62

THE rOlLTRY BOOK.

many, parts of the lu'lil ulierc the birds Inul ucvcr been. Tho Brahmapootraa
wander over acres, and, except to bask in hot weather, never keep at home.

'^The Cochin-China fowl, ahhough a fcreat cater, must have his food provided
for liini, while the Bralimapootra will go abroad to seek it. A lady lately
imported some of hese birds, and after they had been in charge of the man (who
had looked after Cochins for years) some days, asked his opinion. ' Madam,' said
he, ' these will get fat where tho Cochins will starve.' Tho Cochin-China fowl
seeks its roost early, and besets the hen-house door; the Brahmapootra always
roams far from home till almost dark. We have seen them following a man at
plough, and picking in the newly- turned furrows, three fields from homo. Wo
believe a similar thing was never witnessed in tho others.

"It is an old axiom in breeding, that if like produces like, it is a proof of
purity ; because where there is a cross, however remote it may be, the parents will
throw back. We have bred a great many, and everything indicates distinctness of
breed. The chickens are all hatched either black or yellow; at the age of six
Aveeks a change takes place, — the black get gradually grey, and look as if their
feathers were covered with a cobweb ; while the yellow become white, and then
speckled hke a silver-pencilled Hamburg chicken. At a more mature age they all
become grey, some more pencilled than others. There is no doubt they are even
hardier than Cochins. In November, often during the hard frosts and little snow
we then have, chickens will do very well in an open field, without any other cover
than that aflforded by the rip in which the hen is placed. At daybreak they may
be seen, in spite of the cold, running about in perfect health ; and an amazing
small number die. They are less expensive to keep, and are quite as prolific in
eggs as the Cochins.

" The only difficult point is the variety of comb — viz. the pea-comb and the
single : while we give the preference to the former, therein following the judg-
ment of the best of the recognized judges in America, we do not see why both may
not be pure, as in Dorkings. But there are other points in which these cocks
difi"er from their Cochin brethren : the head, the prominent breast (almost pro-
tuberant), the caniage, and shape of the tail. Close observers will notice that not
only is it more upright than in Cochins, but the feathers that would be sickles in
another breed more resemble those in tho tail of the black-cock, and, like them,
spread outwards from the centre.

" As in the early days of tho Cochins, these birds have been mated with those of
other breeds, and the produce has been exliil)ited us pure specimens. We know
many instances of it, where it has been openly admitted that they have been bred
between Brahma cocks and buft" hens. Such will lead to disappointment ; and no
opinion can be a just one based on such an exliibition.

" It may safely be left in the hands of amateurs to decide whether they are or are
not a valuable addition to our poultry stock. Seeing, as we do, the vast difference
in many essential points between them and the Cochins, we believe them to
be distinct from them.

(B "ii 'ii T S II il "i^ 'B '.f-I -2^ '^-

THE POULTRY BOOK. 63

''Among tlie Americans, Mr. Buniliam says they are Shanghaes. Dr. Bennett
contends the}^ come from India. Why should they not ? During the mania,
many thousands of hirds were imported from China. How was it that among
them there Avere no Brahmas ; and why, then, should it be so strongly asserted they
are only Cochins? It would seem that the hold of these latter birds on their
admirers is so strong, that rather than admit a new actor on the scene, they vow he
is the same in a new costume. Cochins will ever be memorable in the history of
poultry as the birds that were the general favourites when a love for the feathered
tribe sprang up. They will also bear the palm of having made larger prices, and
maintained them longer than any other v.ill probably do. Let their lovers and
admirers be content with this, and with the good qualities which, by universal
consent, are awarded to them. It is useless for them to ask more, as the public
has already decided the value of them, and they have passed from ridiculous to
rational prices. They have also suffered the fate of all favourites and fashions ;
they have had their day, as ' stars.' Let, then, the Brahmas have their turn, and
reign, if they deserve it ; they will never attain the height of their predecessors, nor
will any other : but do not seek to take from them ' their local habitation and their
name.'

"If they are Cochins, will the advocates of this opinion tell me if they ever
bred their buffs, cinnamons, and grouse with pea-combs. I refer to this, first,
because it is a disputed point among writers. One says the pea-comb is decidedly
preferable ; the others say it should be single, upright, and well serrated. The
pea-comb is a novelty with us ; it is unlike any other ; it is not in any part like the
single one of the Cochin, the double one of the Hamburg, or the flattened one of
the Malay. It rises little from the head ; it is very thick at the base. It has the
appearance of three combs pressed into one ; the middle and highest part has blunt
serrations ; the sides, only half as high, have the same, looking like two small
combs joined to a larger one. Now, in all our varied crosses we have never seen
anj'thing like this. If we put a Malay hen to a Cochin cock, as was done in the
early days, we had no pea-comb. The effect was, the Malay comb became thinner
and longer, and in some instances fell over the face, like that of a Spanish hen.
In all my experience among thousands of Cochins, I never saw one with a double
comb. I have seen crosses, with much of Cochin in them, with double combs, but
of course they "ceased to be tji^es of the breed.

" I assert, then, the pea-combed Brahma cannot be a Cochin. If it be a cross,
then I repeat what another writer on poultry said some time since : ' If brother
Jonathan made these, I wish he would make us something more.'

"I would fain meet objections on their own grounds. One of them says all
these birds sprang from one pair. There has, then, been no introduction of fresh
blood ; and marvellous birds they are to go on with so little appearance of degene-
racy ; and it speaks much for the purity of the breed, for were they made up of a
cross, they would certainly throw bad:. Tlic attempt would hardly succeed of
crossing between the Malav and Dorking, because it is known how the fifth claw

G4 THE POULTRY BOOK.

appears iu every cross ; witness the early days of Cochius : the legs would often be
robbed of their feathers. I have bred above a hundred Brahmas, and never had
one without feathered legs, nor did I ever have one without orange legs ; no green,
as iu white Cochins, nor white as in Jiull's.

"Nor is it a less mistake to say the American birds arc crossed with the Malay.
No mixture is so easy to detect as this ; there is a character in IMalay fowls which
belongs to no other, and the slightest cross of it is immediately visible to a
practised eye. The feather, carriage, tail, and head of INIalays arc different from
any others ; and so different, that the veriest tyro will recognize them Avhen grafted
on any other stock.

*' I do not want to become too lengthy, and will therefore conclude. If they
were Cochins, they would not have pea-combs nor deep breasts. If they were
crossed with Malays, they Avould have drooping tails, small bodies, hard plumage,
and cruel faces. If they were crossed with Dorkings, they would have ample tails,
five claws, and clean legs.

" These are the accusations, and the birds in question have no points to bear
them out.

" "VMiat are they, then? They are Brahmapootras ; large, heavy birds,
s^nnmetrical, prolific, and hardy ; living where Cochins would starve ; growing in
frost and snow, when hatched in the winter mouths ; and, without seeking to
christen a mania, they are standing on their own merits, with the conviction they
will deserve well of the public."

As much misapprehension prevails on the subject of the origin of new varieties, we
reproduce from the Field the following article from the pen of the present editor : —

" A considerable amount of uncertainty finds its way into type respecting what
may be termed pure breeds of domestic animals. Such questions as the following
are constantly asked, ' Are Brahmas a pure breed ? ' ' Are Black Hamburgs a pure
breed ? ' &c. &c. These queries obviously owe their origin to a confusion of the
distinction that exists between different animals, and between different varieties
of the same animal. Let us illustrate our meaning by an example or two.

"A hare is a pure-bred animal, because it is totally distinct from all other
animals, or, as naturalists say, it constitutes a distinct species. It does not breed
with other animals, for the so-called leporincs are only large rabbits ; and if it did,
the offspring would be a hybrid or mule, and almost certainly sterile or incapable
of breeding. In the same manner the common wild rabbit is a pure breed. This
animal possesses the capability of being domesticated, and, under the new circum-
stances in which it is placed, it varies in size, form, and colour, from the original
stock. By careful selection of these variations, and by breeding from those indivi-
duals which show most strongly the points or qualities desired, certain varieties,
or, as they are termed, ' breeds ' of rabbits, are produced and perpetuated.
Thus we have the the lop-eared breed, the Angora breed, the Chinchilla breed, &c.,
&c., characterized by alterations iu the length of the ears, iu the colour of the
fur, in the size of the animals, and so on. It is obvious that, by care, more new

THE POULTRY BOOK.

65

varieties may be produced and perpetuated. Thus, l)y mating Silver-greys of
different depths of colour, white animals with black extremities are often produced,
and these have been perpetuated by mating them together. The breed so pro-
duced is known as the Himalayan variety, and, as it reproduces its like, is as
pure and distinct a l)reed as any other that can be named. But, in the strictest
scientific sense of the word, no particular variety of rabbit can be said to be a
pure breed, as, like all the others, it is descended from the wild original. In
the same manner, we may deny the applicability of the term pure breed to the
varieties of any domesticated animal, even if, as in the case of the dog or sheep,
we do not know the original from which they descended.

"All that can be asserted of the so-called purest-bred variety is that it has been
reared for a number of years or generations without a cross with any other variety.
But it should be remembered that every variety has been reared by careful arti-
ficial selection, either from the original stock or from other varieties.

"In the strict sense of the word, then, there is no such thing as an absolutely
pure breed — the term is only comparatively true. We may term the Spanish fowl
a pure breed, because it has existed a long period, and obviously could not be
improved by crossing with any other known variety ; in fact, its origin as a
variety is not known. But many of our domesticated birds have a much more
recent origin. Where were Game Bantams fifty years ago ? the variety did not
exist. They have been made by two modes : breeding Game to reduce the size,
and then crossing the small Game fowl so obtained with Bantams. Yet Game
Bantams, as at present shown, have quite as good a claim to the title of a pure
breed as any other variety. In fact, every variety may be called a pure breed that
reproduces its own likeness true to form and colour.

"The statement that Brahmas, Black Hamburgs, Dorkings, &c., are pure
breeds is meaningless, if it is intended to imply anything more than that they will
reproduce their like, which a mongrel cross between two distinct varieties cannot
be depended on doing. There is no doubt but that many of our varieties have
been improved by crossing with others. The cross of the bulldog, thrown in and
bred out again, has given stamina to the greyhound; and although generally
denied, there is no doubt but that the Cochin has in many cases been employed
to give size to the Dorking. In the same manner new permanent varieties of
pigeons are often produced, generally coming to us from Germany, in which
country the fanciers are much more experimental than in England, where they
adhere to the old breeds with a true John Bull, or bulldog like, tenacity."

If we apply this reasoning to the fowls at present under discussion, there can
be no doubt whatever that Brahmas have as good a title to the designation of a
pure breed as any other variety whatever, inasmuch as they breed perfectly true
to form, general characteristics and colour ; no more than this can be said of any
variety, even the oldest of which Ave have any. record; and it is comparatively
immaterial whether they originated ten or ten hundred years since.

Having given, as far as practicable, the history of the origin of Brahmas, it is

G

C\{j THE POULTRY BOOK.

now necessary to entor into a consicleiation of their characteristics and general
vahie as useful poultry.

In giving the characters of this hreed we shall do so in accordance with llic rules
laid do^^^l in ** Standard of Excellence in Exhibition Poultry," published for the
Poultry Club by Messrs. Groombridgc and Sons. This we do the more readily as
the characteristics of the Brahmas, as given in that work, were most carefully
compiled by Mr. E. Teebay, of Fullwood, near Preston, who was for many years
pre-eminently the most successful rearer and exhibitor of this magnificent variety.

Brahmas are doubtless the largest of all the varieties of domestic fowls ; it is
within our own knowledge that cocks have been shown weighing the almost in-
credible weight of seventeen pounds, which considerably exceeds that of any other
breed. Of course such a weight is above the average, but there is no doubt that no
other fowls, Cochins not even excepted, are equal in bulk to well-bred Brahmas.

The form of the body corresponds with the great size. The breast in both sexes
is very full, broad, round and prominent. The back is short, very broad between
the shoulders and across the hips, the saddle feathers being particularly abundant,
and forming in the hen a soft cushion rising towards the tail. The neck should be
neatly curved, slender near the head, but very full below, the neck hackle feathers
reaching well over the shoulders, so as to contrast strongly with the short hackle
feathers and snaky neck of the Malay. The 'nings should be but small, held
tightly by the body, and with the tips of the quills well covered by the saddle
feathers ; the cock's tail, though small, should be carried erect, the sickle feathers
often spreading out laterally, as in the black-cock, the base of the tail being Avell
covered by the abundant tail coverts, which in the hens almost entirely conceal
the short upright quills. The fluff should be exceedingly abundant in both cocks
and hens, well covering the hinder parts of the body, and standing out from the
thighs, so as to give the birds the appearance of being very broad and deep when
viewed from behind.

The thighs are large and muscular, well covered \nth. soft feathers, which should
cur\-e round the hocks so as to hide that joint. Projecting vulture or falcon
hocks are decidedly objectionable, though not to be regarded as an absolute dis-
qualification when found in a show-pen. The shanks should be rather short, stout,
placed wide apart, and abundantly feathered down to the outside of the outer and
middle toes.

The head in the Brahma should be moderate in size, compared with the bulk
of the bird, and surmounted with a triple comb, known as a pea-comb ; this should
be small, low in front and fii-mly set on the head, without falling over on either side,
distinctly dinded, so as to have the appearance of three small combs joined together
in the lower part and back, the largest being in the middle, and each part slightly
and evenly senated.

This description of the comb is applicable to that of both sexes, duo allowance
being made for its smaller size in the hen. When first introduced, many of the
Brahmas had single combs, closely corresponding in shape and size with those of

LIOUT BRAHMA COCKEREL.

LIGHT BRAHMA PULLET.

THE POULTRY BOOK, 71

the Cochins : at the present time, those possessing pea or flat triple conihs are held
in much higher estimation. The deaf-ear or ear-lobe is large and pendant in both
sexes, the wattles comparatively small and well rounded.

The characters of the breed, as above given, apply to both the lighter variety
first introduced, and now universally known at our poultry shows, as Lifht
Brahmas, and also to the darker, or, as they are frequently termed, the Pencilled
birds; but the colour of these varieties is so distinct that they will require a
separate description at our hands.

The Light Brahmas are characterized by the general Avhite colour of the body,
breast, and thighs. The neck hackle should be marked with a distinct black stripe
down the centre of each feather ; there is a tendency in the cocks to come light
in the hackle — a defect which very greatly detracts from the beauty of the birds.
The saddle feathers in the cock are also striped with black, those of the hen
being white. The first ten flight feathers, or primaries as they are termed, are
black ; but as the secondary quills, which alone are visible when the vnng is
closed, are white on the outer web, consequently the dark colour of the Aving is
not visible when folded. In the cock the tail is black, the tail coverts being
beautifully glossed with green, the lower ones being margined with silver, as are
the two highest tail feathers in the hen. The shanks in this variety should be
brilliantly yellow, well clothed with white feathers slightly mottled with black.

The contrast of colour afforded by the white plumage, delicately picked out with
black, and the brilliant red of the face, comb, ear-lobes, and wattles, render these
birds particularly attractive ; hence they are never without their admirers, and the
Light Brahma class is always a striking one at the poultry exhibitions. The
accompanying engravings represent very accurately the arrangement of the colours
and markings on a light cockerel and pullet of the single-combed variety.

The Dark or Pencilled Brahmas are very distinct in colour from the light
variety. We will take the description of the cock in the first instance. The upper
part of the body, including the neck hackle, back, and saddle, is silvery white
striped with black ; the breast, under part of body, and thighs black, slightly
mottled with white. The feathers that cover the bases of the quill feathers of the
wings are of a metallic green black, and form a broad well-marked bar across the
wings. The quill feathers of the wings^ or flight feathers, are white on the outer and
black on the inner webs. The secondary quills, those visible when the wing is
closed, have a broad dark green black spot at the end of each feather. The tail
is black, the coverts on either side being of a beautiful lustrous green black, the
lesser feathers being edged with white. The shanks should be of a yellow colour,
which sometimes partakes of a dusky shade, and they should be well clothed with
dark feathers slightly mottled with white.

The colour of the hens may bo liriefly described. The head is grey, the neck
hackle silvery white, striped with black. The remainder of the plumage, says Mr.
Teebay, should be dull white, minutely and distinctly pencilled throughout with

7*2 THE POULTRY V.OOK.

ilark poiu-illiii},', so closi'ly as jilinost to covfr the ffrouiul colour ; the pencilling
reiicliing well up the front of the hreast.

The ilark or pencilleil birds have steadily progressed in piihlic favour since the
date of their first iutroductiou ; their gigantic size, great weight, hardihood, and
prolificacy, and the ease with which they can he kept in confined ranges, all tend
to render them esteemed hy the public at large ; whilst the nobleness of their
ajipearance and the truthfulness to which they breed to feather, cause them to be
highly valued as the favourites of a vast number of the most enthusiastic of our
l»oultry fanciers.

Respecting the value of Brahmas as profitable fowls, Mr. Teebay has
favoured us with the following communication : — " There is no variety so suitable
for a wet. cold situation as this; they even appear to enjoy being out in a
drizzling rain, searching for insect food round the edge of any small piece of
water they meet with ; if they have an unlimited range they are great ramblers,
remaining out later at night than any other variety that may be in the same
run : they are good layers, especially during the cold winter months ; they, how-
ever, do not want to sit so often as the Cochins, and are far more easily cured of
their broodiness. When allowed to hatch, they cannot be surpassed as mothers, no
fowls being more careful not to step on their chickens, brooding them better, or
searching more diligently for insects for their food,

"Brahmas are good table-fowls, the pullets being remarkably full of white meat
on the breast, and they lay on flesh very quickly when put up to fatten. The
chickens gi-ow with great rapidity, and are very easily reared. I have weighed
a cockerel at seven months and two weeks old that weighed lOlbs. 4 oz., and
have seen several cocks under two years old that weighed 151bs. each. At
four or five years old these large cocks become so heavy that they are generally,
to be seen resting on their hocks or lying sideways on the ground, although at
the same time in the best possible health ; if in this state they are supplied
lil)erally with soft food, they will gain Aveight very fast and make enormous
))irds. The average weight of the pullets at five months old is about 71bs. I
may remark that weight is not a good criterion as to the size of Brahmas, for
if taken from an open run and confined in a very small place and liberally fed,
they lay on flesh so fast that they will occasionally add from one-fourth to one-
third of their weight in three weeks, depending on the state of the fowl when put
up. There is no variety of domestic fowls that breed more true to colour than the
two kinds of Brahmas, if they are kept distinct, but should there be the slightest
intermixture of the two varieties, in the birds that are bred fi'om, few of the
pullets will be fit for exhibition, and there will be but seldom two alike in
colour or markings in the same brood.

" The pencilled birds that have the slightest mixture of the blood of the light
variety will breed pullets light on the breast, with sandy coloured patches on the
shoulders ; and ( ven should they occasionally produce a pullet Avell pencilled during

•J) A y. 'JS. '03 "il il lEt ia ii 2,

THE POULTRY BOOK. 73

the first year, she Avill most likely moult brown on the shoulders, and become quite
unlike her original colours in her second season. A few of the cockerels so
bred are pretty fair in colour, but they are always far more spotted with white on
the breast than the true-bred pencilled birds ; hence by some persons they are pre-
ferred, as they look gayer in colour to the eye, but if the fancier that admires these
cocks once breeds from them he will never again choose another male bird for the
beauty of his breast.

*' Light Brahmasthat hare the least mixture of the pencilled breed in them breed
pullets with sandy buif-coloured backs and wings, sonie darker and some lighter,
but seldom produce pullets clear white on the back. These pullets also moult much
worse in colour in the second year ; they are very frequently much marked on the
lower part of the back, many of the cockerels have cream-coloured hackles like
those that are bred from a light Brahma hen and a buif Cochin cock : the birds
from this latter cross, however, are so different in shape from the true Brahmas
that they are easily known by any one who has tried the experiment, though
occasionally a cockerel is produced without creamy hackles and much like a true
Light Brahma in colour."

Mr. P. Jones, one of the earliest admirers of Brahmas, thus sums up the value
of Brahmas as profitable poultry :^

"The chief points of merit in both varieties of Brahmas consist, first of all,
in their hardihood and rapid growth as chickens, cockerels at four months old
frequently weighing over 51b., and early pullets sometimes laying at the same
age. If required for culinary purposes, they will be found at this age to possess
whiter, more tender, and juicier flesh than Cochins, — will also stand confinement
in a small space equally well ; but if they have the advantage and opportunity of a
run, will forage for themselves much better. In common with their first-cousins,
they are most excellent winter layers, and do not age so soon ; some hens at four
and five years old looking, after moulting, and in a good run, as fresh as two-3'ear-
olds."

In concluding our account of these birds we cannot do better than quote the
following very fair description of their merits from the pen of one of their oldest
admirers : — " Brahmas," writes Miss E. Watts, " as good useful hardy fowls, are un-
surpassed. They are good layers of good-sized eggs, good foragers (when they can
have their liberty), and good sitters and mothers. The chickens fledge more
kindly than the Cochins, grow fast, and are exceedingly hardy ; old and young take
good care of themselves, and often recover from ailments which would carry off any
of a less hardy sort. We know no other chickens which are so hardy as they, and
reared with so little trouble and loss.

" We have no hesitation in pronouncing these the most useful fowls we have kept.
They are very good for the table, putting on flesh readily, and being much more
juicy and much better in form for this purpose than the generality of Cochins.
They are decidedly smaller eaters than Cochins, and greater lovers of an extensive
range, which they turn to account in foraging for themselves. Notwithstanding,

H

74 TIIE POULTRY BOOK.

however, their love of liberty, they bear coufinemeut as well as any fowls. In a
diugy, dirty, or smoky locality, Brahmas keep clean better than any other fowls
which have white in the plumage. The hens sit less frequently than Cochins, and
a week's change of place will generally make them give up the fancy.

" "Whether Brahmas form a distinct variety, or whether they are a made kind,
commenced with a cross and established by careful breeding, is a question of little
importance. The accusation has been brought against them that no one for a
certainty knows their origin ; and may we not say the same of all our best
varieties of fowls, with only the difference of going a few years further back?
"WTiatever may have been their origin, they are now distinct and true to their
characteristics."

CHAPTER VIII.

MALAYS.

THE precise origin of the Malay fowl, like that of all other varieties of our
domesticated animals, is lost in the ohsciirity of the past. Whether, as
generally suggested, it is a descendant of a supposed wild hreed, the so-called
Gallus giganteusof Temminck; or whether, as is rendered far more probable by the
researches of Mr. C. Darwin, it, like all the other domesticated Gallinaceous
birds, is derived from a single wild species, the Gallus Bankiva, is a point more
fitted for discussion in a strictly scientific treatise than in a practical Poultry Book ;
and we must, therefore, refer those who wish to enter more fully into this matter,
to the forthcoming work of Mr. Darwin on variation in animals.

The Malay has been for many years the type of bird most frequently kept in a
domesticated state in many parts of the East. The cocks employed in the cock-
fights in India and the adjacent islands are not English game, but a breed of
Malays that are sometimes shown at our poultry exhibitions under the title of
"Indian game fowls."

For many years the stewards of the vessels trading to and from India
have been in the habit of bringing home Malay fowls, and consequently good
specimens may not unfrequently be purchased at the dealers' in the neighbourhood
of the Docks at the east of London.

Although never constituting large classes at our poultry shows, Malays have
always had their admirers ; and previous to the introduction of Cochins and
Brahmas, were of necessity had recourse to in all cases where it was required to
throw size and weight into the ordinary poultry of the farm-yards by means of
cross breeding.

The imported birds are somewhat various in their markings, but b}^ the careful
selection of breeding stock the colours of our show-pens are rendered as fixed and
definite as those of any other variety.

The following account of their characteristics is mainly compiled from
information with which we have been favoured by Mr. Hewitt, and by Mr.
Charles Ballance, of Stanley House, Lower Clapton, formerly of Taunton, Somer-
set, well known as a most successful breeder and exhibitor of this variety.

As regards size, Malays may be regarded as worthy of their supposed descent
from the Kulm fowl, or Gallus glganteus. The cocks should not weigh less than
from nine to eleven and a half pounds, and, when full grown, should stand from
two feet nine inches to three feet high, and be able to peck off an ordinary table

11 2

76 THE rOULTRY HOOK.

with ease. The weight of the hens should not bo less than seven and a half
pounds, good specimens being even as heavy as ten pounds.

In carriage and form, Malays are strikingly distinguished from all other varieties
of domestic poultry. The cocks are exceedingly long in the neck and legs ; their
carriage is particularly upright, the back being almost always at an angle of 45°,
except when they are eating ; the ^sdngs are carried very high, and firmly closed-
Malays are very bulky across the shoulders, and, from the closeness of the plumage,
the fore part of the vdu^ stands away from the body, as it does in the carrier pigeon.
The body narrows very rajiidly indeed towards the tail, which is very small, and droops
in the cock so as nearly to form a straight line with the back ; the thighs are long,
strong, and well developed. The longer and stronger the legs the better, if length
be combined ^^•ith an easy gait in walking. The head is carried very high ; and
from the short and very scanty nature of the haclde-feathers, the neck looks much
longer than in any other variety of fowl. The form and carriage of the hen are
generally similar to those of the cock ; but from the hackles being still shorter, the
extreme prominency of the wings is even more visible.

The plumage in Malays is short and close, but exceedingly Brilliant and glossy.
Every feather, observes Mr. Hewitt, is peculiarly narrow, and possesses far less
down towards the root than do the feathers of any other known variety; the
plumage therefore, lies as closely as do scales upon each other ; and, consequently,
should the bird be taken in hand, it always proves much more weighty than is
anticipated. The extraordinary lustre of the entire plumage in well-bred and
high-conditioned birds is remarkable.

The head in the Malay is long and snaky, the brow projecting over the eye so as
to give a peculiarly hard expression to the ^ice. The eyes should be bright fiery
red, as according best with the restless and vindictive expression of the face ; but
pearl eyes are found in good specimens. The beak is very strong and hooked.
The comb is very small, low, and flat, and is attached closely to the head, without
any tendency to fall over to either side. It should be covered over with small
warty prominences, and end abruptly over the eye, not projecting in a peak.

Malays are remarkably characterized by the very slight development of wattles
and ear-lobes ; but the skin of the face and upper part of the throat is red,
and, from the scanty nature of the plumage, this redness becomes a marked
feature of the breed. The countenance has been justly described as very skinny.

In colour Malays vary considerably. The varieties generally exhibited partake
of the colour of black and brown breasted red game. In these, the hackle and
saddle in the cock should be dark glossy red ; the breast black, or black slightly
mottled with brown. The back and shoulder coverts are deep rich maroon ; the l)ar
across the wings wide, and well marked with a bright metallic or purplish green
black tint.

The flight- feathers or quills should be darlc red, and the tail-feathers small,
black, and glossy to an extreme degree, being resplendent with purple and green
metallic reflections, as the light plays upon them in the movement of the bird.

THE POULTRY BOOK. ' '

The legs in both sexes should be characterized by strength and size ; in colour
they should be brilliant yellow, and without a vestige of feathers appearing on the
sides.

The general colour of the plumage of the hens in this variety is reddish brown,
verging into that of wetted cinnamon in the darker breeds.

In the Pile Malays, now so seldom seen, the hackles in the cock are red and
white ; the breasts white or mottled, and the general plumage of the hens white,
mottled with chestnut red.

The plumage of the White Malays is soon described: the face, comb, and
naked skin of the throat should be bright red, the feet and legs bright yellow, and
the feathers purely white.

With regard to the general habits of Malays, Mr. Hewitt states ;— " I am not
aware of any variety of fowls so cruel, oppressive, and vindictive as Malays ; they are
literally, when kept with other varieties, the tyrants of a poultry-yard. From their
great strength, they are able to inflict severe injury on their opponents, frequently
treading them down, and then actually tearing them to pieces. They, however,
appear rather to rely on their superior physical strength than on their real courage
and activity, for I have frequently known an agile, shai-p-fighting Game-cock (not,
perhaps, one-third their own weight) make them cower almost immediately, and
run into the first corner that offered itself for temporary protection ; — but, on the
contrary, any want of self-possession manifested by their opponents is certain to be
taken advantage of ; and with an irresolute cock they will continue fighting with
the most pertinacious obstinacy.

*' In confined premises they very frequently contract a most injurious habit of
eating away each other's plumage, which they continue to so gi-eat an extent as
eventually to seriously affect the constitution of the fowls thus attacked ; constantly
plucking away the half-grown feathers, and sometimes eating large portions
of the skin, occasioning serious inflammatory disease. The upper part of the
neck, throat, second joint of wings, and the thighs, seem to be the points in their
victims most alluring to birds that have contracted this truly depraved habit.
I have proved that a more extended range, plenty of green food, and a little very
fine bone-dust (mixed with their soft meat) will speedily correct this evil ; indeed,
my own impression is that the habit is often acquired, when Malays are too closely
confined, from a spirit of pure idleness, arising from listless inactivity. The birds
at the onset eat feathers that, having been accidentally shed, were lying about in
places where they were accustomed to stand to sun themselves. Sometimes when
the e^dl practice has been too long persisted in, the plumage, when restored, is
quite altered in colour (becoming a dirty gi*ey, or even actually white), giving the
bird a piebald appearance, which even several moults will not rectify ; for in such
cases I have known this party-coloured feathering to continue for many years, even
until the fowls died of natural decay. For this reason, the more expeditious the means
used for prevention the better ; as fowls such as those just described, or those in a
state of semi-nudity, are certain of non-success in the exhibition pen, however

78 THE POULTRY BOOK.

psrfect in all othor traits of character. Malays are especially prone to quarrel
among themselves if closely confined, for which reason they not unfrequently prove
most troublesome when penned for purposes of exhibition ; indeed, there are
but few among our poultry- show committees who cannot look back with feelings of
horror to the torn and mangled state of some pens thus entrusted to their care,
although previously to their confinement the fowls were the best of friends, and
sent in the first instance quite uninjured. From this peculiarity, and the fact
that few entries are generally made in the ^lalay classes, some poultry exhibitions
have been held where they have been altogether excluded from competition. But
it is greatly to be regretted that prizes should be withheld from a variety of fowls
that, despite some failings, are certainly not without many truly good qualities,
besides being a perfectly distinct variety.

"When full grown, Malays are unusually hardy fowls; and the quality of
their eggs is very superior ; they are, however, small in comparison to the
Bize of the bird itself, and the extreme strength of the shell is remarkable.
True-bred Malay chickens are very long in attaining their first feathers, from
which cause they are somewhat easily chilled, and consequently are apt to become
stunted and deformed, more particularly in the feet and legs. Although extremely
long in the legs and thighs, these birds possess breasts, wings, and merry thoughts
that surpass those of most fowls in the amount of flesh on them, and when
the birds are killed at an early age the meat is of good flavour. But the chief
advantage of the Malays is to be obtained by using them for cross-breeding with any
other of our large varieties. The produce of the Malay and Grey Dorking is a
most extraordinary table-fowl, carrying incredible quantities of flesh, principally
in those parts most esteemed. The pullets of this cross lay far more freely than
^lalays, but the chickens (to maintain their gigantic proportions) must be confined
strictly to the first cross. Chickens thus obtained feather quickly, are hardy, and
very easily reared. The best cross is for the female parent to be the Dorking, as
the body of the fowl thus bred is far larger, better covered with flesh, the colour of
the skin is whiter, and the flavour superior.

" The cross-bred birds between the ]\Ialay and Cochin are not by any means so
good for the table ; but excel the pure-bred Malays in the quantity of eggs they
produce.

" There are many varieties of Malays, among which one of the most beautiful
I have yet met with is the purely white. They possess all the characteristics of
their darker-coloured associates ; but the striking contrast between their clear
unsullied plumage, and intensely yellow beak and legs, brings them into very advan-
tageous notice. I am told — although it is contrary to the general rule — that they are
more easily reared than the dark-coloured ones. A most beautiful breed of Red
Piles is obtained by crossing the black-breasted red and the white: their plumage
is extraordinarily good, and by some amateurs they are highly esteemed. The
bird called the Kulm fowl is simply a grey variety of Malay ; whilst the fowls that
have frequently appeared of late at our poultry shows under the title of * Indian

IZLZSil DDCJ!:.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 7i?

Game,' evidently possess all the principal characteristics of this class of poultry.
Unless frequently crossed to obtain fresh blood, closely bred Malays quickly lose
size so materially that, in a few generations only, they become but very little
larger than common fowls. Even when thus degenerate, however, a couple of
years of well planned and careful cross-breeding (with fowls of their own class)
at once will raise the progeny to the original gigantic standard. They should be
renewed frequently, for this reason, at farthest once in three years."

The subject of "in and in breeding" has always been one of great dispute
between different rearers of live stock of all descriptions ; one party, like Mr.
Hewitt, maintaining that it is fatal to hope for large size and constitutional vigour if
it is persisted in ; their opponents, on the other hand, asserting that when you
have obtained perfection, in and in breeding must be partially followed in order
to preserve it. Mr. Ballance, one of the highest authorities on all points concerning
Malays, has favoured us with his views on the matter. He states — " There is one
remark I should like to make for the benefit of amateurs, now that my oppor-
tunities for exhibiting are likely to be few and far between. It has reference to
what I believe has been the secret of the success I have experienced with
Malays, both coloured and white, for a period of nearly thirty years. During
the whole of this period I have never allowed the introduction of any fresh blood
by crossing with any other strain of Malays, but have kept entirely to my own
breed ; and as I have succeeded in winning more prizes with Malays than any
other fancier of these much-abused but most valuable birds, in all parts of the
kingdom, I think my experience is not to be despised, as testifying to the fact that
breeding in and in does not necessarily deteriorate the birds who may be subjected
to this operation ; but then all depends upon how the breeding in and in is man-
aged. If a person has one yard only, and allows the produce to continue cross-
breeding without any discrimination, then the worst effects will follow, and the
birds get small and weedy ; but my plan has been to keep about five or six distinct
runs, and to rear about two to three hundred chickens each year, and select the
best birds from each run for crossing to make up my yards the next season. I
thus secure sufficient crossing to prevent deterioration, and by judiciously selecting
about two dozen birds, the pick and choice of nearly three hundred, I have been
able to produce each year specimens for exhibition superior to their parents of the
year preceding, and leaving all other competitors far in the distance. I believe the
same management would apply and be found to answer with any other breed."

The Rev. A. G. Brooke, of Ruyton-Eleven-Towus, a well-known and most suc-
cessful exhibitor of this variety, has furnished us with the following valuable notes
on the rearing and general management of these birds in ranges of limited extent.
He writes : — " About eight years ago I purchased a pen of light Malays ; with
these I won the silver cup at the Bath and West of England Show, held at Barn-
staple in 1859, and with the same birds the silver cup at Dorchester in 18G0. The
chickens bred from these birds were all light ; and finding that the judges at
various shows passed them by in favour of dark ones, I disposed of i,hom, and

80

THE POULTRY BOOK.

afterwards fortunately obtained some imported birds (a cock and two hens) in the
neighbourhood of the London Docks. ^Vitll these and their chickens I had great
success, and still continue to have the same strain. I have now for some years
bred in and in, having been unable to procure another imported cock, nor have I
found that by so doing they have very much decreased in size. Chickens hatched
in March and April generally thrive rcmarkalily well ; but they require, perhaps,
rather more care than other sorts, if the season be damp or cold, as they have a
most noticeable paucity of feathers. Malays will bear confinement — mine have
generally done so, and looked healthy and well. They certainly arc disposed to
be savage and irritable if kept long without food ; but for some time past I have
managed to keep the peace by letting them have food and water constantly by
them, in their houses. When thus treated, neither do they eat half so much.
Malays are the only variety of poultry I have had for years, and experience has
taught me that it is best not to keep more than a cock and two hens in one run,
especially when intended for exhibition, as by this means they are thoroughly used
to each other before being penned at shows. It is a great thing to keep them
from excitement. My runs are so arranged that the birds cannot possibly see their
neighbours. The runs should be kept sweet and clean, the soil frequently
removed, and fresh earth substituted ; it is also necessary to let the birds have a
heap of ashes in a corner protected from the rain. Their houses should be cleansed
and lime-washed oftentimes during the year ; their perches should be very broad,
and thickly bound round with carpet to keep their breasts from getting bare. The
perch should not be very high, just room enough left to allow the cock to walk
under it, and straw should be thickly laid for them to alight upon, as they fly to
the ground with great force. I think they might easily be kept within bounds.
IMy runs are all enclosed with the exception of one, where the birds are every
day let out on a grass plot, the boundary being merely galvanized wire, a yard
high; and they never attempt to fly over, though one great inducement to stay at
home is no doubt their having corn, green meat, and water constantly by them.
The food I find they like best is Indian corn and potatoes mashed up with meal.
Meat, or bones to pick, should always be avoided. They require a plentiful
supply of green food ; I have hundreds of cabbages and lettuces planted yearly for
them, and it is astonishing how soon they disappear. The lop comb I always look
upon as a great mistake, having never seen it in imported birds. The eggs they
lay are dark and rich ; and the chickens are plump and very good eating : the legs,
on account of their length, are rather unsightly for table. A friend of mine last
year crossed some Dorking hens with a Malay cock, and the chickens were remark-
ably fine and heavy. During the past season I have had far more applications for
pens of Malays than I have been able to supply ; and I sincerely hope not only to
see the Malay classes at poultry shows better filled than they hitherto have been,
but that those who have up to this time condemned them may be induced to give
them a trial."

The remarks of these eminent authorities on this particular breed so nearly

THE POULTRY BOOK. 81

exhaust the subject that little remains to. be added respecting it. With regard
to the breeding stock, Mr. Ballance states that his experience goes to prove
that the male bird has the greatest influence over the colour of the chickens,
and the female over the size — this latter character, however, being much dependent
on the system of management and feeding adopted whilst the birds are in their
earliest stages of chickenhood.

Malays lay moderate-sized eggs, averaging about two and a half ounces each in
weight. The shells usually are coloured — a pale chocolate. The size and colour,
however, vary ; for pullets under a year old sometimes lay eggs equal in size to those
of any description of duck, and some hens two and three years old lay eggs very
little larger than those of a good-sized bantam. Some eggs are as white as a
Sj^anish hen's egg, and others vary from a light cream to a deep rich buff, and
even to a brown. As a general rule, the light-brown birds are produced from the
darkest eggs, and the dark-brown birds from the cream-coloured or paler eggs.

Malay hens are moderately good layers, and exceedingly good sitters and
mothers ; but from their irascible character they do not admit of being handled
and shifted about during the jieriod of hatching in the same manner as Cochins.

Of the cross breeds of Malays, several have already been described. There re-
mains, however, a breed known as the Pheasant Malay, which occasionally makes its
appearance in the "any other variety" class at the poultry shows. These birds
are small spangled-breasted fowls, probably obtained by crossing the Malays with
a sjiangled breed like the Hamburghs. In their plumage they are sometimes
especially beautiful ; but they want the definite characteristics of a very distinct
variety, and consequently do not appear likely ever to attain to the honour of
having a separate class at our shows. In the United States of America, a large
variety of Malay w^as formerly held in much estimation, being known as the
Chittagong — a name which, according to Mowbray's Treatise, was formerly used
in this country as synonymous with that of Malay.

CHAPTER IX.

THE COLOURED DORKING FOWL.

TTAYIXG treated of those breeds that, from their recent Oriental origin, may
^^ perhaps be appropriately termed Asiatic, we now come to the consideration of
that breed of fowl which is pre-eminently one of the most marked of English varieties,
namely, the Dorking. But we are met at the threshold of our subject with the
question of its origin. In most of the books on poultry it is generally stated that
the coloured Dorking is descended from the fowls brought here by the followers
of Cffisar and his legions, and described by the Latin author Columella, who, when
treating of the poultry kept by the Romans, states — " It is not advisable to buy
any but such as are very prolific. They should be of a plumage very red or tawny,
with black wings. Let the whole be of the same colour, or of a near approach to
it. But if of any other colour, let white fowls be avoided, for they are tender and
less robust ; neither is it easy to find specimens of them that are prolific. Let the
breeding hens be of a choice colour, of robust body, square framed, large and
broad breasted, large-headed, with small, erect, bright-red comb, and white ears ; and
of those thus characterized let the largest be procured, and not with an equal number
of claws. Those hens are reckoned of the purest breed which are five-clawed, but
so placed that no cross spurs arise from the legs ; for she that has this male-like
appendage is rarely fruitful ; and when she does sit she breaks the eggs with her'
sharj) claws.

" The cocks should be lustful, coloured like the hens, with the same number of
claws, but taller ; proud of carriage ; combs erect and blood-red ; eyes brown or
black ; beak short and hooked ; ears very large and very white ; wattles looking
whiter from their shining, and hanging down like a beard ; the feathers of the neck
or mane varying, but preferably from yellow to golden, and spreading down over
the shoulders ; the breast broad and muscular ; the wings brawny, like arms ; the
tail lofty, and composed of a double row of arching feathers, alike on each side :
the thighs ample, and usually thickly clothed with coarse feathers ; legs sturdy,
not long, but armed as it were with dangerous spears. Even when neither pre-
pared for fighting nor for the triumph of victory, their temper should be shown to
be highly generous, haughty, active, watchful, and given to crow often ; also not
easily alarmed ; for sometimes it will be needful for them to repel attacks, and to
protect their conjugal flock."

There are, however, many difficulties in the way of the supposition that our Dork-
ings are descended from the Roman fowls. By far the most probable supposition is
that the grey-coloured Dorkings are composite fowls, deriving, in all probability,

THE POULTRY BOOK. 83

their size and aptitude to fatten from the large Surrey or Sussex fowl ; their fifth
toe and rose-comh, when present, from the old white Dorking, which has heen crossed
with the four-toed Sussex or Surrey fowl, and has produced a hreed superior in
size and quality to almost any other as a table-fowl. This composite character of
the breed is perhaps the reason why so much care is required to produce them true
to colour, or even in many cases to comb. It is singular that the English table-
fowl, the Dorking, and the French table-fowl, the Creve-coeur, should both be,
as they evidently are, composite breeds, produced in a long series of years,
during which time the object of the rearers has certainly been to obtain a first-
class table-fowl b}^ breeding from any bird whose size or form was likely to improve
the original stock.

Leaving the determination of the vexed question of the origin of the
coloured Dorking to the consideration of poultry archaeologists, we enter at
once on the consideration of the characters of this breed. In all varieties of
Dorkings size is a most important consideration, and in the coloured breed
unquestionably the most important. The body in both sexes should be
large, deep, and plump ; in the cock it should almost form a square
when viewed from the side. The back and the breast should be very
broad. The legs in all the varieties should be white in colour, stout in
form, and perfectly free from feathers, and the cock should be spurred on the
inside of the leg — not, as is occasionally seen, on the outer side. The feet
must be five-toed, and the extra toe should be well separated from the others
and turned upwards. The head should be proportionate to the size of the bird ;
the wattles well developed. The comb in the Dorking varies considerably; it
may be either single or rose. Single-combed cocks should have the comb erect
and free from side sprigs ; but there is a great tendency in many good birds to have
the combs lopping over to one side. In the rose-combed birds, the combs should
be square in front, and ending in a raised peak behind, without any depression
in the centre. The appearance of the Dorking cock is greatly improved by his
possessing a large, well-formed tail, which should not droop, but be carried well
over the back. In the classes for coloured Dorkings at the poultry shows, the
exact marking as to colour is not regarded as a matter of moment, provided
always the birds match in the pen. But of late years the breed known as Silver
Greys have come into high estimation, as they conjoin many of the good qualities
of the coloured breed with the beauty of plumage possessed by those birds that
are regarded more especially as ornamental poultry. In this latter variety the
colour of the plumage is important, as a single white feather in the breast or tail
of the cock is held as a disqualification in a show-pen. It is necessary, therefore,
to give the characteristics of this breed as distinct from those of the ordinary
coloured or grey birds.

In size, the Silver Greys rarely equal the coloured breeds. The form of the body,
however, should be identically the same ; and the like remark also applies to
the comb, wattles, feet, &c.

84 Tin: poultry book.

The distiuguishiug colours of the Silver Grey Dorking cock arc, a perfectly black
breast, tail, ami larger tail coverts ; the head, neck, hackle, back, saddle, and
wing bow a clear silvery white. Across the wings there should be a well-marked
black bar, contrasting in a verj- striking and beautiful manner with the white
outer web of the quill-feathers and the silvery white hackle and saddle.

In the hens of this beautiful variety the breast is salmon-red, passing into grey
towards the thighs. The neck is silvery white, striped with black ; the back
silvery grey, with the white of the shafts of the feathers distinctly marked. The
wings should also be of a silvery or slaty grey, and as free as possible from any
tendency to redness. The tail should be dark grey, the inside being very nearly
black.

Having given the general description of the two chief varieties of the Dorking fowl,
in accordance with the dicta laid down in that recognized authority, the " Standard
of Excellence," we now pass on to the consideration of the general manage-
ment and profitable characteristics of the breed. On these i^oints we have again
to express our obligations to Mr. Hewitt, who has furnished the following
valuable remarks : —

" There is not a doubt that coloured Dorkings are decidedly the most useful of
all fowls for general table purposes ; as not only is the flesh of extremely good
quahty, but it is produced in far greater abundance than in most varieties. Another
very important point in the consideration of the Grey Dorkings is, that the greater
proportion of the flesh will be found on those particular parts most generally
esteemed — viz. the breast, wings, and mei-rythoughts ; hence they carve to
especial advantage. They also grow rapidly, and are in good condition at almost
any age, if at all freely supplied with food. As layers, many other fowls are better
than Dorkings ; they do not thrive well without a good and extensive grass-run.'
The chicks are delicate youngsters to rear, particularly if the subsoil is not remark-
ably dry and warm : this will at once account for their unvarying success on
chalky soil. In consequence of their great weight, they frequently, when aged,
become quite lame and distorted in the feet and toes, from injuries producing
eventually corns and even abscesses : these are most diflicult to cure, if of long
standing ; but as a preventive, low perches are absolutely essential : they should
never exceed two or three feet from the ground. Dorkings degenerate most rapidly
in size and character from interbreeding ; and from this cause, fresh blood should
be frequently introduced, or the most speedy and vexatious disappointments will
certainly ensue.

•' In the selection of birds for showing, pains should be taken to ensure uniformity
of colour throughout the pen ; and monstrosities of conformation in the legs or feet
must be scrupulously avoided. As these are frequent in otherwise good Dorking
fowls, I will briefly point out a few I have met with. I have seen a pen faultless in
other respects, in which a cock was placed with three hind toes on each foot ; on
another occasion, a male with the sjjurs growing directly outside the legs ; whilst in
a third I have known competing at various ])ublic exhibitions, the two back toes

THE POULTRY BOOK.

85

•were both situate midway up the leg (between the knee and foot), although the toes
themselves were perfect. Grossly enlarged toes or feet are decided imperfections,
and should be avoided in competition, although sometimes present in particularly
good stock-birds. The dark greys are generally the most weighty hens in the hand,
but from being more closely feathered deceive the eye ; my own con^-iction re-
specting them is that they are naturally the most hardy in constitution. Abundant
plumage tells favourably on Dorldngs for exhibition, adding greatly to their ' square-
ness ' of appearance and size at first sight ; but, to be fairly judged, Dorkings
must be handled. These fowls should not have heavy clumsy heads, but neat
compact combs, moderate in size, whether rose or single ; wattles neither
coarse — loose, nor flabby ; the combs should stand well on the top of the
head — a lounging heavy comb looking very unsightly, although too often (by far)
seen among our first-class competitors. Condition is really all-important with Grey
Dorkings for exhibition ; unless that is tolerably good, few fowls look so very
disadvantageously as they do, nor do any, more generally disappoint the antici-
pations of their owners. If frequently competing, they mostly lose both health
and weight very rapidly, as they endure close confinement but indifferently. In the
present day, when weight is considered a great desideratum, many Dorkings have
been irretrievably spoiled from over-feeding, so as to be quite unserviceable after-
wards for general and useful brood stock.

" In this state of undue obesity they cannot breed well. It should not,
therefore, be encouraged by parties who wish rather to increase their stock than
to make idle boast of the attainment of great weights in isolated individuals.
Mention is often carefully withheld of the comparatively numerous instances in
which apoplexy has been induced by over-feeding, and the folly of the o^Tiers has
been repaid by the sudden death of highly valued specimens. No doubt the
extreme delicacy of constitution now so universally complained of among
Dorking chickens whilst young, is mainly attributable to the weakened stamina
of their progenitors ; and in support of this opinion I have invariably found
that the less artificially they are reared, and the more generally the parent
fowls are allowed to take their own course, the more rude health has been
displayed by the offspring, and the quantity surviving has been increased in due
proportion .

" Much controversy has been maintained respecting the most approved confor-
mation of the combs in Grey Dorkings as exhibition fowls ; nor have either the rose
or single combed specimens lacked strenuous supporters. Being essentially, bcA'ond
all others, the fowl for the table, I willingly acknowledge I have not any prejudice
whatever in favour of either variety as regards this particular feature ; and will
confine myself altogether to my own individual experience as to a striking difference,
at once perceivable, in the generality of cases that have been placed before me at
our various public poultry shows.

" The rose-combed fowls almost invariably maintain a superiority for strength
of build and massive proportions ; but unfortunately this has, in the generality of

8G THE POULTRY BOOK.

cases, been combined with a uniform coarseness of chavncter, that tokl foarfally
against them on the prize-lists. Still, this serious draAvl.acJv is not universally
prevalent ; the rose-combed birds readily produce single ones, and rice versa ; but
the desired character may be pretty closely perpetuated by carefully breeding for
successive generations from either one of these vaiieties exclusively. For the reason
before assigned, the rose-combed Grey Dorkings show to most advantage during
their first year, compared with their condition when advanced in age. For the
guidance of any inexperienced exhibitor, it is well to mention that the rule is
strictly imperative that all the fowls in the same pen must be alike as to combs ;
for unless this be so, however good in other respects, their defeat is certain and
inevitable."

Some few years since, the exhibitors of coloured Dorkings w^ere startled by the
remarkable size and character of the birds of this variety bred by Mr. Douglas,
at the AVolseley Aviaries. At the present time Mr, Douglas is in charge of the
aviaries of the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber ; and we have lately visited that
establishment in order to ascertain the method of management which formerly
resulted in so great a measure of success. Mr. Douglas, who is universally
recognized as one of the highest authorities on this breed, has kindly favoured us
with the following notes on the characters and general management of this
variety : —

" In selecting my brood stock, I look for massiveness in all quarters rather than
for a neat head or short beak, choosing birds with strong backs, and long straight
deep breast-bones ; considering Dorkings entirely as table-fowl, I think it is
more important that they should have straight breasts than any other variety
shown. Looking at Dorkings from this point, there ought to be as much
difference in point of shape between them and game-fowl, as there is between a-
cart-horse, with his large head, deep loins, and capacious chest, and a race-
horse, with fine neat frame and slender limbs. The colour in Dorkings, except
in the silver gi-ey variety, is not material ; but I have found the dark colour
the most hardy and heaviest fleshed, having once had a cock of that colour
weighing 14| lb. at two years, and several hens 111b. each. With regard to
the general characters of the brood stock, I will describe those of the two
sexes separately, beginning with the male. The cocks may be either single or
rose combed. The single comb should be erect ; but a slight lop at the upper
part is not so great a drawback as in a Spanish ; therefore, if all other points are
well developed, I consider it but a slight defect. The rose-combed cocks should
have their combs well and firmly set on their heads, square in front, level in
the spikes, and forming a peak or point at the back of the head. The head in
the Dorking, though not coarse, should be large, to correspond with the size of the
body. The wattles should be broad and fine, and neatly rounded on the lower side.
The neck should be long, stout, and profusely hackled with long feathers, but there
should not be any thickness commencing a few inches from the head and forming a
sort of shoulder in about the middle of the hackle. The breast should be very

iDiiO-ifu;-i.:D DD:u-jriH(E-£o

THE rOULTRY BOOK. 87

broad and full, with a long bone exceedingly deep in the keel, and extending
well from the front towards the tail, so as to give space for development of flesh
on the breast. The body cannot be too large and massive, with great length,
depth, and width. The back should be broad, and the wings largely developed.
I much prefer the thighs to be well developed, so that they may carry plenty
of meat. The legs must be straight, stout, and free from feathers. The feet
should be five-toed, the extra toe distinctly separated from the others ; the toes
long, and well spread out ; tail large, well expanded, and carried uprightly ; the
sickle-feathers and tail coverts long, broad, well arched ; carriage and appear-
ance massive and grand.

" In the hen the beak should be stout — the comb, if single, well developed and
falling over on one side ; if double or rose, firmly set on the head, not too
large, square in front, inclining to a peak at the back of the head. The wattles
should be fine, and rounded neatly at the lower edge ; head long and deep ; neck stout,
and well set on the back ; the chest broad, with great depth from the top of the
shoulder down to the point of the keel of the breast-bone, which should be
straight and deep. The body ought to be large, almost forming a square when
viewed from the side ; back broad and long. The wings should be large, but not
so large, in comparison to the greater weight of body, as in many other breeds.
The thighs may be long and well laid along side of body — consequently the birds
do not stand in a stilty manner. This is a point in which I conceive many
breeders make a mistake. A Dorking, in my opinion, should have a well-
developed thigh ; but from its being set nearly straight with the body, it is not
evident. The legs should be short, and of a length in proportion to the size
and weight of the bird. The feet must be five-toed, the extra toe well developed
and distinctly separated from the others. The carriage and appearance of Dorking
hens should be matronly and dignified.

" Eespecting the management of breeding- stock, I think it very important not
to move them away from their runs until after May, as the same Dorkings cannot
be used for both breeding and showing at the same time. If such a plan is
followed, the result is that poor weakly chickens only are produced, and not more
than half the eggs hatch. Many persons think that Dorkings will not stand con-
finement in a small place ; but I have bred some of my very largest and best
birds in yards 30 feet long by 10 feet broad. When confined to runs of these
dimensions, they certainly require to be kept in a state of great cleanliness, to
have a turf daily, and above all, plenty of clean water. They should also
be fed chiefly on soft food, which should be mixed stiff, and not watery.
When thus confined, it will be found very advantageous to give them some swede
turnips cut in two, when they will eat out the whole inside from the skin. In
the early spring, swedes or mangolds, boiled and mixed quite dry with barley or
oatmeal, form a capital food. In fact, Dorkings in a confined space must have some
fresh vegetable food of this sort, and when they are running loose it makes a
capital food for once a day all the winter through. In general I give this food

88 THE POULTRY BOOK.

as the first meal in the morning, having had it boiled over night, and mashed in a
pail with meal. By covering the pail with a sack, it keeps warm, and is a nice
food for the fowls on a cold winter morning. They should have a small feed of
barley-meal mixed into a crumbly paste with water, or a light feed of boiled Indian
corn, at mid-day ; some days soaked barley or wheat, or bruised oats, for a
change ; but they should always have a feed of dry corn for the evening meal —
either wheat, oats, or barley. Soft food soon passes out of the crop, and during a
long winter's night the fowls get cold and hungry, and arc exceedingly liable to take
cold, which is a sure forerunner of roup. But with care in housing and feeding,
no one need fear roup. I have not had roup or gapes amongst my Dorkings for
many years. By attending to these matters Dorkings may be kept in health on
any soil.

" Early hatched Dorking pullets will lay all the winter, although not quite so
freely as some other breeds. Dorkings make good mothers in general, and lay
from 35 to 50 eggs before wanting to sit. As mothers, they are very docile ;
you may handle them as you please, and give them the chickens from other hens,
which they will take to at once. As Dorking chickens are extremely rapid
in their growth, it is desirable to coop the mother for the first seven or eight
weeks. During the first week I always coop the hen under a dry dusty shed ; by
the end of that time the chickens get strong, and if dry weather sets in, they are
fit to be cooped on the grass under the shelter of a hedge, or by the side of a
plantation, where there are plenty of nice dry, dusty banks, and where they can
get enough of morning sun ; but they should not be exposed to the mid-day sun in
places where they can get no shelter. When I have had many chickens at one
time, I have always been in the habit of making shelters for them by propping up
some old hurdles on pegs about nine inches high, and then covering them with spruce'
or any other branches. On a sunny morning you may see these shelters covered with
the chickens sunning themselves, but if a dog or hawk aj)proaches they dart under
the hen in a moment. A number of these hurdles placed about where chickens are
being reared will afford them great protection from the cold winds as well as from the
power of the sun. The coop with the hen should be moved daily about mid-day, and
the chickens fed most liberally, if you wish to rear any fowls that are very good, and
out of the common — such fowls as will sometimes sell at nine months old for the
price of a cow — a fact I have often proved. My readers may ask how I raise
them so as to become as valuable as I state. When young, I give my, chickens
good eggs and new milk made into a custard, which is given with every meal.
The best oatmeal is used for their stock food ; sheep's head and pluck, boiled and
chopped up, are given three times a week until the chicks are three weeks old.
Bruised oats are thrown down just in the rough for them to peck at, and they are
fed every hour from 5 o'clock in the morning to 7 o'clock at night. A nice warm
dusty place is selected for the coops, and in the morning, before feeding, water is
given them with a little sulphate of iron in it. It is wonderful what frames they
make when fed in this way. When seven weeks old, I begin to give coarser food,

THE POULTRY BOOK. 89

such as split wheat and barley, leaving off the custard by degrees, adding more
barley-meal and oatmeal ; being careful not to let the chickens out of the coops,
if a strong dew is on the grass, until the sun is well up. This is easily managed
by opening the coops and letting the chickens out to drink the very first thing in
the morning, when they will rush to the water ; then by putting a little food in
the coops you get them all in again ; then shut them up for a time till the grass is
dry. When large-framed birds are desired, the frame must be produced whilst
the chicks are with the hen ; size is only to be obtained by liberal feeding and
great attention. In general I set from nine to eleven Dorldng eggs under a hen,
but never more than the larger number. My largest and best fowls have always
been those hatched about the end of April and first fortjiight in May. I once
showed a pen of chickens, hatched on the 7th of June, at the Birmingham Show,
held the last day of November, and took the fourth prize with them. Even for
show stock I always continue breeding until the middle of June, as, even at that
time of the season, you may hatch cockerels that will weigh 9 lbs. and pullets of
7|- lbs. by the new year — weights that are not to be despised, as birds weighing
considerably less have taken many prizes at the recent shows. Breeding for any
particular colour in Dorkings cannot be taught by any hints : it must be learned in
the breeder's own yards, and he must know the strain of his birds before it can
be done, and even then it takes jeavs to breed to any particular colour. Weight
may be got much easier than colour.

" In sending Dorkings to shows, it is most important not to over-feed them
beforehand, or they will suffer much from being exhibited. They should be shown
in their natural condition, taking care that their heads and combs are nicely
washed with a sponge, and wiped dry, and their legs and feet well washed with
soap and warm water. I am surprised at White Dorking breeders remaining so
stationary. No improvement has been effected for years in this breed, when it
could be so easily managed by crossing with the heavy rose-combed Grey Dorking,
and then breeding back to the white to regain the colour. Many breeders ^nll say
that to cross in fowl-breeding is to get impure breeds ; but I know that most
breeds are all the better for a cross, although I do not say the first produce of the
cross, but the second and third, being bred back again with the breed it is desired
to improve."

The chapter on coloured Dorldngs would be incomplete without specific details
respecting the best methods of fattening fowls for the table. The following
practical directions on this subject are taken from a " Treatise on Poultry
Regarded as Agricultural Stock," published by the Editor of this work in the
Journal of the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society : —

The chickens designed for being fattened should be well and liberally fed from
the earliest period. It is a mistake to imagine that they can be kept low when
young, and got up to a great size by liberal feeding when put up to fatten. The
fowls so treated are stunted in their growth, the bony framework becomes set or
fixed, and they never afterwards attain a large size ; whereas with liberal feeding

I

90 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

they become fit for the fatting-coop at the age of about four months in summer,
and from five or six in winter. It cannot be too strongly impressed upon those
who arc desirous of obtaining chickens of first-rate quality, that fowls are only in
perfection for the table before they have attained their complete development. The
male birds should be put up when " their tails begin to turn," namely, just when
the two long sickle-feathers or streamers begin to top the straight feathers of the
tail ; and the pullets before they have laid.

The house in which poultry are fattened should be free from draughts of
cold air, and kept at a moderately warm and uniform temperature ; the roof,
therefore, if of tiles, should be thicldy lined with straw. Quietude being espe-
cially desirable, the house should be so situated as not to be accessible to the fowls
at liberty ; and it should be partially darkened, if possible. It is also important,
in the highest degi-ee, that it should be perfectly dry, as it is scarcely necessary to
add, that a fowl sufi'eriug from cold and inflammation is not likely to fatten.

The fatting coops should be two feet six or eight inches high in front, and
about two feet deep, with a boarded roof sloping backwards ; the back and ends
should be closed, and the bottom made of flat bars with rounded edges, two inches
wide at the top and narrower beneath, so as to prevent the dung sticking to the
sides. These bars should run from end to end of the coop (not from back to
front), and they should be two inches apart on the upper sides: The front of
the coop should consist of rounded bars, three inches apart ; and two rods con-
nected together below, and sliding through holes made in the roof, will be found
more secure than a door. Before the front should run a ledge to support the
feeding-troughs, which are best made by joining two pieces of wood at a right
angle, and securing the ends by letting them into grooves in stout end-pieces.

The fatting-coops should stand on legs to raise them a convenient height
from the gi'ound, so that the dung may be removed daily ; or each may have a
shallow drawer underneath, which is daily filled with fresh earth — an admirable
plan, which we first saAV used at the Clumber aviaries. The most scrupulous
cleanliness must be observed, otherwise disease will be produced. The coops,
therefore, shouW be lime- washed (with freshly slaked lime and water), and then
thoroughly dried before a fresh batch of fowls is introduced.

In cold weather, the front should be covered up with matting, or some other
warm material, at night.

The length of the coop must depend on the number of fowls that it is re-
quired to contain ; but it is never advisable to place more than ten or a dozen
together ; and if strange fowls are put up, care must be taken that they agree
well together, as otherwise the constant excitement would prevent their fatting.

It oocasionally happens, that fowls are infested with lice to such a degree that
they become irritable, and refuse to fatten ; in these cases, a little of the flowers
of brimstone dusted under the feathers, before cooping them, immediately expels
the venuin.

The fowls when first cooped had bettor be left some hours without food. By

11^ .■•//: ' 'r'.-l.t:

THE POULTRY BOOK,

93

this time they will have become very hungry, and will eat with avidity ; whereas, if
food is placed before them on their first imprisonment, they often refuse it for
some time. The best food for them is coarse oatmeal mixed with scalding milk
or water : barley-meal is good, but not equal in its fattening properties to oatmeal ;
this is evident from the fact that the latter contains 6 lbs. of fat in every hundred,
the former only 2 lbs. The birds should be fed at regular intervals. The first meal
should be given very early — at 5 o'clock in summer, at daybreak in winter ; the
second at noon ; the last just before dusk. Discretion should be exercised in the
quantity given. It should be fully as much as the fowls can eat, and no more.
Should any be left from one meal to another, it should be thrown out to the
other fowls, the trough scalded out, and fresh food given. Great care should be
taken to prevent the troughs becoming sour. In order to do this they should
frequently be scalded, and dried in the sun. As a variation in diet causes an
increase of appetite, many feeders have a spare trough Avitli a little barley in it
placed before the coops. If it is considered desirable to use any animal fat, the
hard trimmings of loins of mutton will be found most desirable. They should be
chopped up and mixed with the meal before the scalding liquor is poured on ; or,
still better, may be boiled in the liquor before it is poured over the meal. A
supply of clean water and some coarse sand or fine gravel are necessary. Many
persons omit the latter ; but as the due grinding action of the gizzard cannot go
on without it, it is absolutely necessary to the proper digestion of the food. In
places where the millers prepare the finest flour, usually known as "pastry
whites," they have a very superior kind of fine middlings or thirds. This is not
unfrequently sold, in London at least, under the name of coarse country flour.
It is cheaper than the best oatmeal, and may be in part advantageously substituted
for it. The most convenient mode of using it is to bake it until it becomes quite
hot, Avhen, if cold water is poured on it, it becomes a crumbly mass. The common
sharps or coarser middlings will not answer, as it contains too small a portion of
nutriment, and purges the fowls.

On this system of feeding, a fowl will become perfectly fatted in from a fort-
night to three weeks at the outside. When fatted it should be immediately killed;
for, not only is it unprofitable to keep it any longer, but it deteriorates very
rapidly, losing weight and becoming hard and coarse in the flesh. Before being
killed, the fowls should be kept for fifteen or sixteen hours without food or water.
If this precaution is not taken (and it is unfortunately often neglected), the food in
the crop and intestines ferments. When this is the case in summer, the fowl in a
few hours turns green, and the value is much lessened. After being killed, the
fowls should be allowed to become quite cold before they are packed for the
market; and they should be sent without being drawn, as a fowl killed when empty
of food and water keeps better untouched. The absurd plan of drawing the birds
by cutting a long sHt in the side, as is the custom in some parts of England,
detracts considerably from the value of the bird in other places.

If it be thought fit to follow the practice of cramming, which, however, we have

94 THE POULTRY HOOK.

never found necessary, the oatmeal should be mixed rather btift', and then rolled
into crams about two inches long and as thick as a man's little linger. Six or
seven of these are then taken, dipped in milk or water, and placed in the back of •
the mouth of the fowl, which is held in the lap, the mouth being opened with the
aid of the left hand. In this manner the birds should be fed three times a day,
care being always taken to ascertain that the last meal has completely passed out
of the crop before the next is given. Sometimes, in cramming, the food will
become hardened in the crop. In this case some lukewarm water should be
poured down the throat, and the mass loosened by gentle pressure with the
fingers.

We have not recommended the operation of making capons : by far the greater
number of the fowls which are sold in London under that name, are not really
birds that have undergone the operation of caponizing, but simply j'oung cocks
that have been fatted as recommended. The operation, moreover, as performed
in England, is of the most barbarous and consequently frequently fatal character.
The plan adopted is to cut across the belly between the end of the breast-bone and
the vent ; the intestines and gizzard are then pushed aside, and by that means
the testicles, which in birds lie in close contact with the back-bone in the im-
mediate neighbourhood of the Iddneys, are reached ; they are then pulled away
from their attachments by the finger, and removed through the wound. It is
needless to say that an operation so severe in its character is necessarily often
fatal.

In France the operation is performed in a much more skilful and scientific
manner, and with so httle pain and inconvenience to the birds, that they will feed
immediately after its performance. The details of this operation were published
in the " Oiseaux de Basse Cour," par Mdlle. Millet Eobinet, a treatise issued with
the concurrence of the Minister of Agriculture. As the plan of proceeding is so
much superior to that followed in our own country, we do not hesitate to insert a free
translation of the chapter on Caponizing, although we must state that we do not
recommend the operation, and have never performed it, except in the course of
some physiological experiments ; but when we have done so, we have found that it
is attended with little or almost no risk to the animal.

' ' The name of capon is given to young cocks which have been deprived of the
faculty of reproduction. In this state they grow to a very largo size, and fatten
more readily : their flesh also is more delicate.

"It is desirable to submit the cocks to the operation when they are about four
months old, and it is very important to choose a time when the weather is some-
what cool, rather moist than dry, and especially to avoid performing the operation
during the great heats of summer.

" The instrument employed in the operation should be very sharp ; a surgeon's
small operating-knife, termed a curved-pointed bistoury, is far better than an
ordinary knife, as it makes a much neater wound, and so increases greatly the
chances of healing ; or a curved-pointed penknife may be used. A stout needle

THE POULTRY BOOK. 95

and waxed thread are also requisite ; a small curved surgical needle will be found
much more convenient in use than a common straight one.

"It is necessary that there should be two persons to perform the operation.
The assistant places the bird on its right side on the knees of the person who is
about to operate, and who is seated in a chair of such a height as to make his
thighs horizontal. The back of the bird is turned towards the operator, and the
right leg and thigh held firmly along the body, the left being drawn back towards
the tail, thus exposing the left flank, vdiere the incision has to be made. After
removing the feathers the skin is raised up, just behind the last rib, with the point
of the needle, so as to avoid wounding the intestines, and an incision along the
edge of the last rib is made into the cavity of the body sufficiently large to admit
of the introduction of the finger. If any portion of the bowels escape from the
wound it must be carefully returned. The forefinger is then introduced into the
cavity, and directed behind the intestines towards the back, somewhat to the left
side of the middle line of the body.

" If the proper position is gained (which is somewhat difficult to an inex-
perienced operator, especially if the cock is of full size), the finger comes into
contact with the left testicle, which in a young bird of four months is rather
larger than a full-sized horse-bean. It is movable, and apt to slip under the
finger, although adhering to the spine ; when felt it is to be gently pulled
away from its attachments with the finger and removed through the wound — an
operation which requires considerable practice and facility to perform properly, as
the testicle sometimes slips from under the finger before it is got out, and, gliding
amongst the intestines, cannot be found again readily ; it may, however, remain
in the body of the animal without much inconvenience, although it is better
removed, as its presence is apt to excite inflammation.

" After removing the left testicle, the finger is again introduced, and the right
one sought for and removed in a similar manner. It is readily discovered, as its
situation is alongside of the former, a little to the right side of the body. After-
wards the lips of the wound are brought together and kept in contact with two or
three stitches with the waxed thread. No attempt should be made to sew up the
wound with a continuous seam, but each stitch should be perfectly separate, and
tied distinctly from the others.

" In rnaldng the stitches great care should be taken ; the skin should be raised
up so as to avoid wounding the intestines with the needle, or including even the
slightest portion of them in the thread — an accident that would almost inevitably
be followed by the death of the animal.

" After the operation the bird had better be placed under a coop in a quiet
situation, and supplied with drink and soft food, such as sopped bread. After a
few hours it is l)cst to give him his liberty, if he can be turned out in some quiet
place removed from the poultry-yard, as, if attacked by the other cocks, the healing
of the wound would be endangered.

" After the operation the bird should not be permitted to roost on a perch, as

96 THE rOl'LTRY BOOK.

tho oxcrtiou of loapiug up would unquestionably injure the wound; it should,
therefore, at night be turned into a room where it is obliged to rest on tho floor
previously covered with some clean straw. For three or four days after the
operation tho bird should bo fed on soft food ; after that time it may be set at
liberty for a short period, until it has recovered entirely from the operation, when
it should be put up to fatten.

'• In France it is customary to cut off the combs of tho capons. This is regarded
as a distinguishing mark of the operation having been performed, and consequently
the birds do not sell so freely if they are allowed to remain.

" If the animal mopes about on the day following the operation, it is desirable
to look at the wound, and, should it be inflamed, to bathe it with a little tepid
water. If, however, the intestine has been wounded, there is no chance of re-
covering. Some persons place oil and other applications on the wound ; but
there is no doubt that they retard the healing process. As a general rule, it may
be stated that if the operation has been sldlfully performed it rarely fails of success."

It is a very singular fact that after giving the above specific and very correct
details of the operation of caponiziug, the author of the treatise denies the possi-
bility of making what are termed "poulardes," that is, pullets deprived of their
power of reproduction in order to induce them to fatten rapidly ; and states that
the birds which are sold under that title are simply pullets fattened before they
have commenced to lay. The operation is, however, much easier than tho cor-
responding one on the cocks. The pullet is to be placed in the same position on
the lap of the operator, the left leg being drawn forwards so as to expose the left
flank, in which a longitudinal incision is to be made close to tho side bone ; this
will bring to view the lower bowel, and alongside of it will be found the egg-passage
or egg-pipe. If this is drawn to the orifice of the wound by a small hooked wire,
and cut across — or, Avhat is perhaps better, a very short piece of it removed —
the development of the ovary or egg-producing organ is entirely prevented, and the
birds fatten rapidly, attaining also a very large size. It is most important to
perform the operation before the pullets have begun to lay. We would beg to impress
most strongly the desirability of practising these operations in the first instance on
dead birds of the same age, so that the operator may become acquainted with the
situation and appearance of the parts concerned. By this means a greater amount
of success will be attained in the first instance, and much unnecessary sufibring
saved to the animals.

The operation of making capons and poulardes is, as we have shown, attended
with considerable danger. The advantages gained are slight in comparison with
the risk of losing the bird, and with the positive amount of unnecessary pain in-
flicted on the animal. We would, therefore, by no means recommend its adoption,
though, in accordance with our desire to make this work as perfect as possible as a
poultry book, we have placed before our readers the most approved and scientific
method of effecting it, as practised by the most intelligent and successful rearers
of poultry for the great markets of Paris and other large cities in France.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 97

This chapter would not be complete without a description of a variety of Coloured
Dorkings that was formerly deservedly celebrated for its good qualities in an econo-
mical point of view : we allude to the Cuckoo or Blue-mottled Dorking, so called
from the resemblance of the bluish grey markings on its feathers to the transverse
bars on the breast of the cuckoo. These birds are remarkable from having nearly
similar markings in both sexes, allowance being made for the difference in the
texture and form of the feathers. To Mr.^Elgar, of Eeigate, one of the most ardent
admirers of this variety, we are indebted for the following account of their
merits : —

" There is also another variety of the Dorking which has of late years become
scarce — the Blue-mottled, or, as called by some, Blue Shell, and by the fanciers
Cuckoo Dorking, although this last name is not much known in this neighbourhood.
These are larger than the White, and, in my opinion, can challenge any variety of
table fowl for quality of flesh. I have heard it remarked by many old country-
women, who have fattened fowls many years for market, both farmers' wives and
cottagers', that the Blue pullets are the best and earliest to fatten of all the coop.
Some may object to this variety on account of the birds not reaching the great
weights attained by those of the Dark Grey breed ; but in my opinion they quite
compensate for this by their superior quality and beauty. These birds I consider
to be one of the oldest breeds ; with care and moderate feeding they prove one of
the most profitable varieties of the Dorldug fowl, as they are not delicate in con-
stitution, nor liable to disease, like the Dark Grey variety, when very large. The
Blue-mottled or Cuckoo Dorkings are both double and single combed ; the single
are rather the largest. There are a few double-combed Blues kept in the neigh-
bourhood of Dorldng ; but they are small, not any larger than the White variety, and
are very frequently imperfect in the claws, either four on one foot and five on the
other, or only four on each foot. Some of the Blue variety have yellow hackles,
especially the cocks when old birds ; but I do not consider a good cock, even if old,
should have any other than bluish grey hackle and wing feathers. Most of the
Dorkings being reared for market, but few persons have hitherto paid much regard
to colour, as they frequently have a black-breasted cock with grey hens, and, indeed,
with every variety of colour."

Of the cross breeds of Dorkings, those with the Cochin and Malay have already
been described ; it remains only to notice those produced by union with other
varieties. Of these the Brahma cross is perhaps the most important. Many
persons who desire to keep Dorkings for supplying their own table with first-class
poultry object to the breed on account of the delicacy of the chicken and the
difficulty of rearing them in large numbers. On such occasions it will be found very
advisable to cross the Dorkings with the Brahmas. If a few heavy short-legged
dark Brahma hens are allowed to run with the Dorkings, and their eggs hatched,
thdy will be found to produce very hardy quick-growing chickens of great weight
and unexceptionable quality as table fowl. It is hardly necessary to say that the
cockerels should be killed off" as soon as ready, but we should recommend a few of the

K

98 THE POULTRY BOOK.

pullets to be kept — those showing the nearest approach to the Dorking shape ; and if
these are matched up with a heavy cock, they will produce chickens that will ho
three-fourths Dorking, and show very little trace of the Brahma origin, at least as
far as their character as table fowl is concerned. This cross with one of the
hardiest of all races gives great increase of stamina to the Dorking fowl, and, where
pure Dorkings are far too tender to be reared w^ith advantage, may be depended on for
affording a good supply of large-sized full-fleshed short-legged table fowl. At the
same time, the colour of the two breeds harmonizes very well, and the critical eye
of the owner and his friends is not annoyed by a particoloured collection of
poultry, each bird looking unlike all the others.

The only additional cross calling for any special notice, is that between the
Dorking and the ordinary mongrels that constitute what are usually termed Barn-
door fowls. These may be vastly improved, and rendered much more valuable as
market poultry, by the introduction of a good Dorking cock into the farm-yard ; in
the following year (all the young cross-bred cocks having been fatted for the
market), the most sernceable pullets of compact shape, and short on the legs,
should alone be retained for stock, the old Dorking cock being exchanged for a
fresh bird not related to the first. By following this plan for a third year, the
chickens produced will be seven-eighths Dorkings ; and thus, at a very small
expense and trouble, a farm-yard full of comparatively worthless unsaleable stock
may be converted into really valuable marketable birds.

The diseases to which Dorkings are peculiarly subject, as might be expected from
the presence of the additional toe, are — the chronic inflammation of the foot known
as bumble-foot, . which is most readily prevented by broad low perches, and the
absence of rough stones from the run ; and a tendency to lay soft eggs, arising
from unnatural food or excitement. The treatment of both will be duly described
in the chapter on the diseases of fowls.

LLIOUTON. lIHOt

yS7miV!'2 -JJ U li "J!: 2 H

CHAPTER X.

THE WHITE DORKING FOWTj.

The 'V\Taite Dorking appears to be a distinct variety from the Grey or Coloured, and
therefore demands a separate chapter. The grounds for this opinion may he
briefly stated. The size of the White Dorking is much less than that of the
Coloured, the cocks rarely reaching ten pounds, or the hens as much as seven or
eight pounds, and the general form and carriage being distinct. The White
Dorking is in all probability the original breed, and the Coloured a composite
fowl produced by crossing it with the large Surrey or Sussex fowls.

For the following account of this variety we are indebted to one of its greatest
admirers, Mr. Clift, of Dorldug, who writes : —

"My individual reason for preferring the ^Tiite to the Coloured Dorking, is, that
though the white is certainly a somewhat smaller bird, it has the great advantage
of a handsome j)lumage, a desideratum not to be overlooked by those who rear
poultry as a source of pleasure, and not for a livelihood.

" The colour should be pure white, without any shade of yellow, or dark coloured
feather of any description, about the body. When attention is directed to this
single feature, few specimens, especially of the cocks, -^-ill pass muster ; but
still it is an essential point ; for as beauty is the only point in which the White
Dorking is superior to the Grey or Speckled, so much more is it necessary that the
feature which gives them this pre-eminence should be distinct and perfect.

" Both single and double combed birds may be pure bred, but it is now, I think,
almost decided that this beautiful appendage should be double ; indeed, any
person of taste, who has no knowledge whatever of poultry, would immediately
pronounce for the double as being more graceful, and more in harmony with the
general appearance of the bird, than the single comb in the cock. The rose comb
should be broad at the front near the beak, gradually passing over the back of the
head in the form of a triangle, the point of which should be slightly curved
upwards ; the whole of the surface should be evenly serrated, and not ragged and
unequal ; the colour should be a bright red, indicating a healthy state and good
condition of the bird. The same remarks will apply to the comb of the hen, only
that it will always be found very much smaller than that of the male bird.

" The back should be broad, and should be almost straight from the neck to the
root of the tail, which should be large and with a full round sweep of sickle-
feathers in the cock ; the breast should be broad, full, and gracefully rounded —

K 2

100 THE POl'LTRY BOOK.

wbeuever a largo bird is fouuJ with a concave back, a straiglit instead of a full
breast, with large yellow legs, and a short instead of a flowing tail, you may
Btrongly suspect a trace of Cochin blood; the legs should be white, of proportionate
length, and a fair distance apart, to allow of a good broad breast ; each foot should
have five claws, the tifth being as distinct as any of the rest. The attitude should
be erect and bold, the bird lively in its motion and appearing full of spirit.

'* In breeding white Dorkings, one thing is essential to success, namely, a di-y soil;
if this is present, and they receive an ordinary amount of care, they will be found
very prolific, fast growers, and easy to rear ; they are small eaters, good layers,
and, though not laj-ing to the same extent as the Cochins, their eggs are finer and
more delicate ; as mothers they are excellent, taking great care of the young
chickens, and not forsaking them at so early an age as the Cochins. Their supe-
riority for the table is so well known, that it will be unnecessary to enlarge on that
point."

AVith reference to the White Dorking as an exhibition bird, Mr. Hewitt
remarks : — " It is quite indispensable that the whole of the plumage throughout
should be perfectly white, without any admixture whatever. The cocks often show
a light lemon-coloured tinge on the neck-hackles, shoulders, and saddle-feathers ;
but it is decidedly objectionable in an exhibition bird. They ought not to com-
pete with Grey Dorkings in one class for premiums at our poultry shows, as
they are generally far inferior in size to the darker varieties ; nor can I call to
mind a single instance in which (both varieties being good) the supremacy was
ever yet awarded to the White ones. Separate classes to each kind are therefore
adnsable.

" As to the combs of White Dorkings, I am myself a decided advocate for the
BO-called rosy or double comb, as being the only correct one ; although I am
perfectly aware I difl'er from some few highly respected poultry judges in this
particular. I have taken much trouble to ascertain the descent of two different
lots of the flat or single combed ones that have come under my observation ; and
in both instances found them obtained by an intermixture with the White Game,
although still retaining the additional posterior toe. I do not for a moment
say this is always their derivation ; but the decreased size of the so-called
' Dorking toe ' in most of our White Dorkings, as exhibited in the present day,
combined with the general change in character and conformation to that of a much
more sparely built fowl than the coloured variety, favours strongly the conclusion.
This cross improves the constitution of the offspring, but quite destroys their
general character as White Dorkings."

The other crosses of the White Dorking do not call for any particular remark :
the delicacy during chickenhood which is usually alleged against them might
perhaps be equally well obviated by crossing with the AVhite Cochin, and then
carefully breeding back again to the Dorking for several generations, avoiding all
blood relationship. This cross breeding, which has been extensively carried out in
the case of the Coloured Dorking, would increase the size and hardihood ; but

THE POULTRY BOOK. 101

the peculiar carriage and the full chest would necessarily be altered; it is pos-
sible, also, that the colour of chickens so produced would be very uncertain, as
it in general happens that two White varieties when crossed throw slaty grey or
other colours. The experiment, however, might readily be tried by a breeder of
White Dorldngs placing a White Cochin hen in his run, and then preserving year
after year those pullets in which the desired characteristics were most distinctly
shown, mating the successive generations with White Dorking cocks, not related
to their progenitors ; or the size of the White Dorking might be increased by
adopting the mode suggested in the paper of Mr. Douglas, which forms part of
the last chapter.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SPANISH FOWL.

The geographical names by which the majority of the different breeds of our
domestic poultry are at present known to us are unquestionably erroneous.
Cochins were unknown in Cochin China until introduced into that country from
Shanghae by the English. The so-called Polands are unknown in Poland.
Spangled Hamburghs are certainly of English origin ; and the breed known as
Brahmas are unknown on the banks of the river Brahmapootra. But with Spanish
the case appears somewhat different ; all along the Mediterranean, from Gibraltar
to Sma, the countries that border on that vast inland sea, with its numerous
islands, abound with fowls that bear so close a degree of resemblance to the
Spanish race as may warrant our assigning them to one common stock. The
employment of the names used to indicate some of the varieties of this breed tend
to point their common origin : thus we have Andalusians, Anconas, and Minorcas,
the names of which point to a Mediterranean origin.

The quantity of poultry kept in these countries greatly exceeds anything we
witness in England, even since public attention has been more generally given
to this branch of agi-icultural economy. Purity of breed, however, is but little
esteemed, and the miscellaneous collection of mongrels described by every
Mediterranean traveller who has touched on this subject will probably long
remain in the same heterogeneous state as it is at present. Nevertheless, with
those who have examined with any care the natural history of this section of
gallinaceous birds, little hesitation would be felt as to the extreme jirobability
of a common descent.

These breeds certainly are not likely to have had their origin in the more
northern parts of the European Continent ; since those who now keep them
know to their cost how apt they are to suffer in their combs and the fleshy
excrescence on the face in weather which other poultry braves with impunity.
Their prolonged and excessive moult is also indicative of their original habitation
having been under the mild temperature of those southern lands.

The Spanish fowl throughout the wide range of the Mediterranean coasts
is always found in a state more or less degenerate, in comparison with the
beautiful birds that are now seen at our exhibitions. So little attention, indeed,
has been given to presers'e the breed pure in any part of what we may term
its native districts, that the specimens recently imported from Spain and the
adjacent countries have always been of a very indifferent description. On the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 103

other hand, great attention has been paid to this breed in Holland, and many of
the best birds recently imported have been introduced from thence. There can be
little doubt that the Dutch originally obtained the breed from Spain during the
Spanish occupation of the Low Countries, and that they have carefully bred them
since in a state of purity, and increased the beauty of the breed by the process of
very careful " artificial selection."

In England they have long been favourites -with, poultry-keepers of all gi-ades.
Mr. Bond, of Leeds, well kno"s\Ti as one of the most experienced poultry-fanciers,
informs us that he has kept them for thirty years ; and his recollection' carries
him back to as good specimens in those days as any that are now seen. The
vicinities of London, Islington and Spitalfields, were then their principal localities.
Mr. Bond gives the following account of their characters as they were formerly
bred by the London fanciers : —

Male. — Head large ; beak of moderate size ; eyes very bright ; comb single,
uj)right, very large, red as coral, and slightly serrated ; face and cheeks perfectly
white, the white extending round the eye ; wattles long and pendulous ; neck of
moderate length, but strong ; body broad and close-feathered ; wings of medium
size ; rather long in the leg, which is of a bluish white colour ; tail a good plume ;
plumage a glossy black, having a greenish shade in the sun.

Female. — Head and beak neat, and of moderate size ; eyes bright ; comb
single, very large, and pendulous ; face entirely white, the white extending round
the eye ; neck of moderate length, neatly set on ; body broad ; wings of middle
size ; legs almost white ; tail long and well squared ; plumage as in the male, but
less brilliant.

The most important general characteristics being the uniformly fine black
p lumage ; immense comb in both sexes ; and the white face and ear-lobes, which
increase "odth age, especially in the female.

This description of Mr. Bond has been objected to on the score of slaty blue
legs being now regarded as indispensable to success in the exhibition pen ; but it
certainly appears that the London fanciers, some years since, required pale legs
for their Spanish birds ; and a good story has been handed down of an enthusiastic
amateur, whose bird was detected with its legs in poultices the day pre^-ious to
its being exhibited, in order to effect the production of that much desired tint.

In reference to the size of the skull, we find the extreme length of the cranium
of a Spanish cock, that had taken many prizes, to be three inches and a half, the
same as that of the skull of a Dorking cock that weighed ten pounds, and one
quarter of an inch less than that of a Brahma cock, the largest skull that we
ever saw.

In general size, also, the skull of the Spanish almost equals that of the Dorking ;
but in form there is a very remarkable distinction, as the Spanish skull has a large
well-defined flat surface, from the top of which the enormous comb distinguishing
the variety takes its rise, and which strongly contrasts with the rounded forehead
of both Brahma and Dorking.

104 THE POULTRY BOOK.

The follovN-ing characteristics of Spanish fowl are iu accordance with those drawn
up for the Poultry Club " Standard of Excellence," by Mr. Teebay, to whom belongs
the credit of breeding some of the very best Spanish that have been shown for many
years, and also with the description with which we have been specially favoured
by Mr. Hewitt.

The size of Spanish places them amongst the larger breeds. The weight of the
cock should not be less than seven pounds when in full condition ; but it is rarely
found to exceed that weight, if it approaches perfection iu other respects. A full-
sized hen when about laying should not weigh less than six pounds.

The carriage and form of the cock is very stately and upright ; the head well
drawn back ; the breast round, full, and protuberant, and legs and thighs long
and high in the bone for the size of the fowl ; the back sloping towards the tail.
The hens are rather high on the legs, which gives them a somewhat slightly built
appearance ; still they possess good breasts, and when taken in the hand should be
weightier than they appear to the eye.

The general characters of the plumage may be very briefly disposed of. In both
sexes it must be purely black, with bright metallic green-black reflections, which
are most evident on the saddle and tail plumes of the cock, and the more vivid in
their lustre the higher the condition of the bird. The plumage of the hen precisely
resembles that of the cock, except that the metallic lustre is more sober.

The neck in both sexes is long ; that of the cock should be very well covered with
lustrous hackle feathers, the ends of which come down over the shoulders.

The cock's tail should be very well developed, with large well-curved sickle-
feathers. It must be held well up, neither drooping, like that of the Malay, nor
carried over the back so as to give rise to the exceedingly objectionable appearance
termed *' squirrel-tailed," and it should be black to the very roots of the feathers.

Iu the hen the tail is large ; it should be carried upright, but not over the back ;
the two highest feathers are often slightly curved at the ends ; the tail is closed
more tightly than in most fowls, and must be uniformly black.

The legs should be blue, or dark leaden blue, the more unbroken in colour the
better ; but not unfrequently the whitest-faced Spanish have a tendency to whiteness
in the legs, which is now regarded as a disqualification in a show-pen.

The comb is a most important feature in the Spanish fowl. Mr. Hewitt writes : —
The comb of cock is very large ; the serrations should be regular and perfect
throughout, not coarse in general appearance, distorted, or overgrown ; without any
twisting or wrinkle, or tendency to fall over ; if thin towards the edge, it is prefer-
able, being less likely to lop as the bird gets old ; when the points of the comb
are dark, the bird is either in bad condition or frostbitten. In Spanish hens,
the combs, says the same authority, should lap in front, and fall over sideways ;
and in fine healthy birds the comb, from its peculiar position, will entirely cover
one side of the face. In the " Standard of Excellence " the comb of the cock is
described as bright red, large, single, stiff", erect, straight, free from twists in front
and not falUng over to either side at the back, deeply serrated, rising from the beak

b:Z'A'£J'd^-£,

THE POULTRY BOOK.

105

betwixt the fore part of the nostrils, and extending in an arched form over the hack
of the head, free from excrescences or side sprigs, and not of too great a thickness at
the outside edges. That of the hen is described as being glossy, bright red, large,
single, serrated, di'ooping over one side of the face, and free from side sprigs or
duplications.

The face of the cock, writes Mr. Teebay in the " Standard," must be pure opaque
white, long and deep, the greater breadth of surface the better, providing it is
smooth, free from wrinkles, and the sight not obstructed ; rising well over the eye
towards the comb in an arched form, extending towards the back of the head., and
also to the base of the beak, covering the cheeks and joining the ear-lobes and
wattles. The ear-lobes pure opaque white, very large and pendant, rather thin,
smooth, well expanded, and free from folds or wrinkles, extending well on each side
of the neck, hanging down very low, not pointed, but regularly rounded in the lower
part, and meeting in front, behind the wattles.

In the hen the face must be of the same character, white, smooth, free from
wrinkles, with great breadth of surface ; it should rise well over the eye in an arched
form, extend to the back of the head, forwards to the beak, cover the entire cheek
and join the ear-lobe, which must be large, white, pendant, as smooth as possible,
and well rounded on the lower edge.

The eye in both sexes should be large and full, and the sight totally unobstructed
by the gi-o^wth of the white skin of the face, an e\il to which the heaviest faced
bii'ds are very prone as they advance in age.

The points that are regarded as disqualifications in a Spanish cock as an exhi-
bition bird are — the comb falling over to one side, or twisted in front over the
nostrils ; the face so developed as to obstruct the sight, or possessing a decided
red mark above the eye ; the presence of any other colour in the plumage except
black, or metallic green-black; and the legs being of any other colour except
dark leaden blue, or blue.

The chief disqualifications in the hen are — the presence of a double comb, or of
the small and erect comb known as the prick comb ; a decided red mark over the
eye ; plumage of any other colour except black, or metallic black ; and legs of any
other colour except dark leaden blue, or blue ; — and in both sexes trimming or
plucking in any part whatever.

The distinction between two very distinct strains of Spanish has been long
recognized by the older metropolitan amateurs, but has been rarely, if ever, described
in books. We have been favoured with the following notes on this subject, by one
of the most experienced London breeders, Mr. C. H. Brown, who, in describing
the birds imported from Holland, states — " The Dutch birds are small and short-
legged, although purer in face than the old English strain ; they are, in fact, so
difi"erent in size, shape, comb, and general characteristics, that I almost consider
them a different kind. Crossed with our breed, they have tended very greatly to the
improvement in the face. In those birds termed by fanciers * paper-faced ' birds,
the face is quite smooth : they are generally the smallest specimens, and are

106 THE POULTRY BOOK.

derived, I think, from the Dutch breed. The larger, coarser strain of Spanish are
the finer built birds, larger framed and longer limbed ; thej- lay very fine eggs, much
larger than those of the Dutch variety, and are known amongst the London fanciers
as 'Warty-faced,' 'Cauliflower-faced,' and 'Rough-faced' birds. In these the
carunculated white excrescences break out in clusters beyond the surface of the
face ; in old age, and often before, preventing the bird from seeing in front or
behind, the eye being nearly buried, and the white above often falling over, so as
almost to obscure the sight altogether.

" The Dutch-bred Spanish are much earlier than ours in showing the white face,
and arrive at maturity much quicker. Young cocks of this sort will be quite
white perhaps at eight months, and never improve afterwards ; while our own
English breed would at that age be very inferior, but continue to improve each
month up to two years old and upwards : the pullets are also subject to the same
remark."

In his remarks on Spanish in general, Mr. Brown states, regarding the plumage,
that " the white tips occasionally seen on some of the feathers are no indication of
impure blood, as the purest bred birds, and those hatched from raven-black parents,
often have a few, and sometimes a large number, of speckled feathers. In old age,
Spanish sometimes become j^ied, and, the following moult, change to pure white,
the legs also changing colour. In Spanish cockerels of the first year the tail is
scanty, but in the second season it assumes its very ample and beautifully arched
form. The cock's comb should be thick and self-supporting at the base, thinner
towards the edges, and perfectly erect ; when the bird is in motion, the wavy
tremulous action of the extremity of a thin comb gives rise to a much more grace-
ful appearance than when it is too short, thick, and stunted to sway with the
movements of the head.

" In breeding Spanish, the chickens bred from the same parents differ much in
quality ; but that the rose-combed, red-hackled, and brassy- winged birds that have
been produced from settings of eggs sold for extraordinarily high prices, ever came
from pure-bred birds, is an entire fabrication."

Mr. Hewitt furnishes the following notes on this breed: — " Spanish fowls for ex-
hibition must imperatively be quite free from any sprinklings of white or any other
colour whatever throughout their entire plumage. They are rather prone to this
defect (as is usual in all fowls whose feathers are naturally black). The white
feathers are generally most apparent upon the head and upper part of the neck of
the hens, and on the hinder portions of the thighs. Feathers that have been
accidentally pulled out are sometimes reproduced thus sprinkled, or marked with
white, yet at the natural moult return to their proper hue. The cocks are most
apt to be faulty in the shoulders, and longer neck hackle feathers.

" All Spanish are good layers ; but the more perfect the general extenial cha-
racter of the hen, as a rule, the finer eggs she produces. The chickens feather very
slowly, especially if closely bred, sometimes as they grow up being all but destitute
of plumage or even down ; in this stage they are most easily affected by sudden

THE POULTRY BOOK. 107

changes of weather, and frequently droop away in a day or two, especially about
the time of shooting their first tail-feathers : hence one great difficulty of rearing
them. They require (in the northern and midland counties of the United Kingdom
more especially) very high feeding whilst young, complete exclusion from all damp,
and much general attention, if even tolerable success is hoped for and the stock is of
high descent. The old fowls are much afflicted by being frostbitten in the combs
and feet if the winter happens to be severe. The serrations on the edge of the
combs are sometimes altogether destroyed from this cause alone, and the fowls
spoiled for exhibition. Heavy weather tries their constitutions severely, and soon
stops their productiveness. They are also long in recovering from their annual
moulting.

" Still, of all fowls, they appear the most truly aristocratic, and on a good walk
always look a most respectable addition to the live stock ; they very much like to
steal their nests in out-of-the-way places ; but it is most unusual for them to sit
afterwards, although isolated cases have taken place of their so doing, and both
hatching successfully and proving good mothers ; still, it is decidedly the excep-
tion to their natural propensities.

" "WTien plucked for the table, though very good in point of the colour of the
skin, they always appear high in the bone, the bridge of the breast being very deep
(more particularly in the cockerels) ; hence they seem to the eye to carry much less
flesh than they really possess. For this reason they do not stand high in favour
with poulterers, who have to resell them ready for the spit. The flavour of the
Spanish fowls is good, but not of extreme excellence ; the economical value chiefly
arises from their great production of eggs, although this is mostly confined to the
summer months only."

M]-. Crook, of Forest Hill, well known as an ardent admirer and successful
exhibitor of this beautiful variety, has furnished us with the following very
practical remarks on the breed : —

" Amongst all the difi'erent varieties of fowls there is not one more characteristic
than the true Black Spanish ; the remarkable contrasts of colour in their plumage,
face, and wattles, together with their perfect symmetry and stateliness of carriage,
make this variety generally regarded as the aristocracy of the poultry yard.
There is, however, one point in the modem breed in which they have greatly
degenerated from their former standard, namely, in their size.

*' The Spanish of thirty years ago were considered as the giants of the poultry yard,
the cock at two years old frequently weighing from nine to ten pounds, and standing
nearly as high as the tallest Malay fowl. In our present prize pens we have birds
of very difi'erent weight, some of them being extremely small, and looking more
like Spanish Bantams, whose proper place would be in the * New or any other
Variety ' class ; this deterioration has, no doubt, arisen from too close breeding in
and in, and from the increase in size and purity of the face and ear-lobe being the
main objects of the breeder, the bird being much more frequently regarded as a

108

THE POULTRY BOOK.

fancy toy than as a profitable fowl, valuable as a prolific layer of large fine-flavoured
eggs, or a good producer of abundant white meat for the table,

" The weight of a good-sized Spanish cock should not be below seven pounds, nor
should its height, when standing erect, be less than twenty-two inches. The
plumage must be glossy black, with metallic blue and greenish hues when seen
in the sun ; the breast, belly, and thighs, raven black if possible, or decided jet.

** The comb, which in the cock is one of the most important points, should be of
a bright-red coral colour, perfectly firm and erect, not too large or tall, although
larger than in any other variety, thick at the base, with crescent-shaped outline at
top if possible, commencing in front close to the nostrils, gracefully extending to the
back and almost touching the head or top of the neck. The front of the comb should
be without twist, or thumb-mark as it is generally termed, the margin evenly
serrated, and it should be smooth and fine in texture, and free from excrescences in
any part. The wattles should be equally red and fine in texture of long oval,
pendulous form, neatly folding, and both of the same length.

" The face is now regarded as the most important point ; it should be of pure
whiteness, closely resembling finely dressed white kid, extending over the eye up
to the base of the comb, showing as great a width at this point as possible, passing
round behind the ear, and so producing a great width from this point to the com-
mencement of the white in front of the eye ; continuing downwards as the ear-lobe,
hanging as low as possible upon the neck, and meeting the red wattles in front.
The space between the wattles on the throat should also be white.

" As the white face and ear-lobe are the most attractive features in the Spanish as
show birds, there cannot be too great a quantity in superficial extent, nor can too
great a degree of attention be given to produce it as smooth and free from ridges
or folds as possible, more particularly over and under the eyes ; for if the birds are
of the heavy warty- faced strain, the white, at two years old, will cause the cocks to
become blind from the folds or ridges of white meeting and closing the eyes ; the
trouble attending these blind birds is very great, the white having to be cut away,
as otherwise the birds die of starvation, and long before that occurs they are
perfectly useless as stock birds.

" The eyes should be clear and bright, of dark brown colour, and as full and
prominent as possible consistent with a good extent of white.

" The neck in the Spanish is inclined to be long, but it should be strong towards
the base, tapering very gracefully from the head down to the body. The breast
and front of the neck should be full and protuberant, no other fowl having so
prominent a breastbone. The back should be a good width, the body somewhat
tapering towards the tail ; the wings full, but not as ample as those of Game or
Dorking. Thighs neat and firm, inclined to be long ; in fact, many fine
birds are almost what may be termed leggy, but an excess of shank must be
avoided. The legs, firm and strong, vary in colour from leaden to blue-black,
either being admissible, but the latter preferred. Tread of foot, dingy flesh-colour.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 109

Tail erect and full, but not, as in some strains, tilting forward towards the head ;
in all cases the tail should be well balanced, ^^dth bright metallic hues.

" The gi-aceful carriage of the Spanish cock gives him a decided firmness of
character, and it impresses the spectator with the idea that he is entitled to the
appellation of The Don or Aristocrat of the poultry yard.

" The hen should average at least five and a half pounds in weight, and should
stand about eighteen inches high. Her comb, when in condition, must be coral red,
fine in texture, but not too thin ; a slight arching over the eye before it begins to
droop over the face allows the bird to see on both sides, but if it be unusually thin
it droops too closely to the face, and causes the hen to stoop awkwardly, as she can
then only see with one eye, except when looking on the ground. Hens whose
combs have this slight arching form breed cockerels with combs much less likely to
fall over than those with the comb of a very thin drooping character. The wattles
of the hen should be coral red, fine in texture, and neat in form. The face,
as smooth as possible and purely white, should extend in a distinctly arched form
up to the base of the comb, round behind the ear, and downwards, producing
a neat lobe which cannot be too long. Neither cock nor hen having the slightest
signs of redness in the face should ever be used for breeding. Breast full and
prominent, body tapering towards the tail, legs blue-black or leaden, plumage as
black as that of the cock, but possessing less metallic lustre ; tail full and square,
carried with grace. Any signs of coloured feathers in either sex is a serious defect.
" Spanish fowls are active and graceful in all their movements, and appear with
equal grace in the park, the lawn, the meadow, or in the enclosed aviary, and they
are alike profitable in either position, provided a dry, warm, and sheltered situation
is chosen ; when adult they are as hardy as any other variety, and will repay their
keeper if properly cared for, kept perfectly dry, supplied mth plenty of dry dusty
earth and old lime rubbish, and an unlimited supply of green food : they appear to
moult slowly and show signs of delicacy, but if generously fed they soon recover
again, and begin to lay as early as most other fowls of the same age and in the
same position. They are non-sitters, and lay larger eggs than any other kind. The
chickens are slow in feathering, and from this cause alone they are generally more
delicate than others when very young, consequently they require to be kept on dry
gi-ound and free from draughts.

" In showing these birds for competition some unprincipled persons "are in the
habit of trimming and dressing them in various ways ; if the white over the eyes is
intercepted by feathers, they pull them out in order to jjroduce the required arched
appearance. Very frequently fine birds are slightly tinged with redness over the eye :
this is frequently painted or whitewashed over. Some birds, if very late hatched,
make small birds, and moult ofi" early in the spring ; these birds if hatched about
August or September, will have a full extent of face about July of the following
year ; consequently the spring-hatched chickens stand but little chance in competi-
tion with them until later in the season. The tail of these late-hatched birds is
pulled and the spur shortened, to make them look like spring chickens. These

110

THE POULTRY BOOK.

attempts result from the cstiiLlishment of verj' early chicken-sbows, the advantage
of which is open to much discussion. Sufficient attention is not always given by
judges at shows as to the truth of the ages of young birds, as stated by the
owners ; consequently the honest chickens are frequently beaten by late-hatched,
trimmed up birds.

" The only thing necessary to be done before sending Spanish to shows is, first,
give them as much soft food as they can eat, then clean the legs and feet, and
carefully and smoothly wash the white face and comb, drying them afterwards with
a very soft cloth ; if the operation causes the face to become red, placing them in a
warm dark apartment for a short time will soon restore it to the original whiteness.
Abundance of clean dry straw should be placed at the bottom of the basket, which,
if of open wickerwork, should be lined with canvas, which has the manifold advantage
of preventing the birds being exposed to draught and becoming roupy on their
journey, of precluding the probability of their tails being pulled by some incon-
siderate spectator, and of lessening the chances of the white face being injured by
contact with the rough wickerwork of the basket."

With regard to the economical value of Spanish as productive fowls. Admiral
Hornby states : — " As for eggs, I reckoned last year that my Spanish hens laid six
eggs a week from early in February to late in August (they moulted early).
Between November and February they averaged perhaps three a week. Their eggs
are large and handsome, broad, but slightly rounded at each end ; one end, how-
ever, is not so much more pointed than the other as in some fowls. As for weight
— I am cautious in speaking — I know that last year, from February to August, I
considered their average w^eight to be above 3^ oz. but under 4 oz. The largest
eggs were in May (when we had rain after a long drought), many of them weighing
4|- oz. ; but the average of those laid in December and January I should place at
21 oz. The eggs are, to my mind, very milky and good. I may add, however,
that of the eggs of the best white-faced, I had frequent complaints of the
tenderness of their shells, in spite of lime, calcined oyster- shells, soft food, &c. I
attribute this to high feeding."

The colour of the Spanish egg is always clear white, w^ith a smooth polished
surface. Spanish pullets are commonly found to commence laying from five and a
half to six months old, and they certainly may be described as good layers, except
during their autumnal moult and during the severer winter months. Spanish hens
rarely show any inclination to hatch their eggs ; even if they become broody, the
desire to sit usually passes off in a few days, so that it is not desirable to sit them.
Sometimes a hen steals a nest and hatches out a brood, in which case she generally
proves a good mother ; but no practical poultry-keeper ever thinks of designedly
employing them as sitters.

In the selection of eggs for sitting, it was said by Columella, and has been
repeated in recent publications, amongst others in Mr. Trotter's treatise, in the
twenty-seventh number of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal, that the sex
of eggs is capable of being distinguished by their form and the internal position

THE POt'LTKY BOOK. Ill

of tlie air-cell at the larger end. If this assertion be founded on fact it would
enable us to make such a selection of eggs for hatching as would present us with
chickens of either sex according to our will. The instructions given by
Columella direct us to " select the round eggs, for they contain female birds, and
reject the oblong-shaped, for they contain birds of the opposite sex." Again :
"By the position of the air-cell at the butt end of the egg, those may be selected
which ■^\-ill produce the male sex; in these the air-cell is in the centre of the end.
If the cell be a Uttle on one side, the egg will produce a female chick. The
position of the air-cell is easily discovered by holding the egg between the eye and
the light." But, if the round egg, which, according to the first theory, should
produce a pullet, have the air-cell in the centre of the end, it ought, according to
the second, to produce a male chick ; while, on the other hand, the oblong-shaped
egg may have the air-cell on one side, and therefore the inmate should be of the
feminine gender. It is obvious that these tests are contradictory, and we have
only to remember that as little, if any, variation is ever found in the shape of the
eggs of any one hen, it ought to follow that the produce should invariably be of
one sex, which is never the case ; we are, therefore, not inclined to believe in the
opinion advocated by Columella and his followers.

Respecting these erroneous ideas that have been thus placed before the public,
with regard to the possibility of judging beforehand of the sex of eggs, from their
shape or the position of the air-vesicle, a slight acquaintance with the anatomy
and physiology of the fowl would disprove the truth of the statement. The germ
of the future bird is formed with the yolk in the ovary ; and as the latter passes
along the egg-passage — a tube upwards of two feet in length — it merely receives in
its progress the white, the two layers of membrane which enclose the air-cell
between them, and lastly the shell, these being formed or secreted by different
parts of the canal. It is evident that the air-cell is not formed until after
the white and the inner of the two membranes is completed, and can there-
fore have no influence upon the germ. The shape of the egg, moreover, entirely
depends on the shell, which is the last part formed ; and as the germ in the yolk
is ah-eady completed it is exceedingly improbable that the one can have any con-
nection whatever with the other. Perhaps the best reply to this absurd theory is
that it has been repeatedly disproved by the most careful experiments.

It will not be found desirable to hatch Spanish chickens at a very early period of
the year, unless they are designed for exhibition at the Autumn Chicken Shows.
The end of April is quite soon enough for them to make their appearance, and
those birds that are not hatched till May will eventually be found to make the
finest specimens. If produced too early in the year the young birds suffer from
cold, as they are much longer in fledging than most other breeds. The young
when first hatched are clothed in black down, marked with a certain proportion of
white on the fore part of the body ; this, however, is followed by the same black
plumage as the darker portion. During the growth of the feathers it is ex-
ceedingly important that the birds should be well fed, for not only has the gi-owth

11 '2 THE POULTRY BOOK.

of the body to be provided for, but the materials for the production of the feathers
must also be supplied ; we should therefore strongly recommend the system
of feeding found so advantageous in promoting the rapid growth of Dorkings, and
described in the communication of Mr. Douglas in the chapter on that variety.

"With regard to the time of year that our earliest Spanish broods should make
their appearance, we cannot do better than give the opinion of Mr. LawTence, of
Penzance, who has bred them largely and successfully : —

" I think the chicks hatch readily, and are easily reared, with proper attention to
the season of the year selected for that purpose. I do not recommend Spanish
eggs being put under hens earlier than the first week in April, on account of the
unfeathered state of the chickens, for it is nearly ten weeks before they can be
called perfectly fledged. They require more care for the fortnight following
hatching than Cochins ; but after that time, I have found them to be as hardy and
as easily reared as any other fowls at this season of the year. They call for no
precautious as to subsequent management, beyond what falls to the lot of fowls in
general."

These recommendations we find confirmed by the practice at Knowsley, whero,
when desiring to have early chickens, Admiral Hornby never places more than
seven, or, at the most, nine eggs, under a hen during the months of February and
March. He justly observes : — " She cannot then properly cover more, nor gene-
rate sufficient heat at that chilly season ; and when, as happens thus early in the
year, * scrattle ' is not plentiful, what will keep five chickens is but a bare mouthful
for ten."

Soft blue-black down, more or less marked with white on the face, throat, and
breast, forms their early garb ; and when feathering begins, there is usually a
longer interval than we wish between the casting ofi" of the one covering and the
assumption of the other. However immaterial this may be found in the warm
sunshine of a Mediterranean climate, it is apt to prove a serious matter in the
chilling blasts of our own island, and calls for nutritive food and warm housing.
But with these precautions, which indeed would pay well for all poultry hatched
very early in the season, the Spanish fowl is as likely to thrive, and answer our
several purposes, as any other race — so far, we mean, as regards its vigour of
constitution and endurance of our seasons when thus cared for.

In the case of very early chickens, hatched during the winter months, it will be
found necessarj' to feed them after they have retired to rest ; young chickens
cannot be expected to thrive if constrained to go without food from four or five
o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock the following morning ; if so long an
interval as twelve to fifteen hours elapses between the last evening and the first
morning meal, the crop is perfectly empty for several hours, and the young birds
are hungry and exhausted for want of food.

Spanish chickens grow rapidly — feathers usually begin to appear at about five
weeks on the centre of the back and on each side of the breast ; if healthy, the
fifth month should see them in full plumage. The cockerels acquire the white

THE POULTRY BOOK, 113

face before the pullets, the latter rarely getting it in full perfection during the first
year. But there is considerable uncertainty with regard to the time when this
much-coYeted point of excellence makes its appearance. Some chickens, which
giYe little or no promise at first, afterwards display this feature in perfection, while
others originally more promising disappoint us at maturity. A red fleshy faced
pullet neYer, under any circumstances, makes a good-faced hen. The blue-faced
birds, on the contrary, always show the white face, more or less perfect, as they
arriYe at their full growth.

Admiral Hornby, formerly a Yery extensiYe breeder of this Yariety, writes as
follows respecting their general management : —

" I am not aware that the Spanish fowl is liable to any particular disease : it is
hardy, and but little subject to the roup, that curse of the poultry-yard. I may add
that I consider the Spanish fowl inferior to Cochins in the number of eggs they lay,
but superior in the weight laid ; they are smaller consumers, they bear confinement
as well ; are inferior as nurses and mothers, but superior as table fowl, their flesh
being white and delicate, although cooks and poultry-dealers dislike their dark
legs. Like other fowl, they require frequent change of food, which is conduciYe
to health in all fowls. If fed too high, I haYe found them subject to an eruption
on the white ear-lobe, which is difiicult to cure. As regards food and feeding, I
prefer soft to hard food ; but it is my practice to scatter a portion of the latter
daily among straw, a practice which compels the fowls to scratch and look about
for it, and preYonts gobbling and repletion of the crop. GraYel or any coarse sand
— the former in preference — is indispensable, and the range of a grass field is
highly conduciYe to health ; raw meat is, in my opinion, objectionable, although
many breeders giYe it. In winter, when worms and slugs are not to be had, and
animal food is required, I prefer a little cooked meat or a bone for them to peck.
Potatoes or meal, with milk, is capital food. I may add, that more chickens die
from drinking dirty water than from any other cause. Old birds (hens much more
so than cocks) sometimes sufi'er seYerely in the moult, and if cold weather should
then come are a long while in getting OYer it ; but soft and hot food, as bread and
milk, porridge, a little chopped meat, bread, and ale, "ndth warm lodging, will pull
them through."

.Spanish are not so liable to fasciolge or gapes as many other Yarieties of fowl. In
common, howeYor, with other slow-feathering breeds, they occasionally sufter from
cold and wet ; they seldom show any inclination to sit ; and this, combined with
the circumstance of their being bad incubators, renders them unprofitable as a
farmer's breed ; otherwise their numerous large eggs would justly recommend them
for that purpose.

Although these birds haYe many points of merit beyond mere appearance, ncYer-
theless, considering the manner in which, the rural homestead is generally.managed,
they can hardly be strongly recommended to the farmer. All persons agree in
declaring the old birds to be hardy and Yigorous in constitution ; and with the
precautions of warm and dry housing and good food they generally get well through

L

114 THE POULTRY BOOK.

their prolonged moult. These requisites, however, are by no means so generally
afibrded to the poultry in the farmer's yard as they ought to be ; and unless these
valuable birds receive more attention than is usually bestowed on Barn-door fowls
we could not recommend their being purchased.

On the other hand, when the poultry are properly housed and fed as they ought
to be, we have no doubt of Spanish being kept with profit, especially in localities
where large eggs are in demand. In such a case they will be a valuable addition
to the poultry-yard. They submit readily to confinement, and with care they
thrive within narrow limits. Very fair specimens are constantly seen in our
London mews, which do well and furnish a very good supply of new-laid

eggs.

"Mr. E. Bond, of Leeds, states — " I have myself kept Spanish for many years, .
and though on the whole inclined to assign the palm to the Cochins, I have,
nevertheless, no intention of giving up my Spanish. The latter are not so easily
reared in this locality as the former, but I consider them less tender in bringing up
than the Dorkings ; and when they have reached maturity I perceive no difference.
They have done well with me here, and there is undoubtedly no variety, taken
altogether, that presents a more striking appearance. Individually they are hand-
some, both males and females ; and the lustrous black of their plumage, so strongly
contrasting with the white cheek and coral comb, and the uniformity of the whole
flock, render a good collection of these birds as agreeable a sight as the poultry-yard
can well produce.

"As to their utility, that must depend upon the requirements of their owner.
If he seeks for eggs, they are as good, if not better, than any other fowl he can
keep. True, they do not lay so well in winter as the Cochins, but then their
eggs are larger, and the desire of incubation does not occupy their time. Believing
that they will lay as great a weight of eggs in the year as hens of any other
breed, I should say that no other fowl is better suited to the wants of such
farmers or cottagers as possess a good sale for eggs. If they live, as I do, near a
large town, they have this additional advantage, that their flocks never look dirty
or soiled.

" They are certainly good table fowls ; by some, indeed, they are considered as
very superior for this purpose. With regard to their consumption of food, I do not
think that Spanish are at all extravagant in this respect : for anything that will
keep ordinary fowls will keep them when once they reach maturity.

"In their habits there is nothing peculiar requiring notice; they are not, it is
true, so quiet or so disinclined to roam as the Cochins ; but if well fed at home,
they will not be found to stray far from their walk. Nor are they quarrelsome
among themselves to a degree that is at all troublesome. As regards management,
I need only say that what other good birds require will sufiice for them. With all
poultrj', in my opinion, a good dry warm roost is half the battle ; and to keep
the damp away, sand, dry earth, chafi", or anything that is at hand and will effect
this object, should be spread upon the floor, and frequently changed.

mM

I o

THE POULTRY BOOK. 119

** These are all the precautions I employ, and they prove amply sufficient to keep
my birds in health, vigour, and beauty."

In concluding the present chapter on the Spanish fowl, a few remarks may be
made on the different cross-bred birds owing their parentage to this race. It is
difficult to imagine any cross that would not destroy the noble and truly aristo-
cratic appearance of these birds, and that without any counterbalancing advantage
to be gained, for the long limbs of the Spanish would not fail to deteriorate the
form of any other variety, unless, indeed, it be that of the Malay. In consequence
of Cochin hens being frequently kept as foster-mothers for Spanish, crosses between
a Spanish cock and Cochin hens are not unfrequent ; these mongrels are good
layers of fair-sized eggs, and also good sitters, but the plumage varies in colour,
nor can they be regarded as ornamental. Some cross-bred chickens between the
White Spanish and White Cochin were remarkable as being of a uniform slaty
grey, closely resembling the Andalusians in colour.

Some suggestions were made some time back by Mr. Trotter in the Royal
Agricultural Society's Journal, as to the improvement in the size of the eggs of
the Silver Pencilled Hamburgh or Chitteprat by a cross with the Spanish ; but
the fact was probably overlooked that a cross between two non- sitting varieties of
poultry almost invariably produces a mongrel that becomes broody and sits with
remarkable steadiness ; hence the value of such birds, viewed as mere machines
for converting so much barley into eggs, would be greatly less than that of either
of the pure breeds from which they were descended.

The only disease which requires notice in this place is the frostbitten com'b to
which Spanish exposed in cold situations are not unfrequently subject. When this
accident occurs, the comb becomes very dark-coloured and stiff : if the bird is, with
a mistaken spirit of kindness, taken into a warm room, mortification inevitably
takes place, and the entire or partial loss of the comb is the result ; if, on the
contrary, the circulation is restored by rubbing the comb with snow, or, if that is
not to be procured, T\ith ice-cold water, until such time as the natural colour is
restored, no harm results, provided the application is made before the bird has been
suffering any lengthened period of time.

The most important varieties of the Spanish breed are the Minorcas and the
Andalusians, to which may be added the White Spanish, the Anconas, and the
Columbians.

The Minorca fowl is very common in Devonshire and Cornwall, and other
counties of the west of England, though by no means limited to that district. In
the western parts of Cornwall especially, birds of this variety have long been
valued as first-rate layers, and consequently they form the principal stock of many
poultry-yards. The milder temperature of the south of England offers peculiar
advantages for the successful management of these fowls, which, though for a long
period accustomed to our climate, still manifest impatience of severe cold.

In the Minorca fowls the white face so characteristic of the Black Spanish is
absent, the ear-lobe alone being of that colour. But in both male and female

120 THK roi LTRY liOi K.

there is the same full ilevclopmeiit of comb and wattle, especially iu the hens,
some of which are iucouveuieucecl in feeding by the large comb flapping over the
eye and interfering with the action of the beak. They are also lower on the legs
and of sqnarer build than the true Spanish. Minorcas are excellent layers, but
very bad sitters, rarely if ever evincing any desire to incubate. As hardy and
abundant egg-producers they are especially valuable. As table fowls, their more
rounded form and shorter legs give them advantages over their aristocratic
relations.

The Aiicona, now very rarely seen at our shows, is closely related to the Minorca,
the diflerence being that it possesses a mottled or splashed plumage, the colours of
which are very uncertain ; they are usually black and white, but specimens of a
rich partridge-colour were formerly not unfrequent. The colours of the mottled
Ancona are seldom clear ; and their appearance, therefore, is rarely calculated
to obtain admiration.

Under the title of the IVJilte Spanish are included two varieties of the breed :
one resulting from the action of some peculiar constitutional cause, which deter-
mines the production of a partial or entire white plumage at moulting time in a
bird previously black ; occasionally, also, white Albino chickens will be bred from
black parents, — but in breeding from both these varieties, the original colour is
generally reproduced.

A permanent breed of White Spanish was frequently exhibited some few years
since ; but the frequent presence of an additional toe, and the red colour of the face,
led to the suspicion of their being cross-bred birds ; and the want of that striking
contrast between the jet-black plumage, the coral comb, and white face, which
adds so remarkably to the ornamental appearance of the original bird, caused them
to have but few admirers.

The Andahmans, however, have become established favourites with several
breeders ; and a poultry exhibition seldom occurs in which good specimens do not
make their appearance, and take honours in the class for extra varieties. One
of the most successful exhibitors of this variety is Mr. Coles, of Fareham, Hants,
to whom we are indebted for the following account of their characteristics : —

In weight and size the Andalusians resemble the Spanish : the cocks weigh from
six to seven pounds, the hens from five to six pounds. The carriage and form
are stately and good, not differing from that of the Black Spanish.

The general colour of the plumage varies from dark slate bordering on black, to
a dove-colour, the hens being generally bluish grey.

The legs and feet should be blue, and totally free from feathering.

The comb in the cock should be very large, erect, single, and evenly serrated,
that of the hen very large, single, and pendent. The wattles are well developed.

The ear-lobe white in both sexes ; but the face, unlike that of the Spanish, is
red.

In addition to the above description, Mr. Coles has furnished us with the
following account of the economical merits of his favourite breed: — "I have

THE POULTKY BOOK. 121

kept the Audalusian fowls for seTeral years, and find tliey are the least trouble of
any variety tried by me ; my runs are very limited, without grass-field or outlet ;
and I have less sickness in this class than in Black Spanish. I obtained my first
stock from Portsmouth, where they were landed from a Spanish trader in 1851. I
consider them in all respects very superior for hardiness, and as layers. Coming
to hand early, they no doubt would be a useful kind to breed as a table fowl, in
the early part of the year. The hens usually commence laying in December, and
continue with scarcely any omission until the following November, averaging four
to five eggs each weekly. I have pullets, hatched early in March last, that com-
menced laying in August, when little more than five months old. They are non-
sitters ; I have never had one instance of their wanting to hatch. I find the
chickens very hardy, feathering early, and very precocious. I have had them crow
at six weeks old. I believe Andalusians to be a useful and beautiful variety, that
only requires to be better known to be appreciated. I find them far wilder in
their, habits than Black Spanish, and also more pugnacious. As to feeding, my
system is — corn in variety, night and morning ; soft food in the middle of the day ;
meat once a week, with all the green food that can be procured from a large garden ;
and I believe my birds are far healthier in their confined runs, than those of my
neighbours having plenty of grass outlet. After fifteen years trial of them I find
they still maintain their merits as a prolific and hardy breed ; they do not degen-
erate, but maintain their characteristics without variation."

Mr. John Taylor, formerly one of the most enthusiastic amateurs of this variety,
states in his description of them : — " The following are some of the points to
which I attach most importance : comb large, erect, and evenly serrated ; cheek
white ; legs bluish ; plumage bluish-grey or dove-colour, each feather being lightly
margined with a darker tint. Hackles glossy, velvety, black, falling evenly on
each side of the breast, in strong contrast to the colour of the latter ; tail full,
carried very uprightly, with the sickle feathers well arched. The hens have the
same colours, but their combs are pendent.

" Cocks will average in weight Tibs., while the hens may be stated at about
5^1bs. Pullets hatched in April commence lading in October, and continue
throughout the winter. Two pullets and three hens averaged 120 eggs each in
the year. In shape and colour they resemble those of the Black Spanish. The
hens seldom show any desire to sit ; but when this does happen, they prove them-
selves excellent mothers. The chickens, unlike the Black Spanish, are feathered
early, are hardy and very precocious. As a table fowl, I have a very high opinion
of their excellence."

We may gather from this statement of Mr. Taylor's, that the Andalusian has a
fair title to be considered as a permanent variety of the Spanish family. The rich
slate-colour of their bodies is well contrasted with the deep black of their ha%kle
and tail ; while in size and vigour of constitution, especially as chickens, they seem
to be on at least equal terms with their black relations.

The title of Columbian fowls was formerly given to a large black variety of

M

122 THE POULTRY BOOK.

poultry that was held iu some repute from its magnificent size and hardihood.
The name, like that of almost all other poultry, is a misnomer. Neither our ordi-
nary fowls, nor any of those birds that are closely related to them and constitute
the genus Gallus, are natives of the American continent. The denizens of the
farmyard were introduced to the west after the discovery of America by Columbus.
The origin of the so-called Columbian fowls is obviously to be traced to a cross
between the Spanish and the Malay. The well-developed comb and wattles and
the black plumage being derived from the first-named parent : the large size, great
weight, and hardihood, from the latter. Columbians are stated, by those who have
kept them, to be remarkably prolific, laying numerous eggs of large size, which
produce rapidly growing and precocious chickens. Should any fancier deem the
variety worth reproducing, we should recommend him to select a very large, well-
developed Spanish cock, redness of face being quite immaterial, and to mate him
to some large-sized Malay hens. By this arrangement, the desired form, colour,
and size would be more readily obtained than by matching a Malay cock with
Spanish hens, for it is an axiom in breeding that the external characters of form
and colour are chiefly derived from the male parent, whilst size, constitution and
vigour follow the female. Here the comb, the dark plumage, the well-developed
tail and prominent breast might be secured in conjunction with the heavy weight of
the Malay. But whether or not the variety is worth the trouble of thus repro-
ducing, we must leave to the taste or fancy of the breeder. In poultry, as in
most other matters, the old maxim respecting individual taste, de gustibus noii est
(Usputandum, is undeniable. Some men can see nothing but elegance and grace
in the quaint outlines of a Cochin, whilst the aesthetic perceptions of others are
gratified by the contemplation of the feathered crest of the Polish, and a third
set regard a Frizzled fowl, with all its feathers turned the wrong way, as though it
had been pulled through a hedge backwards, the very perfection of gallinaceous
beauty.

CHAPTER XII.

THE GAME FOWL.

GAME are pre-eminently the English fowl ; in no other country but our own is
the true-bred Game cock indigenous.

Cock-fighting has been pursued from time immemorial in many parts of the
world, and is now a national pastime in the East ; but the birds employed for the
purpose are what would be termed in this country small varieties of the Malay,
wanting altogether the exquisite beauty of form and vigorous grace that charac-
terize the true English breed. In the well-known print of Col. Mordaunt's
celebrated Indian cock-fight the birds dehneated are most of the Malay stamp,
larger, heavier, and much more clumsy in their form, gait, and movement than
those of English descent.

There cannot be a doubt that the superiority of the Game fowls bred in England
has been entirely due to the practice of cock-fighting, which was extensively
indulged in by all classes of society until the comparatively recent legal enact-
ments, rendering its practice punishable with heavy pecuniary penalties.

The practice of cock-fighting may be regarded as one which carries out, under
man's supervision, the principle of action which has been so ably described by
Darwin as "the struggle for life." Those cocks which have proved the strongest, moct
active, and courageous, and have stricken down their antagonists in the pit, have
been preserved by man as the progenitors of their kind, this process of "selection"
has been carried on for a long series of generations, and the ultimate result has
been that the English Game fowl is unequalled in elegance of form, and is uni-
versally regarded as the highest possible type of gallinaceous beauty.

In this country so great has been the care taken of their purity of blood, that
private stud books and tables of descent have been kept, and these carry back the
unstained origin of many strains for more than a century.

In describing the characteristics of the Game fowl, there is a generally recognized
standard for form and figure, which must not be departed from, whatever variety of
colour the birds may present. Consequently, these characters may be stated once
for all, leaving merely the variations in plumage to be spoken of under the head
of each sub-variety.

In weight. Game fowls vary very considerably. In the days when they were bred
almost exclusively for the cockpit, 4 lbs. 8 or 10 oz. for the cocks was the size
aimed at by the breeders ; at the present time this limit is often passed, and some

M 2

1-i THE POULTRY BOOK.

of our most successful exhibitors state that their birds reach G lbs. when two
years old ; but beyond this weight the bar sinister may be looked for in their
escutcheon, owing to an alUance with that bane of the English Game fowl, the
Malay.

The carriage and form of the Game cock are certainly more beautiful than that
of any other variety of domestic fowl. The neck is long, strong, and gracefully
curved ; the hackle short and very close ; the breast broad ; the back short,
broad across the shoulders ; the whole body very firm and hard, with a perfectly
straight breast and back, the latter tapering towards the tail ; the wings large and
powerful, and carried closely pressed into the sides ; the thighs strong, muscular,
and short, tightly clothed with feathers, and well set forward on the body, so as to
be available for fighting ; the shanks rather long, strong but not coarse, covered
with fine scales, and of moderate length ; the feet flat and thin, the toes long
and spreading, so as to give a good hold on the ground ; the hind toe must be set
low down, so as to rest flatly on the ground, and not merely touch with the point, —
a defect which is known as " duck-footed," and is regarded as a serious disquali-
fication, as it renders the bird unsteady when pushed backwards by his opponent.

The plumage is compact, hard, and mail-like to a remarkable degree, and
possesses a brilliant glossiness that cannot be surpassed. The tail in the cock is
rather long, the sickle feathers gracefully arched, not very broad, and carried
closely together, the whole tail curved backwards and not brought forwards over the
back, — a defect which causes the bird to be termed squirrel-tailed.

The head in this variety is extremely beautiful, being thin and long, like that of
a greyhound ; the beak massive at its root, strong and well curved ; the eye large,
very full, and brilliant in lustre ; the ear-lobe and face of a bright scarlet, and the
comb in undubbed birds single, erect, and thin. The spur, which is exceedingly
dense and sharp, should be set low on the leg, its power as a weapon being thereby
greatly increased ; it may be remarked that this ofiensive organ is often present
in the softer sex.

In the hen, the form, making due allowance for the difference of sex and
alteration of plumage, resembles that of the cock. The head is neater, the face
lean and thin. The small thin comb should be low in front, evenly serrated, and
perfectly erect. The deaf ear and wattles should be small. The neck, from the
absence of hackle feathers, looks longer and more slender than that of her mate.
The tail feathers should be held closely together, and not spread out like a fan, as
not unfrequently stated. The plumage should be so close that the form of the
wing should be distinctly visible, the outline not being hidden by the feathers of
the body.

The varieties of Game are very numerous, as from the anxiety to avoid any
deterioration in figure or courage, crosses between the principal breeds have been
frequently resorted to, so that a number of sub-varieties present themselves to our
notice, many of which are still further complicated by the use of names of merely
provincial employment.

/

'1^ .

LEIGHTON, BROTHEtUi

U3iJir;ui-x:iL:sA£;a'iiu 'jx'I'l iiAiaific

THE POULTRY BOOK. 125

In place of enclecavouring to give a descriptiou of each sub-variety, frequently
perliaps of merely local celebrity, we will follow the arrangement that is used at
the principal poultry exhibitions, and describe the different breeds of Game fowls
in the following order : —

Black-breasted Eeds, Brown-breasted Beds, Duckwings both yellow and white,
with which are usually classed the Greys and Blues, Blacks (including the Brassy-
winged), Whites, and Piles.

In the " Standard of Excellence," published by the Poultry Club, the characters
of Ginger-red and Birchen-yellow are also given ; and there are also several breeds
of less notoriety, as the Henny-tailed, the Indian, &c.

For the description of the most important of these varieties we are indebted to
Mr. John Douglas, of the Clumber Aviaries. Writing of the Black-reds, he says : —

" At the present date, pure black-breasted red game are scarcer in England
than was formerly the case. This arises from their having been so much crossed
with brown-red, duckwing, and piles, that the pure colour has been nearly lost.
The colour most frequently seen at the present time is a dull clay, or deep rusty
red on the haclde, back, shoulders, and shoulder coverts. Instead of the beautiful
orange-red, so much admired, the points of the hackle feathers are frequently of a red
straw colour : these defects arise from injudicious crossing and want of sufficient
knowledge respecting the production of colour. We must act upon the old maxim
that 'like begets like,' and breed with perseverance, from pure-feathered birds,
in order to obtain the pure colours we desire. The most important points in
the colour of a black-red cock are that the feathers of the head should be dark
red, inclining to orange ; the hackle clear orange-red to the very points of the
feathers ; the back, shoulders, and shoulder coverts rich violet-red, the saddle
orange-red, and the breast and tail rich black, perfectly free from white.

" In the different strains of black-reds the hackles frequently run off to a very
light shade at the points of the feathers, especially if there is any duckwing
blood in the strain ; whereas the birds that have a trace of the brown-red cross
have a deep or dark red hackle, which, in consequence of a sameness of colour,
does not contrast well with the back and saddle, where a marked distinction
ought to appear. If you breed from these deep reds, the pullets produced are
of too dark a brown, and have the feathers of a dull light colour, instead of the
beautiful golden brown, with a deep salmon breast, which should mark a pure
black-red pullet. Black-red hens, to mate with pure-coloured cocks, must have
light golden hacldes striped with black, the colours being distinct and not running
into each other ; the back and shoulder coverts must be light brown, slightly
inclined to a shade of straw colour, perfectly free from mossing or penciUing ;
the breast clear salmon colour well up to the throat, but becoming ashy towards
the lower part of the breast.

"Black-red hens, like all varieties of game, are good sitters and mothers, being
very careful of their young; but they are rather savage towards other chickens,
therefore it is desirable to coop them a good distance apart. I never set more

12G THE rOULTKY LOOK.

tlinu eleven eggs under a game hou, and do not like to have any chickens hatched
before the middle of April, but as many as I possibly can in May. I have never
found early-hatched game chickens feather so well as those hatched at the end
of April and during May. I have often seen chickens hatched in February
commence to throw their feathers about September — not, however, in a regular
moult, but gradually lose their plumage by degrees, without acquiring the good
firm feather which is so necessary to success in the gumc classes.

*• After they have hatched, I coop the hens with chickens until the hitter are
seven or eight weeks old, feeding them liberally with custard and oatmeal, in the
same way as I recommended for rearing Dorldngs.

*' I consider it exceedingly desirable to send out each cockerel and four or five
pullets to a run directly on their leaving the hens, and prefer a cottage run if
possible. AMien brought up at a cottage, chickens will always show boldest from
the first year; for being accustomed to the presence of society is beneficial to
them, giving them boldness and confidence to be stared at in a crowded show. If
I have not a sufficient number of walks or separate runs, I put all the cockerels
together, dubbing them when about four months old, as runs turn up for them,
not daring to dubb them and turn them down again amongst each other, or war to
the death would occur to nearly all. The pullets I simply turn down in any of
the home runs, picking out all those that are in the least inclined to run red or
pencilled on the wing, or with light breasts, and killing them off for the table as

wanted.

*' Under the name of brown-breasted red game are included streaky-breasted,
marble-breasted, and ginger-breasted red ; in fact, there are as many shades of colour
admissible as there are days in a month : there is no other breed of game having so
many variations in colour as brown-reds, owing to the fact that they are bred to a very
great extent by men who rear birds for the pit and who care nothing whatever about
shades of colour, therefore do not trouble themselves to mate their birds so as to
breed true to feather, but match up blues, piles, duns, and brown and black reds
indiscriminately ; therefore the blood of these various strains is so intermixed that
it takes a length of time to produce anything like uniformity of colour, if any
of these birds are bred from.

"It is true that a few gentlemen exhibit birds almost all one colour : they
are but few, and well do they know the trouble they have had to breed them up to
anything like the standard, and the large number of faulty-coloured birds they
rear. Brown-reds have deteriorated to a great extent of late years. Some few years
ago the managers of the Liverpool exhibition had to refuse entries for their ^6100
gamecock sweepstakes two months before the show opened. At that time you could
see as many as twenty or thirty brown-reds, every one of which almost seemed better
as you looked at him than any of the others, and was really something strildngly
beautiful to stand and admire ; but now you have to hunt a show to find more than
one or two above ordinary merit.

" jiVnother cause of the falling ofi" of the brown-reds has been the increase in

THE POULTRY EOOK. 127

the number of tlieir admirers, and the high prices given for birds within the Last
few years ; consequently the breeders of these birds have had such a call for them
that any birds bred by crossing the different strains, if at all near the mark for
colour, have been hunted up and sold for high prices. The result of breeding
from those fine-feathered cross-bred birds is to produce foul- feathered chickens;
sometimes they are crow-winged with dark bodies, others are ginger or robin-breasted,
and many other shades of brov/n-reds are produced, but all without the striking
contrast that ought to be seen in the difierent parts of the plumage of a pure
brown-red.

*' The purest strain of brown-reds — I mean a strain that has not had any black,
red, duckwing, blue, ginger or pile cross for many years — will still produce several
shades of colour in one brood, showing that the breed may have been crossed at
some period. The colours in brown-reds that I have found to come most certainly
like the parents are a light streaky-breasted cock, with back and shoulder coverts
dark crimson; saddle red maroon on centre, passing off to a dark lemon and straw;
hackle red, with the middle of each feather dark. Hen with the body nearly
black, but intermixed with grey on the wing ; the hackle bright brassy orgolden.

*' By breeding from dark- wing birds, and dull deep red cocks and co^jpery-
hackled hens, you obtain hardy-looldng fowls, but with no beauty of plumage, and
very little distinction in colour ; but the ginger-breasted cock mated with light
brown-red hens, with feathers streaked with gold, produce many chickens like their
parents. The dark streaky-breasted cocks, if mated with light-coloured hens, some-

It

times throw those clear-feathered, streaky-breasted cocks that are so much admired.
The cross with a good feathered black-red cock and dark brown-red gold-liaclde
hen sometimes gets beautiful cockerels, but nothing will give so much satisfaction
as the first named put together, if the bii'ds happen to hit.

" The other colours of brown-reds are seldom shown, and as it is doubtful if
they ever will become favourites, it is not necessary to describe them, especially as
it is almost impossible to breed them true to any particular colour ; in fact they
come anyhow, at random, and amongst some of the best broods they will make
their appearance at times.

" In duckwing game the cocks, to be correct in colour, should have the
hackle nearly clear white, with a very slight tinge of straw colour, without
any decided yellow tinge or dark streak on the feather. It may be asked. Where
are we to see such birds ? I can only say there have been such, and I am in
hopes of seeing them again before many years. The saddle should be as nearly
as possible the colour of the hackle ; the back a maroon straw ; the shoulder
coverts a rich brass or copper maroon ; the breast and tail pure black. The hens,
to match these cocks, should have their necks of a clear silver striped with black,
the silver to go right up to the comb, but being a little darker above the eyes ; the
back and shoulder coverts, a bluish grey shaft of feather, scarcely showing any dif-
ference from the rest of the feather — any approach to red or pencilling is decidedly
objectionable ; the breast salmon colour, of a nice rich shade.

128 THE POULTRY BOOK.

** To breeil duckwing cocks of these colours, the hen herself must be bred from
duckwiugs on both sides, or you will not get the bright colours desired. The
cock employed must be a pure black-red, for if a cross-bred cock is selected you are
certain to lose the black breast ; on the other hand, if you want to breed duckwing
pullets, a good coloured duckwing cock may be put with pure black-red hens, but
you get the finest coloured pullets from duckwing hens running with a duckwing
cock, but in no instance did I ever know a good cock obtained in this way ; for
by breeding from two silver-grey duckwiugs, you get marble-breasted, throstle-
breasted, and mealy greys, and by breeding from half-bred duckwing you get dark
maroon shoulders, and yellow hackles tinged with red, and mealy-winged hens with
pale breasts.

" Crossing the half-breds of the different strains has at the present day nearly
destro\-ed our beautiful silver duckwiugs. To get them again will take some time.
Before concluding what I have to say about breeding duckwiugs, I may add that
now and then it is desirable to cross with the brown-red, which assists to give a
hardness to the feather.

" The best piles are bred by crossing red and white game, but they may also be
bred from a pile cock and pile hens. Some of the best and j)urest piles I ever saw
were bred from a spangled cock and white hen. There is a breed of spangles
sometimes seen at shows which can be traced back to a breed of tasselled spangles
that the late Lord Lichfield had in Staffordshire twenty-five years back, and to
which many strains of reds throw back, even up to this day.

" ^Yith regard to breeding pure white or pure black game, I may state a strange
fact, that if you cross a black with a white game you get birds of both breeds of
the clearest colour."

In the foregoing communication from Mr. Douglas, the three chief varieties of
game fowl, namely the black- reds, brown-reds, and duckwiugs, are so fully described
as hardly to require any further account at our hands.

One point, however, to which attention has not been drawn is the colour of the
legs. It is hardly necessary to state that all the birds in a show-pen must match
this respect, or they would inevitably be passed over by the judges without even
the chance of a commendation.

The colours most desired vary in the different varieties ; thus, in the black-reds,
the shanks may be either willow, olive, j-ellow, white, or blue, being most esteemed
in the order in which they are named. In the brown and ginger reds, olive,
bronzy black, or dark willow, are according to the " Standard of Excellence " the
correct hues.

The shanks of the yellow duckwiugs are given as willow, olive, or yellow ; those
of the silver duckwings willow, olive, bronze, or blue.

The Piles are the Game fowls whose plumage has a proportion of white for one
of its component colours. They are frequently heavy birds, and were formerly
highly esteemed for practical pui'poses, and in many districts are still greatly
esteemed. The cocks of all the various strains of Piles are red and white, or

yj fhfmMM'lVA iWrn E' i'

THE POULTRY DOOK. 131

yellow and white, in one or other of the shades of those colours ; but the markings
of each individual vary so greatly, that it is somewhat difficult to describe their
arrangement. The object of the breeders of show birds is to get the colours in the
cocks as distinct and brilliant as possible. It is a singular circumstance tliat in
breeding Piles from a black-red and a white, the red colour should remain almost un-
changed, whilst the black becomes white; so much is this the case that, in the opinion
of many Pile breeders, the most desired arrangement of colours for a Pile is that he
should be red where a black-breasted red is red, and white where he is black.
The " Standard of Excellence," however, departs somewhat from this rule, permitting
the upper part of the breast of a Vibe cock to be marbled with red. The same high
authority describes the hens as being chestnut red and white, the tail being ex-
clusively of the latter colour. The legs of Pile game should be yellow, -sallow, or
white.

AVhite game require no lengthened description of the characteristics of the
plumage : it should be pure and unsullied white in both sexes, the cock being
as free from yellow tinge as possible. The colour of the legs varies ; most breeders
prefer the yellow — some, however, adhering to the white. In the midland
counties, where they have long been favourites, the white game are frequently
termed " Smocks."

Black game are birds of unquestionable purity, being formerly a celebrated
fighting breed. Their plumage, in good specimens, is of an extraordinary degree
of metallic brilliancy, resplendent with lustrous shades of green and purple. The
legs should be dark olive or black.

In brassy-winged game, the cocks have the wing-coverts of a bright golden
yellow, the rest of the plumage being entirely of the beautiful raven black, charac-
teristic of the pure black birds. The hens are of a uniform good black ; the wing-
coverts being destitute of the peculiar colour of those of the cock.

Blues and greys have usually a dull slate breast, with straw-coloured hackle and
saddle ; the hens being wholly of the former colour.

The Birchen yellow cock has a deep straw-coloured hackle and saddle, passing
into a coppery colour on the back. The breast is cream colour, the feathers
having a reddish-brown shaft, the tail black. The hens are extremely pretty, being
of a general greyish colour, but the hackle feathers being margined with black, and
those of the breast with creamy white.

The cuckoo game, now almost, if not quite extinct, repeated the colours of the
cuckoo dorking, each feather being banded with dark grey on a lighter ground.

The Hennies, or Hen-Cocks, from their singular variation of plumage, demand
a larger notice at our hands. The following account of the origin of one of these
strains is from the pen of the present Editor, Mr. Tegetmeier, who writes : —

" The most important abnormal variation hitherto described in the covering of
birds is the assumption of male plumage by females ; this is common in the
ordinary pheasant, and is always connected with diseased or abortive ovaries. The
hens exhibiting this change are consequently always sterile. The late Mr. Yarrell

132

THE POULTRY BOOK.

published au account of these cases, ilhistrated by drawings of dissections, in the
Philosophical Transactions for 1827, and his * History of British Birds,' vol. ii.,
page 319. The same change of plumage, arising from a similar cause, also occurs
occasionally in the hen of the common domestic fowl {Gallus domesticus), although
a barren hen more commonly assumes merely the comb and wattles of the male
without changing the appearance of the feathers. Some very well-marked
specimens of this latter change were deposited by me in the museum of the
Royal College of Surgeons two or three years since. The variation illustrated by
the specimens exhibited by me to the members of the Zoological Society, March
26, 1861, is the converse of that which has been mentioned, it being the assump-
tion of the female plumage by the adult male.

"It is well known that there are certain breeds of domestic fowl the males of
which are always more or less hen-feathered ; the most remarkable of these is the
Sebright bantam. In this breed, however, the variation is hereditary, and the
young cocks are as hen-feathered as their progenitors. Under the title of
hen-cocks, certain game fowls acquired a high degree of notoriety for their prowess
in the cock-pit. I have an engi-aviug, representing a bird of this description that
was formerly the property of George Edwards, the jockey who rode Phosphorus
and Variation when they won the Derby and the Oaks. He is represented as
trimmed for fighting, and is described as "Hector, a hen-cock." The late Mr.
Caldwell informed me that he perfectly remembered the bird, and that he was
notorious as ha^-ing won a Welsh main — the most trying test of courage and
endurance to which a game cock can be subjected. The peculiarity of plumage
was hereditary in this variety of fowls.

" The specimen that I exhibited to the society was bred by myself, and had never
been out of my possession, consequently I was able to describe with great certainty
the remarkable changes that it underwent ; and as I have been breeding from the
strain some years, I can speak without doubt as to there being no cross of any
description introduced. The cock, whose portrait in his hen-feathered condition
was engraved from a photograph, was hatched in the spring of 1859, his parents
being of the variety known as brown-breasted red game bantams. "When seven
months old he assumed the full male plumage at his autumnal moult, and I pre-
served him as my best stock bird for the next season.

" Daring the year 1860 I bred some very good chickens from him. At the
autumnal moult of that year, however, he lost all his cock-feathers ; those of the
neck, of the saddle, and the streaming sickle feathers of the tail, alike disappeared,
their places being supplied by feathers which, both in form and colour, were the
exact counterpart of those of a hen of the same variety. This wonderful change
was attended with slight increase of size, a great increase of combativeness, and
certainly did not depend on any loss of generative power, as in the early part of
the next year I sent him with a couple of hens to a run removed from other fowls,
and hatched several strong healthy broods from the eggs.

" Some of the cocks were full male-plumage birds of very siiperior character; a

THE POrLTKY BOOK. 133

pen exhibited by Mr. Angel took the second prize at tlie Crystal Palace show that
year. Others of the cocks subsequently bred from him were as hen-feathered as
their parent, and retained their hen-like plumage after several moults. Nothing
would have been easier than to have established a permanent breed or variety of

hen-feathered brown-red game bantams, had it been considered desirable to do so.
The old bird died in 1864, retaining his hen-feathered plumage till the last. His
disposition did not at all accord with his feminine appearance : he was combative
and courageous to an extreme degree, and as he possessed the sharpest natural
spurs I ever felt, he was a dangerous opponent for cocks many times his weight.
In fact, I had a great difficulty in getting a run for him, as he had a troublesome
habit of blinding cocks five or six times his weight."

This description of the bird was originally published in the Field newspaper
with the engraving inserted above, and elicited the following interesting commu-
nication from one of the most experienced game-cock breeders, who, writing under
the signature of " Outright," said : —

"When the art of cock-fighting occupied the attention of country gentlemen
and the sport had not become illegal, there might be seen in the yards of tenant
farmers many beautiful specimens of the game-fowls of this country — the fine,
glossy, black, brown, or streak-breasted red ; the gorgeous yellow duckwing ;
the glittering and gaudy pile, -v^-ith his wing blood-red, sometimes varying in
colour, pied or spotted, and occasionally milk white ; the suspicious-looking
smoky, or red dun ; the black tawny or polecat ; and, lastly, the hen-cock, in
colour like the ordinary brown-breasted red hen, with short plumage and
partridge hackle. These latter birds were never favourites in that celebrated
arena for gallic combats, the Eoyal Pit, in Tufton Street, "Westminster, and in

134 THE POULTRY BOOK.

the crrcat mains fought tlierc by feeclers of reputation and eminence, such as
Gilhver, Potter, Walters, Nash, and Leicester, in which the birds belonging to
Mr. Germaiue, Lord Ouglcy, Lord 'Derby, and other gentlemen of note were to
be found, hen-cocks rarely were weighed for the main, but were frequently fought
in the byes.

" Generally speaking, heu-cocks were not of the figure and frame to make what
was technically called fine match-cocks or big birds at their weight, but they very
frequently carried a great deal of spur. One cjuality they had, which made it
dangerous to bet against them— their exact resemblance to a hen. Unless the
man who handled against the hen-cock was very careful to convince the bird which
it was his province to set, that he was to tight a cock and not a hcu (which
could only be done by allowing a good deal of pecking to take place before the
birds were delivered), the cock, wlieu on the pit, would mistake the hen-cock for
one of the fair sex, and proceed to put his wing down, and offer certain delicate
attentions, in the middle of which he would receive his death-blow, or get the
silver spur driven into his throat, and all chance of recovering his amatory mistake
rendered hopeless. In the course of a somewhat long experience as a cock-fighter,
I have seen this happen perhaps half a dozen times.

" I had a pair of these birds (brother and sister, cock and hen) given to me by
the late William Stradling, probably the best handler that ever went into a pit.
I never could get a bird more than 31b. 10 oz. from them. The hen was small.
The cock fought at 41b. while in my possession, and crippled a very fine cock (who,
in all probability, otherwise would have made short work with him) by being
mistaken for a hen, and getting the first blow. The only difference in the plumage
of these two birds was in the length of the tail, which, in the male bird, was
something longer than that of the hen, and exactly resembled the draM-ing of Mr.
Tegetmeier's specimen. I afterwards crossed the hen with a black- red of my own
breeding ; the result was, that these chickens, which had the usual feather of the
game-cock, were never more than tolerable, although the brood cock was of as good
blood as any cock then bred. On the other hand, the only chicken which turned
out to be a hen-cock proved to be a very good one, and fought a terrible battle as
a stag, but lost by an accident."

The Indian game fowls that have been imported are coarse, heavy, ill- shaped
birds, that have evidently been produced by crossing the true English game fowl
with several of the smaller Malay native breeds ; they fight with courage and
bull-dog like tenacity of puiiiose, Init without the v»'ondrous activity of the true
breed.

A very singular variety of game fowl, said to be of Indian origin, is described in
the following communication from Mr. B. P. Brent, of Parldmrst, near Uckfield,
who writes : —

"A cockerel and two hens were sent me by a friend in Germany, who informed
me the breed was brought from India, that it was rare and much prized, a good
cock fetching 3 or 4 Fredrick d'ors. My cockerel is a dark-breasted red, almost

THE POULTRY BOOK. 135

black-breasted,— not a large bird, but of good game shape, with yellow legs. The
strildng peculiarity of the breed consists in the number of spurs the cocks have on
their shanks, — three, four, or five on each legj the best cocks having ten spurs.
My cockerel, although a young bird, shows the Imobs of four spurs on each shank,
one above the other, in a row, where the spurs usually grow. The hens are of the
brown partridge colour usual in game fowls of the red breeds, with yellow legs
— ^very neat little birds, sprightly and active. One of them commenced laying
shortly before Christmas Day, and by the end of January had laid 26 eggs :
the eggs are medium-sized and slightly tinted."

Little need be said as to the accommodation necessary for game fowls. A good
grass run is essential, and we cannot advise their being kept by any who are unable
to grant them this indulgence. They are impatient of restraint, and never appear
in really good condition when debarred from the country exercise that seems
required by their hardy constitutions.

In the selection of breeding stock, whatever the variety preferred, the greatest
care must be taken, in matching the proposed parents, as regards form, feather,
and the colours of the beak and legs ; since an injudicious selection niay injure the
strain for years, and present unwelcome features even after generations have passed
away.

The male bird does not appear to influence the progeny to the same extent as the
hen. Thus Mr. Brent has observed—" In breeding them much depends on the
purity of the hens, for a good game hen, with a dunghill cock, will breed good
fighting birds ; but the best game cock, with a dunghill hen, will not breed a bird
good for anything." Respecting the ages of the breeding stock, it is not desirable
to mate old birds together ; a stag or last year's bird, placed with hens of two or
three years old, will be found to produce finer chickens than when an old cock is
mated with last season's hens ; at least such was the experience of the breeders for
the cock-pit. Where great excellence is aimed at, we would not advise the companion-
ship of more than four hens with the cock. The rule to avoid all relationship in
your brood stock, if possible, was not constantly followed by the breeders of fighting
birds. They made one exception, that of pairing a hen to her own son; and
provided both were superior birds, they found the result very satisfactory ; but they
were cautious not to repeat the in-and-in breeding.

In colour-, the eggs of the game fowl vary from a dull white to fawn, but crosses
with the Indian bird impart a still darker tint. The average weight of those laid
by full-grown pullets is 2 oz., and 2^ oz. might be considered as a fair weight for
those of the full-grown hen.

As sitters. Game hens have no superiors. Quiet on their eggs, regular in the
hours for coming off and returning to their charge, and confident, from their fear-
less disposition, of repressing the incursions of any intruder, they rarely fail to
bring ofl" good broods. Hatching accomplished, their merits appear in a still more
conspicuous light. Ever on their guard, not even the shadow of a bird overhead,
or the approach of man or beast, but finds them ready to do battle for their

136 THE POULTRY BOOK.

offspring ; and numerous instances arc on record where rats and other vermin have
thus fallen hefore them.

Their remarkahle prowess in defending their young is strongly set forth in the
following most interesting account with which we have heen favoured by Mr.
Hewitt: — " Not a doubt presents itself to my own mind, that, viewed exclusively
for their actual merits, unencumbered by the caprice of poultry fashion or individual
prejudice, Game fowls are undoubtedly the most strikingly beautiful of any among
the very numerous varieties of domestic poultry. Among any of the truly bred
fowls of this variety, the superiority of gait and general contour strikes the eye of
parties even the most indifterent and uninterested : and from this cause I have
almost universally noticed that the avenues appropriated to the Game at our poultry
shows, are those most commonly thronged by visitors. This fully proves how much
a good display in these classes tends to the pecuniary success of such meetings.
In situations where a free unlimited range can be tolerated, there is not a doubt
that Game fowls will take care of themselves, and their progeny, more successfully
than any other kind of poultry. Accidents of any kind where these advantages
exist very rarely occur ; as of all poultry none are more vigilant in avoiding dangers,
nor, again, so capable of repelling aggression ; and many are the instances that
recall themselves to my memory of cases in which powerful adversaries have found
a retreat suddenly forced upon them : or if persisting in their attacks, have at
length been laid prostrate and powerless in the field despite of the superior strength
that was relied on for ensuring a very different issue. I will simply refer to a
couple of such incidents, where prowess alone carried the day, and also where the
odds were vastly in favour of the assailant.

"In a very rural part of Derbyshire, some ten or eleven years back, a Black-
breasted Red Game cock (only a small bird, in weight about four pounds two or
three ounces) was ' walked ' with three or four good hens, one of which had some
chickens running with her, about a fortnight old. These latter were enjoying
themselves in rather an exposed situation to the windward of some heather. A
kite (or, as there called, ' a gled ') that was on wing outlooking for the first prey
that might offer, espied them ; and without the slightest warning, dashed violently
at one of the chicks that had strayed farther from its protector. The hen, however,
instantly espied the coming danger, and flew, regardless altogether of self-preser-
vation, to the rescue. This first effort of the dauntless mother certainly saved the
chicken, and drew the attention of the kite more especially to herself. At this
instant the cock, that was some twenty yards off, attracted by the outcries of his
mate, went valiantly to the encounter, and on first meeting his unusual foe was
unfortunately clutched by the wing with one or both feet of the kite, nor could the
quickly-repeated efforts of the cock disengage itself. Although labouring under so
material a disadvantage, he still fought on, and, as the result proved, successfully.
It was in truth an up and do-SATi fight, sometimes the cock, at others the kite,
appearing to have the advantage ; feathers flew around the combatants, and an eye-
witness ran rapidly to the spot, in the hope to prevent the escape of the intruder.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 137

No services whatever, on his part, were required, as, before he reached them, victory
had favoured our gaUant hero. The kite had received a blow from the spur of the
cock, — which, it should be borne in mind, was simply the natural one ; it had
entirely destroyed the right eye, and bursting through the skull at the back of it,
penetrated the brain, so that death ensued as instantaneously as by gunshot.
It was only with difficulty the spur could be disengaged ; and the tenacious grasp
of the kite was maintained even in death. The cock proved but triflingly
injured by the melee ; and the fallen one, after being rudely preserved by some
neighbouring taxidermist, still gi-aces a private collection of the fauna of the
United Kingdom.

" The second instance was not, as above, a casual occurrence, but premeditated
by a couple of friends of mine, not only as a test of the dauntless valour of a
Game hen, but to teach a useful and admonitory lesson to an intruder, whose
fondness for chickens had added a somewhat extravagant item to the losses of a
notorious poultry amateur, and that, too, among chickens of high merit and con-
siderable pecuniary value.

" It seems a large cat had for many weeks been making daily incursions, and had

succeeded not only in taking a chicken at every visit, but had likewise very seriously

maltreated the old hens on three different occasions. They were Cochins, and had

become so alarmed by the frequent repetitions of these inroads as to scarcely make

any attempt at protection for their chickens; and consequently the cat had

increased in audacity daily. It was under these depressing circumstances that a

brother amateur volunteered ' a certain cure,' if he were allowed unrestrained

liberty as to the means adopted ; a proviso most cheerfully permitted. Having

cooped up all the chickens, and parent birds also, of the fowls that usually had

sole possession of the yard, he produced a most beautiful Game hen and chickens,

the latter not more than three or four days old ; the hen being armed with a pair

of steel spurs, somewhat shorter than those used in the cockpit, but well suited

for the purpose intended ; and being naturally a spurred hen, they were easily and

firmly attached. The lot being placed at freedom in the yard, the hen, from all

around being strange, was necessarily restless, and the chickens equally noisy.

Grimalkin, with stealthy pace, was soon seen crouching along a wall about nine

feet high ; the hen unfortunately at this moment had flown into the body of a

covered cart, that prevented any possibihty of her seeing the threatened danger. A

spring from the top of the wall — or rather gliding down it some few feet, and then

darting, as it were, from it midway — placed puss in possession of the nearest

chicken, and all the spectators thought certainly one youngster was irretrievably

forfeited to the experiment ; but the idea was erroneous : with a shriek the hen flew

headlong at the enemy of her brood. Puss seemed but little concerned at her fury,

as the impunity with which she had faced other hens seemed rather to inspire her

with confidence, all but amounting to imperturbability.

" Perceiving the coming attack, the cat loosed the chicken from her mouth, but

N

138 THE POULTRY 1300K.

instftntniicously placed one foot upon it, luul with hair erect looked defiantly; wliilo
a few deeply-di-awu breathings at tho window told how anxiously the lookers-ou
speculated as to the event. Tho Cochins — poor, heavy, domesticated dames — had
always proved slow in their motions, and their efibrts were easily avoided. Not so
now : ft Mow the eye could scarcely follow, and a scream most dissimilar to tho
noise from anything feline, gave evidence the contest was not so very unequal as it
appeared to be. Two or three other blows, in tho most rapid succession possible,
made retreat evidently the only way that remained to the cat of making the best of
an unlucky speculation ; still, with an obduracy most remarkable, she once more
seized the chicken with her mouth and sprang with it upon the wall. Nevertheless,
bravery carried tho day, — the hen proved close to her heels, and another double
rap brought both antagonists headlong back again to the ground. Tho cat then
loosed the chicken, bolted to another less exposed outlet, and the hen quickly
commenced her muster-roll, which embraced the whole of her progeny, and none
were injured, the hen herself escaping literally without a scratch ; although her
artificial helps were besmeared w^ith gore, — as was the scene of this extraordinary
encounter. Some half year afterwards, I heard on inquiry that a longing, lingering
look was frequently still indulged in by the aggressor, but always from afar, — and
the promise of the owner of the Game hen has been fulfilled : the cure was a cer-
tain one.

" No doubt one cause of Game fowls passing through such really trying ordeals
scatheless and unharmed, is the extraordinary elasticity and invulnerability of
theu- plumage as compared with that of other poultry. The more truly the birds
are bred the more conspicuously by fax will this characteristic show itself. I once
saw a singular experiment tried on a feather plucked from the wing of a highly-
bred two-year old Game cock, to prove the difference in its repulsiveness, compared
to a similar feather taken fi-om a grey dorking's wing, and ajiother from that of a
Cochin. Tested by length, they were the same ; in circumference they differed
widely. "WTien measm-ed by the tool used by dealers in iron wire, the Cochin was
triflingly the thickest of the three ; the dorking feather stood second ; and the
Game cock's proved much less than either of the others. They were alternately
placed in a -N-ice by the quill-end, each being protected from injury by a pair of
hollow * clams,' fitting round it closely to prevent the quill splitting from the
nnusual pressure, whilst the distance they projected was equal in all cases, causing
an equality as to leverage ;— the ribbed or under part of the feather was placed
uppermost, and weights applied to them very gradually. Suffice it to say, the
resistance in the Game feather, before giving way, was equal to something more
than that of the two others combined ! Its elasticity proved nearly equal to that
of the same thickness of unannealed iron wire.

"Hardy as Game fowls are under natural conditions, none seem more impatient
of confinement, or less benefit to their owner if deprived of freedom, country air,
and excercise ; in such cases they speedily become sickly, and lose most of their

THE POULTEY BOOK. 139

commanding characteristics. But even when this ill-judged treatment is combined
with unnatural food, they struggle on protractedly before death reHeves them,
their constitution being unsurpassed by any fowls.

" "With good range, their flesh undoubtedly is excellent, and to my palate the
best-flavoured of all fowls. I willingly a^mit two trifling drawbacks, — viz., limited
size, and generally an inclination to prove yellow in the skin. Yet, with these
admitted, I still 'oish any sceptic to try for himself a Game pullet killed shortly
before commencing laying her first eggs, and I do not doubt his becoming a convert
to my opinion ; whilst the carving-knife will prove my best witness, that they carry
more flesh than any variety of fowls whatever, under natural and inexpensive
feeding."

The newly-hatched chickens are exceedingly attractive in appearance ; those of
the darker breeds are light brown, with' a broad dark-brown stripe do\\-n the back,
and a narrower line over the eye. The duckwings, greys, and blues have propor-
tionally paler hues, but the stripe is rarely absent.

The chickens feather rapidly, and with ordinary care and a liberal and varied
diet, such as custard, chopped egg, with a portion of onions, chives, or leeks, bread-
crumbs, grits, boiled oatmeal, wheat, and barley, with some new milk, in the earlier
stages of their growth, are reared with less difficulty than those of other fowls.
Nor are they subject to any maladies of chickenhood beyond what is common to
poultry generally.

The removal of the combs, ear-lobes, and wattles, of game cocks, or, as it is
technically tenned, dubbing, is objected to by some persons, being regarded by
them as being as senseless a proceeding as docking the tail and ears of a horse.
This objection, however, arises from their ignorance of the nature and disposition
of these birds. Game and game bantams, if worthy of the name, and if possessing
the proverbial combativeness and courage of the race, will fight ; they are provided
naturally with ofiensive and even deadly weapons, and their combats are in obe-
dience to a law of nature which man can modify to a certain extent, but cannot
altogether obviate. The object of these combats, when they occur in a state of
nature, is one conducing to the well-being of the race. Into this matter, how-
ever, we do not propose to enter at present.

Our object is twofold : to prove the desirability of dubbing the birds, and to
describe the manner in which the operation should be performed. Firstly, as to
the desirability' of dubbing ; no one who has ever kept these birds can doubt for
a moment the advantage of the plan. Game cocks will fight until one becomes
master of the situation. In these combats an undubbed bird is at fearful disad-
vantage : his comb and gills ofier an easy hold to his adversarj-'s beak, and as a
cock alwaj'S strikes where he holds, when once he has seized his foe he has him
entirely in his power. Even supposing that the bird is not killed, the loss of
blood suffered by an undubbed cock is much greater than that sustained by one
that has been trimmed.

Now for the operation ; — Cocks should not be dubbed till their combs have

140 THE roULTRY BOOIT.

acquired their full size and development, which occurs about the same time that
the hirds get their perfect male plumage. The hird should he held by an assistant,
and as the comb ofters a good hold, it should not be taken off until after the
wattles arc removed. The head being turned over and held by the comb, these
should be cut away with a pair of sharp scissors, those which are made of a slightly
curved form for trimming the feet of horses being by far the most convenient in
use. The cut should commence at the back, and come forward to the front of
the head. During the operation, the wattle that is being cut off should not be
pulled ; if it is, a jagged, irregular cut results. When the two are successively
taken off as recommended, two long straight cuts arc produced and a narrow strip
of skin is left along the centre of the under jaw ; this strip it is most important to
preserve, for if it be cut away the throat is bared at its under part, and a large
portion becomes exposed ; this heals over with slowness, and an irregular, uneven
surface is the result. Some persons prefer to dissect off the wattles with the points
of the scissors in preference to removing them vdth one cut.

After the removal of the wattles, the bird should be turned over, and the
scissors placed at the back of the comb, as close as possible to the head. They
should then be closed and the comb cut away with one smooth, steady cut towards
the point of the beak. Less than two minutes in skilful hands will finish the
operation,, and the cock will instantly proceed to eat as if nothing had happened ;
in fact we have seen birds pick up and devour their O'^ti wattles immediately on
being placed on the ground. It is neither necessary nor desirable to make anj'
application to the wounds made by the operation of dubbing.

When the scars, left by the removal of the wattles, have fallen off, the deaf ears,
or ear-lobes, should be taken off; this should also be done with a single clean
cut of the sharp scissors, great care being taken to include as much of the ear-
lobe as possible, without injuring the orifice of the ears. If these operations have
been skilfully performed, there will be but little trimming required afterwards,
and as soon as the wounds are healed, the elegant snake-like head and neck of the
animal are shown in their full beauty.

A treatise on Game fowls could hardly be regarded as complete without some
allusion to the practices which have rendered this breed so truly celebrated. Cock-
fighting has been an institution that has been viewed with favour l)y a very large
portion of the human race from time immemorial. At the present period its
practice in Great Britain is illegal ; although on what ground other and far
crueller sports should be allowed and positively encouraged by all ranks from the
prince to the peasant, and this suppressed, it would puzzle a casuist to explain.

In all animals that associate together in flocks or herds, consisting of one male
and several femal s, the males are provided with horns, sjiurs, or some other
deadly weapons, by which the strongest male destroys or drives away the weaker,
and so perpetuates the most vigorous and perfect race. These animals are all
endowed with a great amount of combativeness and courage, and fight, whenever

52'

^
^

THE POULTRY BOOK. 141

they come in contact 'with one another, with an instinct implanted in them by a
higher than human iiitelligence.

It is frequently alleged against cock-fighters that they supplant the natural spurs
by others of steel or silver. It should be remembered, however, that these, being more
efficacious even than the natural weapons, render the combats only less prolonged.
To any one who will view the question apart from prejudice, or the maudlin senti-
mentality that is current at the present time, it must be Gb^dous that a far greater
amount of cruelty is evidenced in the setting a pack oi hounds to pursue a fox
for hours together, till the wretched animal sinks exhausted, and is, whilst still
living, torn limb from limb — we beg pardon, "broken up " is the delicate ex-
pression by which this dismemberment is described. But, say the advocates of
the chase, that sport is redeemed by the manly courage exercised by the hare and
foxhunter ; as though his risking his own neck could lessen one iota the suffering
of the animal he is pursuing.

Cocks fight willingly ; the hunted hare, the fox, the deer, the salmon struggling
for hours on the hook, the vermin pining for days in a steel trap in order that the
animals he naturally preys upon may be reared for sport, are all the unwilling
victims of the superior force or intellect of man. Doubtless, however, such views as
M'e have expressed will be, with many persons, unpopular at the present day — each
individual, as Butler writes, compounds for cruelties

" He is inclined to,
By damning those lie Las no mind to."

Keminding one of the lines of Somerville, the author of the poem of '• The
Chase," who, being an advocate for hunting hares with harriers, writes : —

" Noi- the timorous hare
O'ermatch'd destroy, but leave that vile oflfence
To the meau, murd'rous, coursinr/ crew, intent
On blood and spoil. 0 blast their hopes, jiLst Heaven !
And all their painful drudgeries repay
"With dLsappointmeut and severe remorse."

The Chask, Book I.

Let us not be misunderstood, we are not advocating the practice of cock-fighting,
but merely denouncing the inconsistency of those who indulge in other sports
attended with a far greater amount of suffering, and who regard themselves as
severely virtuous because they denounce this one. We never fought a cock, or
bred one for fighting ; that we have witnessed cock-fights we do not deny, and as
our readers may like to read a description of a combat, we reproduce the following
account of one witnessed by ourselves some few years since : —

" " "^ ^''" Young Green burst into the room. ' Tefrsr,

i^y t»oy,' said he, 'come along, here's the chance you have been waiting for so
long. Ewart, who has been up at the Poultry Show, says he has never seen a
cock-fight, so Tait and two or three others, who have got some cocks left over from
the main they fought on Tuesday, are going to show him what a cock-fight
really is.'

'hi

142 THE roULTRY BOOK.

** I need not tell yon I did not wait for a second invitation, as you know I am
one of those fellows who like to add to my small stock of knowledge by seeing
everythins: : so I jumj^ed up, and in a minute or two found myself in a back room
over Holcomb's shop, in the High-street.

" On going in, I found about twenty fellows there, all of the right sort ; I was
not a little surprised to see the Mayor amongst them. He nodded to me, and
said, ' This is Nova Scr.li.i, I believe, Mr. Tegg ; ' and seeing that I did not
instantly catch his meaning, he added, * Such things, you know, are not allowed
in England.'

**I afterwards heard that, though the head magistrate of the place, he was
known to be veiT partial to cock-fighting ; and that he was once present at a main
when the police burst in, and being too fat and pudgy to slope off with the
rest, he got into the large chimney, standing with one foot on each hob of the
grate. The police saw and knew the boots, but of course they did not look up the
chimney, as they could have no suspicion that his worship's legs were in them.

"In the middle of Holcomb's room was unrolled a piece of matting; and all
the visitors stood round in a large ring, which was cleared for the setters and
the birds.

" On some pegs were hung ten or a dozen white canvas bags, -with the bottoms
filled with straw, each holding a cock ready trimmed and heeled.

*•' It was a strange sight to me to see the * setter,' Old Sam, take out one of his
trimmed birds : it was a sjilendid red cock with a black breast ; the feathers
around his throat were cut close, so that as he reached his seii)cnt-like neck out of
the bag it looked as fierce as that of a rattle-snake : his hard and horny beak was
thick and massive at the roots ; and his eye large, fiery, and expressive of savage
courage. His wing-feathers were trimmed to less than half their length, and his
tail docked, so as to be of a triangular shape, like that of a nick-tailed horse. The
spurs natural to his firm, bony shanks had been cut short, and their places supplied
by steel heels nearly two inches in length ; each of these had a ring to go over the
bottom of the natural spur, and was fastened to a piece of leather which was
neatly but firmly secured to the leg by a waxed thread, so artistically tied as not
to impede the free motion of the limb.

" The other * setter,' young Gilliugham, pulled out a red and white bird, which
they called a ' pile ; ' this had been treated in the same manner, and was equally
closely trimmed and heeled. As soon as the birds saw each other both uttered a
chuckle of defiance, when, holding them near, the ' setters ' permitted them to
strike at each other with their beaks. The object of the trimming was evident, it
being to prevent the opposing bird getting a ready hold of his opponent by the
feathers.

" After stimulating their courage by these means, the " setters " stooped down
and placed the birds on the floor opposite each other. They rushed forward, and
for a few moments stood with their beaks close touching, raising their heads
together, each one trying to get the advantage of the first cut. In an instant they

THE POULTRY BOOK. 143

sprang together liigh up iu tlie air, and for a moment notliiug was to be seen but
a confused mass of legs, wings, and feathers.

'' As they rebounded from the force of the blow the result of the struggle was
evident. Gillingham's bird had been hit ; the spur of the red cock had gone
through the neck. ' He's throated,' cried out young Green ; ' two to one on the
black-red.'

" The ' setters ' caught up their birds in an instant, and smoothing their ruffled
plumage, again placed them on the mat. But the contrast was striking. Old
Sam's bird looked fiercer than ever, and was hard to hold. But Gillingham's 'pile'
stood unsteady, and though he rushed forward with the courage of desperation, the
red cock sprang above him, and the steel heels were buried up to their hilts in the
body of his prostrate foe.

" The second fight was over in a few seconds ; at the first fly the victor drove
his spur through the centre of the back into the heart of his opponent, whose head
sank, blood poured in a stream from his mouth, and he fell forward and died without
a struggle.

" The third was a different sort of thing every way. Old Sam's bird was a
strong beautiful duckwiug, Gillingham's a Birchen grey. The advantage, at first,
was altogether with the duckwing, which was a stronger bird, and longer in the
reach of the neck, but the Birchen was of the highest courage, and fought without
flinching ; at last, when nearly overpowered, he struck the duckwiug iu the head,
and the blow deprived his opponent of sight, either wholly or partially.

" It was a cruel sight to see these noble birds, the stronger blinded, but still
trying to seize his adversary with his beak and hold him, whilst he struck him down
with his spurs ; the weaker, with his life ebbing rapidly away, but still fighting to
the death against his blinded foe. At last the duckwing caught him by the throat,
and leaping into the air above, brought down the spurs with a stroke that no living
bird could have withstood.

"At this moment there was heard a loud and angry discussion, followed by a
hurried knocking at the door of the room. Instantly a vision of the court-house
rose up to my mind, with a certain hard-featured clerical magistrate on the bench,
and your friend Tegg and one or two others in the dock. This vision rapidly
progressed, and a homily on the brutality of such sports, and the folly of fining
men of wealth and position, was imagined by my fertile brain, the whole concluding
with an idea of a sentence of two months at the county gaol, in grey fustian, and
with hair dressed after the most approved Newgate cut. My imagination must
have been very rapid, for in an instant the knocking was repeated, still louder than
before. As I looked round, I could not help laughing at the blank visages of the
gentlemen present. Old Sam, however, seemed to take it easy, but that was not to
be wondered at : he knew what it was, as he was once in trouble about a bull-bait
which took place at three o'clock one fine July running on the Lancashire moors.

"'Try the window,' said Tom Green. 'It's too high,' said the pudgy Maj-or;
* besides, there's certain to be, some of them in the yard.' — ' Open the door,' called

14.4: THE POULTRY BOOK.

out a stentorian voice outside. * ^Mly, it's only Jack Brown,' said Green, when
there was a general laugh, and, the door heing unlocked, in rushed ]Brown. In
consequence of the alarm, the duckwing cock was left standing by the hody of his
fallen foe. Brown looked at it, and, in a voice of anguish, cried out, ' You don't
mean to say that you've been and fought him ? AVhy, it's Tom Challenger's cock,
and I shall have to pay five pounds for him.'

"And so, sure enough, it was. l^rown, it appeared, meant to exhibit at the poultry
show a pen of duckwing game, and not thinking his own bird good enough to win,
he wrote to Challenger, who. has some of the best blood in England, for a bird.
One was sent on approval, to be charged five jiounds if he was kept. When Jack
Bro\^^l got him, he liked his own better, as matching the hens ; so left Challenger's
in his yard. Not knowing of this substitution, the getters-up of the fight had sent
for Brown's bird and got Challenger's. So Jack has got to pay the money for him;
and now he's so knocked about that he's not worth a crown. Everybody laughed
when he heard this explanation except Jack, who said he should not have minded
so much if he'd been present, as he should have backed Challenger's cock for a
'fiver.' Of the two other battles, Gillingham's side won the first; but in the last
fight, his bird, after receiving a good deal of punishment, turned tail and lost the
main.

" I dare say you will tell me that I ought to be ashamed of myself for going to
such a demoralizing and brutalizing spectacle ; but I think that there is something
to be said for everything in this world, even for cock-fighting.

" On the general principle of common sense, let me ask you, who are in the
habit of eating veal that is half an hour in the process of slow killing, and of
enjoying j'our hunted hare that has for fifty minutes been in an agony of mortal
fear, until at last, exhausted and shrieking, with every fibre in its body quivering
with intense excitement, and every air-cell in its lungs filled with blood and lymph,
it sinks and receives a death-bite from hounds more merciful than their masters, —
are you, I ask, the man to rail against allowing two gallant and noble animals to
follow an impulse that has been implanted in them for a wise purpose, that you are
too short-sighted or Milfully obtuse to see ? The natural instinct of gregarious
animals is to fight, so that the stronger males should destroy the weaker and
pei-petuate the noblest race ; all, consequently, are provided (by Nature — ay, there's
the rub) with lethal weapons for this purpose.

" As I once heard asked, suppose you were to inquire of a game-cock, whether
he would rather have his cervical vertebra) dislocated by the hand of Betty the
poultry maid, or take his chance of life in mortal combat with his gallant
antagonist in the next farm-yard, can you doubt his answer ?"

Being anxious that The Poultry Book should be deficient in no subjects
connected with fowls, we applied to an experienced feeder for the pit for some
information as to the mode in which the birds were fed to the high degree of
condition that is necessary to their success in these combats. His reply is that

THE POULTRY BOOK. 145

rules for training for the cock-pit cannot be written, as so mucli depends on the
judgment of the feeders, some of whom prefer shutting up the birds without food
for some time, until they are hungry, then giving a mild dose of physic, such
as a spoonful of coarse sugar, to reduce their weight, which others do by sparring
with the spurs guarded by muffs. The birds ought not to be kept up more than a
week or eight days ; during this time they should be fed as early as fiye o'clock in
the morning, again slightly at mid-day, and lastly at five in the evening. ^lost
feeders employ bread made of wheaten meal and eggs ; others of the old school
prefer the best old barley, and hard-boiled egg chopped fine. During the feeding
the pens must be kept scrupulously clean, the head of the bird sponged every
morning with tepid water with a little white vinegar in it, and the feet daily
cleaned with soap and hot water. The exact time to bring a bird to his highest
condition and his best fighting weight are points that require long experience to
determine, and cannot be imparted by any other means.

CHAPTER XIII.

PENCILLED HAMBUROHS.

IN approaching the consideration of those varieties of poultry now known as Ham-
burghs, we are entering upon a subject that has given rise to warmer contro-
versy than almost any other within the whole range of poultry literature. At the
present time, at the great majority of poultry exhibitions, classes are arranged
and prizes oftered for five varieties included under the general name of Hamburghs,
namely. Gold and Silver pencilled Hamburghs, Gold and Silver spangled Ham-
burghs, and Black Hamburghs. Erroneous as this nomenclature undoubtedly is,
its general recognition is an established fact : it is employed at nine-tenths of our
poultry shows, and understood by the great body of exhibitors and breeders. Such
being the case, we are afraid that any attempt at alteration would be injurious in
the extreme, and attended by almost inextricable confusion.

The correctness of such a system of nomenclature is entirely another question.
There is no doubt but that these fowls had originally no title Avhatever to the name
of Hamburghs, which was in the first instance given to them by some gentlemen
connected with the early Birmingham shows. It is true that the pencilled birds
formerly were, and still are, imported in considerable numbers from Holland, under
the name of Pencilled Dutch, and Dutch Every-day Layers ; but the spangled birds
appear to be exclusively English fowls, and are essentially distinct varieties, dif-
fering in size, plumage, and in the formation of the skull, and lastly, the
name of Hamburgh had previously been applied to one of the varieties of feather-
crested fowl, now, -sN-ith an equal absence of geographical correctness, known as Polish.
A more unfortunate selection of a name could -scarcely have been made ; but having
come into general use, it would only render "confusion worse confounded " to
attempt to introduce any fresh alteration ; and of the old names which were super-
seded, it is not too much to say that the majority of them were equally objectionable
to those in present use.

The only alteration which could be made without extreme confusion, would be
that suggested some time since by a writer in the Field newspaper, namely, to sub-
stitute the term "fowls," for that of " Hamburghs," when the varieties would be
classified as the Gold and Silver pencilled fowls, and Gold and Silver spangled
fowls. This would do away at once with the very oly'ectionable and absurd name of
Hamburgh, the no less erroneous one of Pheasant fowls, and a whole host of ill-
understood provincialisms that are merely of local employment. ]3ut unfortunately
there are serious objections to this proposal : in the first i)lace, two very distinct breeds,
namely, the Lancashire Mooneys and the Yorkshire Pheasant fowls are included

®

«i

n

THE POULTRY BOOK.

147

under the name of Spangled Hamburglis, and the suggested alteration would
leave the Black Hamburghs without a name, as they could scarcely he termed
Black fowls.

The Pencilled and Spangled birds, although frequently described together, are
so essentially different in characters that their consideration will be greatly
facilitated by regarding each as a distinct variety, and devoting to them separate
chapters.

The Silver-pencilled birds may first claim our attention. It deserves our notice
that tradition, our oldest naturalists, and even the names by which our fowls were
originally called, all assign to them an Eastern origin ; even many of our. modern
names, — Bantam, Malay, Cochin, Chittagong, and Brahmapoutra, — point to a
.similar origin : nor is the fowl now under our consideration an exception, for its
earliest describer, Aldrovandus, calls it the GalUna Turcica, or Turldsh fowl. The
white body, the black markings, thegreenish-black tail, and the blue-tinged legs, are
all characters which show that the old naturalist had before him specimens of the
Silver-pencilled Hamburgh. Perhaps no variety of fowl ever rejoiced in more
synonyms than this very pretty, and, in suitable situations, profitable breed ; they
have been long termed Bolton Grays, from being extensively and successfully culti-
vated in and about Bolton, in Lancashire ; Creoles, from the intermixture of the
black and white in their plumage ; Creels, which is only a provincial mode of
pronouncing Creoles ; Corals, because the numerous points of their polished,
bright scarlet rose combs bear no distant resemblance to red coral; Pencilled
Dutch, because many are imported from Holland; Dutch Everij-day Layers
and Everlastimis, for the same reason, and their great productiveness as layers ;
and Ch'itteprats, the derivation of which is not so obvious. Chitteface, according
to Bailey the lexicographer, means a meagre child; and Chltteirrat, if intended to
describe a diminutive hen, would not be misapplied to one of this variety.

The general characters of Pencilled Hamburghs may be thus stated : — They are
birds of small size, compact and neat in form, sprightly and cheerful in carriage.
In the plumage on the body of the hens, each feather (with the exception of those
of the neck-hackle, which should be perfectly free from dark m-arks), is pencilled with
several transverse bars of black on a clear ground, which is white in the silver, and
a rich bay in the golden birds. These pencillings have given rise to the name of
the variety. In the cocks, however, there is a general absence of these markings,
the birds being either white or bay. In both sexes the legs are blue, with
fine bone. The comb ' is a rose, square in front and well-peaked behind ; the
ear-lobe a well-defined white ; the face scarlet. For a detailed account of their
characteristics we are indebted to Mr. B. P. Brent, a gentleman whose diligent
researches into the history of many of the varieties of poultry entitle him to the
thanks of all interested in the subject, and who has been known as a successful
rearer of this breed for many" years ; although it is but fair to state that ho repu-
diates most strongly the introduction of the term ''Hamburgh," and regards their
proper title as that of Pencilled Grays or Bays, or Pencilled Dutch Evcry-day Layers.

o 2

148 THE rOl'LTRY BOOK.

The characteristics of the Silver-peucillecl, as here given, are strictl}' iu accordance
with those laid clown in the " Stamliinl of Excclleuco."

In weight and size Silvcr-peucillcil Ilamlmrghs arc considerably helow the
general standard : the carriage of the cock is very erect ; the tail is well borne u}),
and the head occasionally thrown back so far that the neck often touches the tail ;
the general form is exceedingly neat and elegant. In the hen the carriage is
sprightly and active, but not so impudent as that of the cock ; both sexes are
alike noisy and restless in their habits, neat and very pretty in their form. The
neck-hackle in both sexes should be pure white ; pencilling with black, a very
frequent fault in the hackle of the hens, being very objectionable. The saddle
of the cock must be pure mealy white. The cock's tail is black, the sickle and
side sickle-feathers being glossed with green, and having a narrow white edging.
In the hens the tail must be distinctly barred or pencilled with black.

The breast and thighs of the cock arc white, as arc the upper wing-coverts or
Fhoulder, but the lower wing-coverts are marked with black on the inner web,
showing a line of dots across the wing, forming a bar. The secondary quills, or
those flight-feathers which are alone visible when the wing is closed, are white on
the outer web and blackish on the inner web, and have a rich green-glossed black
spot at the end of each feather. In the hens the entire plumage of the body,
namely, that of the breast, back, wings, and thighs, should have each feather dis-
tinctly pencilled or marked across with transverse bars of black ; the more defined
these are, the better, as there should be a perfect freedom from a mossy appearance,
which is caused by the two colours running into one another. The legs and feet iu
both sexes should be of a clear leaden or slaty blue. The comb in the cock is evenly
set on the head, square in front, well sprigged above with small even points, not
hollowed on the upper surface, and terminating iu a single flattened pike behind,
which incHnes slightly upAvards. In the hen the comb is the same in form- but
very much smaller. The ear-lobe in both sexes must be a dead opaque white, free
from red on the edge.

Mr. Brent also states, " By all means avoid the chestnut patch which is too
frequently seen on the wing of the Silver-pencilled cock, who should have a suffi-
cient depth of colour in the markings of the wings, and in the gray down at the roots
of the feathers, or he will not breed darkly-marked hens ; for although the sickle
feathers of a Golden cock may be bronzed all over without fear of spoiling him as a
breeding bird, such an amount of silver on a Silver cock's tail would, in the
majority of cases, cause him to throw light hens. The tail of a Silver-pencilled
pullet should be neatly barred in her first full- sized plumage ; but they generally
become waved or grizzled after the second or third moult."

The same description applies generally to the characters of the Golden-pencilled
birds, substituting the rich deep reddish bay as the ground-colour for the clear
white silvery ground that characterises the Silver birds. As, however, there is a
slight difference in the marking of the sickle feathers and tail coverts, we quote the
following from the " Standard : " The sickle feathers of the cock, according to

THE POULTRY BOOK. 1-10

this high authority, should be of a rich black do^>vn the middle of the feather, the
entire length edged with bronze, each bronze edge as near one fourth the width of
the feather as possible ; the more distinct the two colours and free from running
into each other the better ; and the entire plumage of the Golden-pencilled hens,
with the exception of the neck-hackle, Avhich is pure golden bay, must have a deep
golden bay ground, free from either lacing or mossing ; each feather, including tail
feathers, being distinctly pencilled across with rich black ; the pencilling not to
follow the outline of the feather, but to go straight across on each side of the
shaft. The two colours distinct, well defined, and not shading or running into
each other.

Mr. Brent remarks, '' As a Golden cock will breed good hens with much less
depth of under-colour than the Silvers, the argument in favour of their having
bars on the wings and black inner webs to the quill feathers is not so imperative ;
and the sickle feathers of the Golden cock may be bronzed all over without so
much lessening his value as a stock bird."

" It is my opinion," continues this writer, " that the inner tail feathers of both
Golden and Silver pencilled cocks should be a deep unspotted black ; that the
tail-coverts, or, as they are commonly called, the sickle-feathers, should be of
a deep glossy black, with green and purple reflections, and finely edged or laced
in the Golden with coppery brown or bronze, and in the Silver vdth greyish white.
I am aware that this opinion is adverse to that of some of our judges and ex-
hibitors, and that they consider a wholly bronzed or silvered tail of much
importance ; but such theory is not borne out by the experience of the practical
breeder. Numbers of instances might be quoted to shoAV the fallacy of the bronzy
tails. How often is it noticeable in the show-pens that the cocks with the most
silvered or bronzed tails are matched with the worst-marked hens. At a late show
I noticed two pens of magnificently marked Silver hens, better than which I never
remember seeing, with a card above them which informed the public that the hens
only were sold, but the cocks were not purchased ; nor were the pens noticed by
the judges. Why ? because they had black tails. The sickle feathers were only
edged, as I contend they ought to be ; and, moreover, they had the bars on the
Avings, so difficult a point to be obtained in this breed. By bars I do not mean a
double row of moons or spots, like those of the Pheasant-fowl, or so-called
Spangled Hamburgh, but simply an irregular narrow black line across the wing,
formed by small spots on the end of the first row of the wing-covert feathers.
These covert feathers should be marked with black on the inner web, which is
hidden from view, the outer being clear, either red in the Golden or whitish in
the Silver, with a narrow black spot at the point, which forms the bars.

" My reason for advocating the dark tail and bars on the wings is the necessity
of a certain depth of under-colour in the cock ; for as the male parent influences the
plumage of the female offspring, so, if the cock has not a sufficiently dark under-
colour, he cannot, as a rule, produce dark, well-marked pullets ; and it is therefore
necessary that the cock should have a dark tail, and that the inner webs of the

150

THE POULTRY BOOK.

Eccondary wing feathers should be black, and tho inner webb of the lower covert
feathers should be barred with black. These I consider as the outward si^ns of a
Poncilled cock bein^if likely to produce {]jood, well-marked heuH. I do not protend
that it is an infallible rule — exceptions may occur ; nevertheless, my experience
shows that a cock with fifood depth of under-colour will, as a general rule produce
much handsomer pullets, and in mucli greater abundance, than a light one with a
light silver tail or white pinion feathers — a point which is too often disregarded by
our judges and breeders of this truly beautiful and useful variety."

With regard to the effects of crossing tho two Pencilled varieties, Mr. Brent
states, — " A Golden-pencilled cock coupled with a Silver-pencilled hen, I have
always noticed to produce Golden-pencilled pullets, and Silver cockerels Avith a
chestnut wing patch."

Pencilled Hamburghs of both varieties are scarcely to be surpassed in beauty by
any of tho other denizens of the poultry yard : the slight compact form of tho
hens ; their sprightly, active, cheerful carriage ; and tho contrast of their ample
scarlet combs and well-defined white ear-lobes, with their neatly barred plumage,
render them exceedingly ornamental. Nor are they behind in profitable character-
istics ; for being of roving habits, they range well, and provide themselves with a
considerable portion of food ; in fact, in many situations, their powers of flight are
so much exercised as to lead them to be an annoyance to neighbouring residents.
But this, again, is not without its own special utility, for it renders their abstraction
by any pilfering thief an act of very considerable difficulty ; and if disturbed at
night, they commence and continue such an outcry as can scarcely fail in arousing
the sleeping vigilance of their owner.

As layers, Pencilled Hamburghs, as may be judged from their s^monjin of Dutch
Everlasting Layers, rank very high, although, as may be imagined from the size of
the hens, the eggs are rather small. They are non-sitters ; not one in many
hundred ever indicating the slightest desire to hatch. For the following excellent
resume of their economical merits, we are again under obligations to Mr. Edward
Hewitt, who states : — '* The Hamburghs are excellent layers, provided they have
free liberty on an unrestricted gi-ass-run ; they are most impatient of confinement,
particularly the Pencilled varieties, and very susceptible of disease wherever over-
population and limited space are unfortunately combined. They shift for them-
selves better than any, excepting the Game, and are not, therefore, expensive as to
keeping ; indeed, I believe (in comparison to the food consumed) none produce so
large an amount of eggs, taking the whole year from end to end, whether we
estimate by weight in the aggregate, or by numbers ; their chief production, how-
ever, is during the milder months. The flesh of Hamburghs is very superior ; and
they are always, as chickens, in fit condition for the spit, if only tolerably Avell fed,
without any additional preparation. Being a small-boned fowl, they proved, when
carved, to be much more fleshy than might be imagined at first-sight.

" They generally roost high, and in places difficult of access, if any possible
chance of so doing presents itself; combined with this, if disturbed during night-

THE POULTRY BOOK.

151

time, they never cease screaming \doleutly until destroyed outright ; hence, I have
known many instances where midnight proAvlers after hen-roosts have heen at once
detected, or luckily prevented absconding with their booty, the reiterated cries of
alarm from their victims calling forth the immediate aid of the proprietor. In case,
too, of attack from vermin, their agility generally preserves them from injury ; for
on such occasions they will fly like pheasants, and readily take to trees or the
highest buildings. For these simple reasons, it is very rarely any of these fowls
are absent without leave.

''I have, during my somewhat lengthened experience in poultry matters, met
with a few isolated instances in which Hamburghs have incubated their own nest
of eggs steadily, and afterwards manifested the most exemplary attention to their
chickens. But such cases are very few, and quite opposed to general rule : it
is also invariable, so far as my knowledge extends, that the nests of such hens have
been stolen in some secret out-of-the-way place, and the numbers of eggs previously
laid have held out unusual inducements to incubation. On one occasion, more par-
ticularly, I well recollect a Golden-pencilled Hamburgh hen who laid away under
the floor of a barn, to which, unknown to the owner, she had obtained a private
mode of access : she laid all her eggs on the dry, somewhat chaffy ground, a
hollow being made previously by her own exertions. Here, quite secluded from
observation or even daylight, she hatched eighteen chickens, and brought them out
herself; and after-inspection by the owner proved that all the eggs had produced
chickens, as the shells remaining tallied with the number of chickens produced.
The hen succeeded in rearing sixteen of these youngsters. I also knew another
case, in which from sixteen eggs laid away behind some old refuse timber, fourteen
chickens were hatched, whilst the remaining two contained fully-formed chickens ;
the exact number that were eventually reared I do not know, but am certain it
proved the greater proportion. A circumstance connected with these instances of
Hamburghs hatching their own young, though a digression, I consider well worthy
of notice ; viz., in both cases referred to, the proprietors of the fowls mentioned had
placed many sets of other eggs from the same hens under strange foster-mothers,
a large proportion of which were unproductive, whilst the eggs in the stolen nests
were all fruitful. I will not myself attempt to assign a cause for this marked
difference in their fertility, but simply confine myself to the narration of the fact.
In both instances these fowls were harassed by a continual and rigid daily search
for eggs produced, and thus fretted, concealed their nests, most probably, simply to
avoid molestation. I myself never yet knew any case whatever where a thoroughly
well-bred Hamburgh hen commenced sitting openly. They will sometimes appear
dull and broody for a day or two under such circumstances ; but the effort seems
quite unnatural, and speedily passes away. It is but right to add, in the two
first instances I have mentioned of successful rearing, both parents were perfectly
well-bred ; and the offspring, thus strangely procured, afterwards took numerous
first prizes at different poultry exhibitions.

'' All the Hamburghs are somewhat prone to faulty comljs, from either being

152 THE rOULTHY IJOOK.

hollow iu their centre,, or, ^Yllat is a still more fatal disqualification for exhibition,
the combs lop over, or fall to one side or other : this should be most especially
avoided iu selecting for the purposes of competition. Humpbacked Hamburghsaro
also by no means uncommon ; but whether for exhibition or for brood stock, they
should never be retained, as such malformations are not only inadmissible for
premiums, but also because this faiHng ofttimes proves hereditary for very many
generations. The Hamburghs arc extremely ornamental varieties of poultry, and
form very striking additions when standing iu groups near any homestead ; this,
combined with their extraordinary production of eggs, the excellent quality of the
llesh, together with the very small amount of general care they entail, causes them
to be almost universal favourites. They are, however, somewhat troublesome and
untiring pests when they happen to indulge in encroachments upon garden grounds,
scarcely any natural fence being impervious to them ; and even continuous eject-
ments will not frustrate their determination to persist iu such encroachments.
Still, all matters duly considered as to production and maintenance, I myself know
no kind of fowls that will pay better than they do."

There is one drawback to the value of both Gold and Silver Pencilled
Hamburghs, and that, it must be acknowledged, is a serious one. If hatched
in the early spring of the year, say before May, they are difficult to rear, being
very delicate during chickenhood, and suffering severely in cold wet weather;
and the old birds are perhaps more subject to roup, if kept in damp, cold,
unhealthy situations, than any variety of fowl, excci)t, perhaps. Black Polish.
Dryness iu the poultrj^-yard, a sheltered run and good feeding, are the best
preventives of this scourge of the poultry breeder. For the treatment, when it
has unfortunately gained entrance into the stock, we must refer to the general
chapter treating on Poultry Diseases.

But it cannot be too strongly impressed on all poultry keepers that roup always
commences Avith cold in the head ; a discharge takes place from the nostrils, the
fowl aflected shakes its head and throws off the discharge as long as it remains of
a watery character ; when it becomes more glutenous and adhesive, the bird wipes
it off on the feathers at the base of the wing, which in time become matted with
the diseased secretion ; in a still more advanced stage the external openings of the
nostrils close, and the fowl breathes with difficulty, each expiration being ac-
companied with a distension of the skin of the throat and under jaw. As the
secretion can no longer be got off through the nostrils, it is forced by the pressure
of the air expired, in breathing, through the lachrymal duct into the eye, and
causes the frothy appearance of that organ unfortunately too well known to most
poultry keepers. As the disease progresses the discharge accumulates iu the nasal
cavities, the face consequently swells, the bird becomes blind, and the diseased
secretion particularly offensive.

In the earlier stages, when roup is merely a simjile cold, the disease can be cured
by warm housing, and stimulating strengthening food, — peppered potatoes,
cayemie, a little bread sopped in ale, etc. ; but in the later stages it is one of the

THE POULTKY BOOK. 153

most intractable diseases ; from the peculiar structure of the nostrils in the fowl it
is almost impossible to apply any lotion to the diseased surface, and outward
applications to the face are obviously useless. In our own yards we at once
sacrifice any roupy chicken and bury them out of sight ; roup, in ftict, should be
treated by prevention ; like the cattle plague, it is much better to stamp it out than
to trifle with it. If fowls are reared from healthy stock, not overcrowded, have a
good range, are well fed, and have dry clean wholesome roosting houses, roup
will not trouble the poultry breeder ; when it does occur he had much better look to
the sanitary conditions of his poultry yard than endeavour to save the lives of a few
sickly chickens that will never be worth the pains bestowed upon them.

CHAPTER XIV.

SPANGLED HAMBURanS.

The same warm iliscussions which have arisen respecting the nomenclature of the
birds described in the hist chajiter, have, even with increased intensity, prevailed
respecting the varieties at present under consideration.

Of their origin, it may be stated that little or nothing is known ; and their history
is simply this, that, under the names of Gold, Silver, and Black Pheasant fowls.
Gold and Silver Mooneys, and Red Caps, they have been long and assiduously
cultivated by the north of England breeders. For long periods of time have
Pheasant-fowl clubs existed in several of the northern towais, where single hens
were exhibited for competition, the prizes being frequently such homely articles
as copper tea-kettles, coal-scuttles, rocking-chairs, and other equally useful imple-
ments of household utility. To the name of Hamburgh they have, as stated in our
last chapter, not the slightest claim, it having been given to them at Birmingham,
because of their fancied resemblance to the Pencilled Dutch. Still, as before
stated, the name of Spangled Hamburghs has been generally received and under-
stood ; and therefore, erroneous as it doubtless is, we avoid a greater confusion by
retaining it.

Although all Spangled Hamburghs have certain general characters in common,
such as spangled or mooned plumage, rose or double combs, and blue legs, never-
theless there are great differences in the different varieties, and there can be no
doubt that several veiy distinct breeds, known as Gold and Silver Mooneys, and Gold
and Silver Pheasant fowls, have been included under this title. These, as far as
we are aware, have never been accurately described, nor, in fact, has their descrip-
tion been even attempted by any one practically acquainted with the distinctions
between them, and the results obtained by crossing the different varieties.

One great reason why Spangled Hamburghs have not been as generally culti-
vated in the south of England as in the north has doubtless been this ignorance
respecting them. The caprice of the judges, or the custom of the time, has called
for pens containing, not pure bred birds, but those consisting of Mooney hens
and half-bred Pheasant cocks. The winning pens have been purchased by persons
ignorant of this fact, and the purchasers have been disgusted with Spangled
Hamburghs in consequence of their not being able to cull a single pen of show
birds from ever so large a number of chickens reared from their purchased stock.

Under these circumstances, we have the greatest pleasure in being able to
place before our readers the following most valuable article on the different breeds

THE POULTRY BOOK. 155

of Spangled Hamburghs, from the peu of the very highest authority on the subject,
Mr. Richard Teebay, of Fullwood, Preston, and, by his kindness, we are enabled
to illustrate it by original drawings of the feathers of all the different varieties.

" The fowls included under the name of Golden-spangled Hamburghs are of two
very distinct breeds. One variety has been bred and exhibited for a long series
of years by the colliers, hand-loom weavers, and others in Lancashire. These
men have long had their clubs and held their annual exhibitions, prizes being
offered for pairs of hens and pairs of pullets, as well as for single hens and single
pullets. These prizes were awarded in accordance with rules and points very
similar to those laid down in the ' Standard of Excellence' issued by the Poultry
Club. The local name of this variety is that of Golden Mooneys, from the rich
iridescent green-black spangles, on the end of the feathers, the ground-colour being
a beautiful clear golden bay.

'' The other variety was formerly bred in Yorkshire, the fowls being known by the
local name of Golden Pheasants, from the similarity of their markings to those on
the breast of the cock pheasant.

" Golden Mooneys, which I will first describe, are rather small birds, with neat
heads, tight rose combs, small deaf-ears which are not pendant but quite close to
the face, and which are very seldom pure v*-hite. The plumage of the mooney hens
is exceedingly close and glossy, the ground-colour being a rich clear golden bay,
each of the body feathers having a large round rich green-black moon or spangle
on the end (Fig. 1) ; the neck should be striped with rich gi-een-black ; the tail
feathers black ; the forepart of the breast of the cock is often rich green-black, but
lower down and on the sides the ground is beautifully clear golden bay, "v^dth very
large distinct round rich moons, without the least mossing or lacing.

" The spangles on the true Golden Mooneys are large, round, very black, with
beautiful g]-een reflections ; but they have often the fault of showing a little white
on the end of the feather beyond the moon.

" Golden-pheasant fowls are heavier birds than the Golden Mooneys, with larger
and looser rose combs, and large pendant deaf-ears, which are generally pure
Avhite ; their plumage is not so close and glossy as that of the mooneys. The bay
ground-colour is often slightly mossed with brown ; the black spangles on the end
of the body feathers are crescentic, and not circular (Fig. 2) ; the neck is striped with
l)lack ; tail feathers black ; on the breast of the cock the black spots on the ends of the
feathers generally run up the edges, somewhat like a bad, ill-defined lacing, and
give the breast a very streaky appearance. The Yorkshire Golden-pheasant hens
are seldom seen at shows, but they are better layers, hardier fowls, and much easier
to rear than the true Golden Mooneys.

'' Golden-mooney hens are very seldom seen exliibited with true-bred mooney
cocks, as the latter are small, and it is rarely they have the whole surface of the
deaf-ears white in colour ; and as a little red on the margin of the deaf-ear appears
to be looked upon as a disqualification by some judges, however good the bird may
be in other respects (this has been particularly noticeable at one of our largest

156 aUE rOULTllY ISOOK.

poultry shows, the (leftf-ear of the cock appearing to bo the only point taken into
consiileratiou), it is now rare to see a true-bred mooney cock exhil)itccl, but cross-
bred cocks, bet\\ixt the Yorkshire Golden-pheasant and the (J olden Mooney,
take the place of the true mooney cock in the pen with Goldi-n-nioonoy hens,
merely because the cross-bred bird generally has a large pure white deaf-ear ; yet
the hens bred from the cross are quite worthless as exhibition birds, there seldom
being two alike in depth of ground-colour ; the marking is always patchy, generally
dark and much laced on the breast, and only very faintly marked on the lower part
of the back, very few having a good round spangle on any part whatever, and many
are very much mossed and brown near the tail. Crossing the two breeds without
spoiling the beauty of marldng seen in the true mooney is quite impossible.

"Golden-pheasants occasionally produce hen-feathered cocks, in which the saddle
feathers are exactly like those on the hen's back (Fig. 8), only the moons are
larger. The tail of the hen-feathered cock is similar to, but larger than, that of
the hen, the two first tail feathers being only about one inch longer than the others,
and very slightly curved. There are no siclde feathers, the side-tail feathers being
as straight as in the hen ; all the tail feathers are beautifully mooned. These birds
are often used to breed from, and are quite as prolific as full-tailed cocks. Golden-
mooueys do not produce hen-feathered cocks.

" In the Silver-spangled Hamburghs, as in the Golden, two different varieties
are included. The Lancashire Silver Mooney s, which were bred and exhibited
in Lancashire by the old clubs, and the Yorkshire Silver-pheasant fowls.

" The Silver-mooney hens are much larger than the Silvcr-j^heasant hens, yet
the Silver-mooney cocks are smaller and shorter in the legs than the Silver-pheasant
cocks.

" The Silver Mooneys, like the Golden-pheasants, often breed perfectly hen-
feathered cocks, with the whole plumage as beautifully and regularly mooned as
the hens. This never occurs in the true Silver-pheasant breed.

" Silver Mooneys have rather large coarse heads, rose combs, dark faces, very close
small deaf-ears, which are rarely pure white, but generally, in the hens, of a sort of
leaden colour. The plumage of the hens is hard and close, ground-colour a beautiful
silvery white, with a very large, round, rich green-black moons or spangles on the
end of each of the body feathers. The hackle of the cock is silvery- white, and
free from yellow shade ; the ends of the longest feathers are tipped with rich black ;
the neck of the hen is silver striped with rich green-black, the moons on the greater
and lesser wing coverts of both sexes forming two distinct rich black bars across
the wing. The tail of the hen is silver on the outside, the feathers terminating
with very large rich black moons ; the inside of the tail much darker than the
outside. The tail in the cock is almost entirely black.

*' The Yorkshire Silver-pheasants have neat heads, and rose combs, with large
deaf-ears which are often pure white. The plumage has pure white ground, with
a black spangle on the end of each of the body feathers ; the spangles are smaller,
not 80 rich in colour, and seldom so round as in the mooney ; the hackle of the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 157

cocks is white, often tinged with yellovv^, the longest feathers slightly tipped with
black. The neck of the hen is white, striped with black, the spangles on the
greater and lesser wing coverts forming two distinct bars across the wing. The
tail of both cock and hen white, ending with black spangles.

"In the true Silver-mooney hen the spangles are very rich and round; these
hens are often seen at shows, but they are seldom exhibited with the true mooney
cocks, the latter finding little favour on account of their stained deaf-ears
and dark tail, and smaller and shorter build, yet it is quite impossible to breed
good Mooney hens with any other than a true-bred Mooney cock. A large
number of the clearest tailed Silver- spangled cocks are bred from Lancashire
Silver-mooney cocks and rather light Yorkshire Silver-pheasant hens ; the cockerels
from this cross frequently have very pure white deaf-ears and clear tails, but they
are generally too light on the breast, particularly in the higher part. The pullets
from the cross are quite worthless, being nearly always deficient in mooning on the
shoulder coverts. Should a pullet by any chance appear amongst these cross
breeds passable in marldng, she always, at her first moult, becomes light on the
shoulder and higher part of the back ; whereas the true-bred Silver-mooney hen
will moult true all her life without the slightest deterioration in the marking of
any part. I have now a Silver-mooney hen, seven years old, that has often been
successfully exliibited and has moulted without the slightest perceptible difference
in marking, except that the moons appear to increase slightly in size. The
two hens formerly exhibited so successfully by Mr. Beldon, and afterwards by Mr.
Wood of Kendal, are true Lancashire Mooneys, and though they have been so very
frequently shown for at least six years as seldom to have been more than
a few weeks at once at their own home, their marldng is as near perfection as
possible. The slightest impurity of blood, in either the Gold or Silver birds,
always shows itself in the bar feathers of the wings, which become laced ;
consequently a laced wing in adult birds is looked upon, both by the Yorkshire
and Lancashire breeders, with perfect disgust. Chickens of the truest blood in
their first year often show a little lacing on the bar feathers : this is generally the
case in Golden-mooney pullets, but after their first adult moult, if there is no
stain in the blood, their bar feathers are beautifully clear and free from that
imperfection. Impurity of blood also shows itself in mossing and lacing, es-
•pecially on the feathers near the tail and breast, and in the Silver hens by clouded
necks.

"The colour of the down at the base of the feathers varies very much in the
different varieties. In the pure-bred Mooney the down is a rich black, much
darker than in the Pheasant fowl, and extends farther up towards the middle of
the feathers. Some of the silvers bred from IMooney cocks and Silver Pheasant
hens, havie pure white down on the bottom of the feathers, the down at the
root of the cock's tail is pure v/hite, and there are not any spangles on the tips
of the tail feathers ; these birds arc often called clear-tailed cocks, on account of the

158

TETE POULTRY LOOK.

purity of the white iu the tail ; their lo«<s iire nearly always far too light, the
shghtest shade of hluo only beiug visible in the front ; the hack being white and
flesh colour.

" All the four varieties arc non-sitters ; the Golden-moonoys are the least prolific ;
the others, where the place is not over-stocked with fowls, and they can have their
liberty, lay an extraordinary qaunti ty of eggs, and arc so fertile that every egg
generally produces a chick. There is no trouble iu attending them when hatching ;
the chicks generally break the shell in nearly equal halves, and (unless the eggs
were very old when set) within a few minutes of each other ; they are lively little
things ; immediately after being hatched, almost as soon as they are di-y, they will
put out their little neat heads all round the hen. As compared with other
chickens, they are restless, nearly always seeking for insects, requiring but little
hand feeding, and if they have their liberty and a good grass run they are very
quick in feathering and remarkably easy to rear; but when confined in a yard, or
at a place where there is a large number of chickens, they sometimes die off quickly
in whole broods ; at other times they will remain pining about without growing for
weeks and then recover.

" In their first feathers they are beautifully pencilled (Fig. 8), and are not spangled
on any part whatever, until they get their second feathers, then it is the fancier
anxiously scans the development of each feather, scrutinizing the shape of the spots
most narrowly. The deaf-ear, also, at this time begins to show itself iu a bare
silver coloured spot ; should it be bright red, even at this early age, there is. little
hope of its ever becoming wholly white.

" They are truly the cottager's fowls, and if allowed will often make their appear-
ance in the house, where they become the tamest of pets, fljiug on the shoulder or
hand of the person who feeds them; yet with strangers they are very shy and wild,
especially if the owner or some one of his family is not present."

The Black Hamburgh, or Black Pheasant fowl, remains to be described. This
variety is rising rapidly in public estimation, and there arc no large shows where
it does not make its appearance, even when no distinct prizes are ofi"ered for the
breed, as they are frequent winners in the Variety Class. Black Hamburghs are
larger than the spangled breeds : heavy cock birds will not unfrequently attain a
weight of six or seven pounds. The general character of the plumage is strongly
marked, it being a superb jet black, with an intense velvety-gi-een spangle at the
end of each feather. The tail in the cock is very long, full, and well developed ; of
a deep hue, the outside flowing feathers being glossed with the richest gi-een-black ;
the breast of the cock is also of an intense black, with dark green spangles ; the
lower wing-coverts, or what constitutes the bars in the lighter breeds, are of an in-
tense, well-developed green, extremely beautiful ; the legs and feet blue ; the cock's
comb is largely developed and better shaped than in any other double-combed bird ;
the wattles are large and round, but not particularly long ; the ear-lobe is white
and round : vei*y distinct from face, which is perfectly red. The hens are large,

w

Fig. 1.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. n.

I

Fig. S.

FEATnERS OP THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OP SPANGLED HAMBURGnS.

,. Feather of Lancashire Mo.ney Hen. ,,^- Feather of Golden I^a^tD.. ^^^^J^^^^^^^T^^
\,:^^^^tl^X^^^'^^^^''t^ [uirpCaged Golden Pheasant Coclc. 8. Saddle

Teathcr of llen-feathcred Golden Pheasant Cock.

THE POULTRY BOOK.

161

square, short on the legs, and hea^^. They are generally rather wild ; and as
layers, not to be surpassed under any circumstances.

In any previous description of the Black Hamburghs, or Pheasant Fowl, the
existence of the green-black spangles at the end of each feather has been passed
over without notice. But it is, in fact, the presence of these spangles that gives rise
to the rich glossy appearance of the plumage ; in a bright light the contrast
between the jet black of the ground-colour and the iridescent green-black of the
sjjangles is strikingly evident.

As stated by Mr. Teebay, the Lancashire breeders have long had annual
.exhibitions of these fowls, the hens or pullets only being exhibited. As it is
always interesting to trace the progress of any variety, we subjoin the table of
points by which the Golden Mooneys were formerly judged at these local shows.
The ignorance respecting these beautiful birds that prevailed in the south of
England may be judged from the fact that, in the Poultry Book published by
Messrs. Wingfield and Johnson, these characteristics were given as applicable to
both sexes, and Mr. Harrison Weir's drawing of Golden-pencilled Hamburghs was
described as being one of Golden- spangled birds.

TABLE OF POIXTS IX THE GOLDEN MOONEY HENS.

POINTS.

] st. — Comb

2nd. — Ears
3rd. — Neck

4th. — Breast

5th. — Back

6th. — Rump

7th.— Wing

MAEKS OF FEATHERS, ETC., CONSIDERED BEST.

Best double ; best square ; the most erect and best

piked behind.
The largest and most white.

The best streaked with green-black in the middle of
the feathers ; and best fringed with gold at the
edges.
The largest moons ; best and brightest green-black,
most free from being tipped with white or red at
the end of the moon, and the clearest and best
red from the moon to the bottom colour.

The largest moons ; best and brightest green-black,
least tipped with white or red at the edges of the
moon, and the best and clearest red from the
moon to the bottom colour.

The largest moons ; best and brightest green-black,
least tipped with white or red at the edges of the
moon, and the best and clearest red from the
moon to the bottom colour.

This is divided into four parts: — 1st, Boiv. Best
and brightest green-black, and best and clearest
red. — 2nd, Bars. To have two distinct bars,
composed of the largest, clearest, brightest, and

162 THE POULTRY BOOK.

POIMS. MAHK.S l)K KKATHEIia, KTC, I ONSI IIKKEI) BE.Sr.

best greeu-black moons, aud the clearest and best
red from the moon to the bottom colour. — 3rd,
hlUtht. The clearest and best red. — 4th, The
Laciiuj, or top of the icing, above the fdght.
Largest, clearest, brightest, and best green-black
spots on the end of the feathers, and the best and
clearest red from the spot to the bottom colour.

8th. — Tail . . . The brightest, darkest, and best green-black. To

be full-feathered.

9th. — Legs . . . Best and clearest blue.

10th. — General appearance The best feathered hen.

The black pheasants were also exhibited, and the following shows the points by
which they were judged.

TABLE OF POINTS IN THE BLACK-PHEASANT FOWL HENS.

1st. — Comb . . . Best double; best square; most erect; and best

piked behind.
2nd. — Ears . . . Largest and purest white.
3rd. — Colour . . . The best and richest glossed green-black.
4th. — Legs . . . Best and clearest blue.
5th. — Gentiral appearance Best feathered hen.

Spangled Hamburghs are usually regarded as birds exceedingly impatient of con-
finement, and requiring a large and extensive grass-run : they fly, as has been
justly remarked, like pheasants, and know not bounds. The following communi-
cation from the Rev. A. G. Brooke, formerly a very successful exhibitor of Silver
Spangles, will therefore be read with interest, proving, as it does, the possibility
of keeping these active and roaming birds in perfect health and brilliant plumage
in very close confinement. Mr. Brooke states : — " My silver- spangled birds I
always keep confined in places about twelve feet long and six feet wide, exclusive
of the sleeping apartments, which are* well ventilated, and have the floors either
of asphalt, brick, or wood, raised a foot from the ground, and freshly sanded every
morning. Their runs are also freshly sanded or gravelled once a week, and every
morning swept clean, and then turned over with a spade, which prevents the ground
becoming tainted. The fowls are not at all impatient of confinement, but appear
very happy and comfortable, and thrive remarkably well. I never keep more than
three birds in one yard — namely, a cock and two hens, — as I have always found
the fewer, when confined, the better. I am very particular that their water pans
sliould be kept particularly clean, and as regards their food, I vary it as much
;is possible, always taking care that they have some sort of food by them. In the
morning I generally give them mashed potatoes or middlings and barley-meal ; and

THE POULTRY BOOK. 163

iu the afternoon, either barley or oats, with a most Uberal supply of green-meat,
such as cabbages or gi'ass. Spangled Hamburghs are rather susceptible of cold ;
but I generally find that a few mashed potatoes, with a little cayenne-pepper,
always relieves them. I have kept them in the manner I have described for the
last three years, and have never had a fowl ill with roup or any other disease. I
believe that when thus confined, cleanliness and a liberal supply of food are most
essential. I have kept many other breed of fowls, but have found that none of
them would better bear confinement for any length of time. As regards the
number of eggs laid by Spangled Hamburghs, I think it far exceeds that of .any
other variety. Mine average 220 a year from each hen — I am now writing of birds
that are kept confined. To keep them free from vermin, it is essential that they
should be supplied with a sand bath, which they use daily."

Little more remains to be said respecting the varieties of Spangled Ham-
burghs; their elegance and utility are daily increasing the number of their
admirers ; and they promise in a short time to be as highly appreciated in the
south as they have long been in the north of England. In fact, until recently,
they were scarcely known in the southern counties : and even as late as 1852, it
was stated in " Baily on Fowls," that they were " good mothers" — a very con-
vincing proof of the prevailing ignorance respecting them. As egg-producers
they are unquestionably unrivalled ; they commence laying at a very early age ;
never require to sit ; rapidly get through their moult ; and, if well fed, lay steadily
during winter, unless the weather is very severe.

Spangled Hamburghs are not only larger but much hardier than the Pencilled
birds, being infinitely less subject to roup. During chickenhood, however, they do
not possess the hardihood of Cochins or Brahmas, and therefore it is not desirable
to hatch them before April or May ; nor do they thrive so well as the Asiatics, if
hatched at a late period of the year.

Hamburghs are valued in accordance with the perfection of their peculiar and
characteristic markings, rather than by size or weight. It follows from this circum-
stance, that any cross-bred birds from any of the varieties must be of but very
small value. The great merit of Hamburghs is as egg-producers, — a property
which depends on their non-incubating habits : but cross-bred birds, as before
stated, even if between two varieties that do not sit, are generally good mothers,
and their broodiness necessarily interferes with their egg-producing powers. Never-
theless, it is always interesting to trace the result of such alliances ; and we there-
fore extract from the Field the letter of a correspondent detailing the results of
some experiments in cross-breeding Pencilled and Spangled Hamburghs with other
varieties.

" 1st. A cross between a Golden-pencilled Hamburgh cock and Spanish hen. —
The chickens were not very large. Colour : the greater part of them bronze, and
one or two black ; legs black ; single and rose-combs. Not very hardy ; good
layers ; small eggs.

" 2nd. Golden-pencilled Hamburgh hen and Goldcn-spanglcd Bearded Polish

l^i THE POULTRY BOOK.

cock. — Chickens : cockerels ahout ilio size of baru-tloor fowls, rod, with spangled
breasts, beards, small top-knots, large white ear-lobes, blue legs ; pullets brown,
with spangled breasts and necks, backs running into grizzle. Excellent layers,
and good-sized eggs.

" 3rd. Silver-spangled Hamburgh cock and Brahma hen. — Chickens large,
very handsome. Cockerels ; silver-spangled breasts and slightly spangled over the
back, with flowing tails, rose-combs, largo red ear-lobes, blue logs, feathered.
Pullets : silver-spangled. They ai-e the handsomest cross-bred fowls I have seen.

'*4th. Silver-spangled Hamburgh cock and BufiF Cochin-China hen. — Two
pullets : dark gi'ay, running into a grizzle ; legs blue ; single combs. Inferior to
the cross with Brahmas.

" 5th. Silver-spangled Hamburgh cock and White-faced Spanish hen. — Chickens :
very hardy, short-legged, plump fowls ; single and rose-combs ; large white ear-
lobes ; black legs ; neck silver-laced, and the remainder of the body dark gray."

It is singular that in the two instances of crossing with Spanish hens, the
chickens i>roduced by the Goldcn-i^encilled Hamburgh cock partook of the delicacy
of the sire ; whereas those from the Spangled Hamburgh cock and Spanish hen
are described as very hardy.

Before concluding this chapter on Spangled Hamburghs it is desirable to correct
an erroneous impression that the breeds known as Gold and Silver Pheasant
fowls originated in crosses with the wild pheasant. As this opinion is still held
by many who are unacquainted with the fact that all such hybrids are sterile, we
have much pleasure in inserting the following account of several of these birds
from the pen of Mr. Hewitt, who writes : —

" As my desire is to prevent, as far as possible, any poultry amateur from
incurring unnecessary trouble or expense at the commencement of his career, by
the pursuit of objects that are either altogether unattainable or actually worthless,
if secured, perhaps a few hints as to hybrids between the pheasant and fowl will
be esteemed interesting, as at one period I devoted considerable attention to the
subject; and although these experiments were continued for some years, and
necessarily entailed no slight expenditure, the results were, as a whole, the very
reverse of satisfactory, for my hope was to procure a really beautiful as well as
singular plumage. The common popular error that, even in the present day, fails
not to delude numbers of unpractised poultry fanciers into the impression that the
variety of the Golden-spangled Hamburgh known in the northern counties as the
'Golden Pheasant,' or 'Pheasant Fowl,' is the product of a 'cross' between the
real pheasant of our woods and a hen of our common domestic fowl, I should have
thought was a folly that had long since been exploded, being a position that no
real naturalist could by possibility have ever entertained. Yet so it is : many
parties are still found, not only dictatorially asserting it as an absolute fact, but
likewise producing the common Spangled Hamburgh fowl as the fruit or invariable
product of this unusual connection. Such individuals generally endeavour to
support their statement by an appeal to the regularity of the markings of the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 165

birds produced ; and insist that the repetition of the cross at intervals is actually
needful, to perpetuate this beautiful marking of feather. However dogmatically
such an assertion may be enforced, it is, without doubt, the most egregious
nonsense that was ever attempted to be palmed on the public ; and evidently
in not a few instances is practised on the unwary simply to secure a sale for birds
at enhanced prices, and of course at sums far beyond their real value, as varieties
of the domestic fowl.

" That the common wild pheasant will breed occasionally with the domestic
fowl, and that too of almost any variety, I unhesitatingly admit ; but although I
have for years made the closest investigation in all such cases as came under my
notice, I never, most certainly, met with even one solitary, one isolated instance,
where a hybrid was produced if the pheasant had been wild bred and still
retained unlimited freedom. To obtain so unnatural a product, I have always
found it altogether indispensable for the pheasant itself to have been previously
hatched and reared beneath a common fowl. If afterwards restored to comparative
liberty, I have then known the pheasant so released to still associate with the
poultry, and actually produce hybrids with a domestic fowl ; but even in this case,
the partiality has been confined to some particular favourite, and the pheasant has
certainly not lavished his attentions equally on all. But even these instances are
exceedingly rare ones ; and the half-bred offspring is only to be attained, as a rulo,
by close confinement of the pheasant with its allotted mate, either directly in an
aviary, or some very restricted premises of a like nature. Here difliculties still
surround the fancier who attempts their procreation, for but few of the eggs will
usually prove fertilized ; and that, too, however fond and salacious the pheasant
may appear to be, or however carefully its owner may have guarded against the
male bird's access to females of its own race — for the introduction of even a single
hen pheasant will commonly estrange all feelings of affection from the common
fowls. The results desired are rendered far more probable, as may be supposed, by
confining the attentions of the pheasant to one solitary female of the variety of
domesticated poultry that may have been arranged. It is also certain, that
pheasants are most capricious in their attachments, and that with some hens they
will not associate under any circumstances whatever, though constantly abiding
with them in apparent good-fellowship. Again, not unfrequently, from some
inexplicable cause or other, they seem to entertain the most determined aversion to
the mate selected for them by their proprietor ; and certain it is that, in this case,
no artifice will produce anything even approaching to reconciliation. In such an
exigency, the old school axiom, that ' perseverance commands success,' is thrown
overboard altogether ; and the sooner a change takes place, the greater probability
will there be of a successful issue. I will now very briefly describe the results
obtained by crossing the cock pheasant with hens of the five following varieties,
namely, Spanish game. Buff Bantam, Golden-spangled and Silver-spangled. All
the five hybrids possessed the following general characteristics : — Extraordinary
wildness ; heads altogether devoid of either comb, wattles, or deaf-ear ; tails very

100

THE rOULTKY DOOK.

closely approximating iu general conformation to that of the pheasant, but not so
lengthy ; and the bodily size was far superior to that of the hen producing them.
The colours of the plumage in all cases (one excepted) were likewise excessively
darker than that of the variety of hen from which thoy were produced ; whilst
their general contour, as a whole, inclined most entirely to that of the pheasant.—
The hybrid produced between the pheasant and the Spanish hen was bred by Mr.
Keeling, of Vauxhall, Birmingham, and proved, when adult, entirely black, but of
a dull sooty hue ; the eyes were yellow. The weight of this bird was nearly seven
pounds ; and it therefore, to the eye, presented an appearance nearly as large as
that of the curassow. Around the eye, and more particularly on the face beneath
it, the velvety character peculiar to the pheasant itself was well developed. In the
hybrid produced from a black-breasted red game hen, the scapular feathers were
marked with nearly as much regularity as in the male parent, as were also those
on the breast ; but the ground colour was so extremely dark (resembling wetted
cinnamon), that none of these markings were visible, unless a powerful light rested
on the bird's plumage. The neck was iridescent black, brightly glossed with
gi-een. This specimen possessed a perfectly plain face, feathered up closely to the
eyelid ; the eyes being deep hazel. This bird, which was iu my own possession,
was very large, and weighed somewhat more than six and a half pounds.— The
specimen resulting from the cross between the cock pheasant and a Buff Bantam
was bred by the gamekeeper at Chirk Castle, Denbighshire. It was very nearly as
dark-coloured as the one last described ; but in patches it was irregularly tortoise-
shelled, and was really a handsome bird, in size fully equal to a Malay hen. Al-
though the neck and head were dark as a pheasant's, the face bore a strong
resemblance to white Genoa velvet, a singularity which caused it to be gi-eatly
admired. The eyes were yellow. The offspring of the Golden-spangled Hamburgh
hen and cock pheasant was a bird black in the ground-colour, the tips of the-
shoulder and crop feathers slightly laced with very deep brown ; the tail being
slightly barred. The whole bird did not, at two years old, possess one single
spangle, although the mother was a very perfect mooned bird. The hybrid was the
property of a friend at Wolverhampton, who, on account of its indomitable wild-
ness, objected to its being caught for the purpose of weighing; therefore, my
description of size must be confined to the fact that it appeared fully twice as largo
as the mother hen. The last of these hybrids that I shall describe was produced
from a really superior Silver-spangled Hamburgh hen. It was bred by Mr. Watson,
of Birmingham, and was the most attractive in its plumage of any I ever yet met
with. The gi-ound-colour was silvery white, the markings of an irregular but
most curious close pencilling, the wing-feathers and tail being deeply barred ; the
face was flesh-colour, without even the vestige of feathers of any kind ; the eyes
were as purely white as those of a grey parrot. This gave the bird a somewhat
sickly look (that was unpleasingly suggestive of poultry when long diseased, and
the florid hues have left them pale and emaciated) ; still, the defect proved only an
eyesore, f(;r the hybrid was unquestionably in goo<l condition, strong, and heart-

THE POULTRY BOOK.

167

well. It was fully twice the size of the pheasant. The pencillings of this bird
showed at intervals a disposition to run into each other ; on the shoulders
especially they mingled, until they actually formed a kind of general fretwork : I
will particularly allude to the fact that not a single spangle was visible anywhere ;
although, had any existed at all, they would have been very apparent, on account
of the lightness of the ground-colour. All the markings were of a very deep
black colour. From the five results just narrated (and I could easily allude to
numerous other cases if I desired it), it will be seen that in no case was there to be.
found the * spangle' or ' moon' so much dwelt on as the consequence of consan-
guinity with the pheasant. Why such a fiction should be persisted in, I really
cannot imagine ; except by attributing it to the misrepresentation employed to
impose on the inexperienced or the credulous ; and my object in refuting this
popular error is, if possible, to prevent it being again practised on the unwary. My
own motive for attempting their production was entirely to investigate the production
of the difierent markings and character of the birds. The markings were as
variable as they could be, and the birds as pugnacious as it is possible to imagine ;
and I never knew any instance where they did not destroy all the eggs to which
they could gain access. As anticipated, they were always sterile, and unsociable.
It should be borne in mind that the five instances specified were not cases where
only a single bird was produced from a hatch of eggs, for it generally happens that
if a single egg proves fertilized, there are several others that are equally productive
in the same nest ; but I have purposely selected them as fitting illustrations.
Oftentimes, however, very large numbers of eggs may be incubated before a solitary
chicken is obtained. When once hatched, they are very easily reared, but manifest
their peculiar and extreme pugnacity at a very early age, maintaining a constant war-
fare, even when among themselves, — a feature that continues to their life's end,
whatever description of poultry may be appointed as their associates. This want
of sociability renders them perpetual pests unless they enjoy exclusive possession
of their habitation. Indeed, a gentleman who once accompanied me to inspect
several of them that had been reared with gi*eat kindness and good usage, and still
remained constantly under the eye of their owner, remarked — ' They seem as wild
as hyenas.' They are in truth always, if in health, roaming about in the most
unsettled manner from morn until night closely approaches ; their cry is peculiar
to themselves, and the frequency with which it is uttered is annoying, as it is
plaintive, hoarse, and guttural. The greatly increased size and weight of these
birds beyond that of their immediate progenitors is very striking to the eye at first
sight, but is of no importance in a practical point of view, as any intermixture be-
tween birds of distinct species, as pheasants and fowls, can never be extended
beyond the first cross. At poultry exhibitions they invariably serve as a great
attraction to visitors, and my opinion is, that such a position is the extreme limit
of their utility."

It may perhaps be imagined by some of our readers, that we have allotted more
space to the discussion of the characters of these hybrids than the subject deserves ;

^"® THE POULTRY BOOK.

but the belief iu the possibility of obtaining a fertile cross breed between the
pheasant and the domestic fowl is so prevalent, that we felt desirous of adducing a
sufticient number of examples to set the question at rest; more especiaUy as, in a
treatise on fowls puldished only a few years since, these hybrids were said to be
fertile, not only with pure-bred fowls, but also inter sc, and their progeny was
traced through several generations. But we cannot discover any person except the
writer who was cognisant of the experiments or saw the results that were said to
have-been obtained.

\

4

CHAPTER XV.

WIIITE-CEESTED BLACK POLISH FOWLS.

UNDER the title of Polish Fowls are included all those varieties characterized
Ly the possession of a very largely developed crest of feathers on the head.
Their history can he traced hack as far as the time of Ulysses Aldrovandi, hetter
known under his Latinized name of Aldrovandns, a Bolognese gentleman, who was
horn in 1527, and died in 1G05. Aldrovandns devoted his time to the pursuit of
natural history, and exhausted his resources in collecting specimens and in the
payment of artists and engravers. During his life, he published three folio volumes
on birds ; and, after his death, several on other departments of natural history were
published at the expense of the Bolognese Senate. Aldrovandns describes and
gives figures of several varieties of fowls, as the Crested, a white fowl with a lark's
crest; the Dwarf (PtimiHo), a small breed of various colours, also crested ; the
Feather-legged ; the Turkish, with a double comb, and well developed wattles ;
the Persian, with short legs, and an enormous double comb ; the Frizzled Fowl ; the
Woolly Fowl, analogous to the Silky Fowl of the present day ; the Paduan, or
Patavinian breed : these he describes as follows : — " There are kinds of galli-
naceous birds, larger than ours, which are commonly called Patavinians. We present
pictures of the male and the female. The cock is exceedingly beautiful, being
richly decorated with five colours, viz. black, white, green, red, and ochre ; the
body black, the neck covered with white feathers, and the wings and the tail partly
black and partly gi'een ; the tail of the same hue, but the roots of the feathers
whitish, and some of the flight-feathers also white. The eyes are surrounded
by red circles, the comb is very small, the bill and feet yellow, and the head is
adorned with a beautiful crest. In the hen there is no white, except the white
pellicle at the opening of the ears. She is altogether of a greenish-black colour,
with yellow feet, and a very small comb, slightly tinged with red."

The figures given in the old folio of Aldrovandns are of great size ; but, on a
smaller scale,, they are correctly reproduced in the opposite plate. In the time of
Aldrovandns there were no poultry- shov/s, and consequently birds were often matched
together irrespective of colour and form : we must not, therefore, be surprised that
in the hen there arc not any wattles, but merely a fulness of the neck feathers,
tending towards a beard ; the cock, on the contrary, is well wattled, and has abun-
dance of sickle-feathers, or tail-coverts, though the whole of that appendage is very
short, which perhaps may. be accounted for by the circumstance that he was
probably a cockerel, being without even a trace of spurs on the legs.

Q 2

172 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

There can ho but littlo iloul)t tlmt these birds were tlic progenitors of the
present breeds known as Polands or Polish fowls ; under which title are included,
in our present nomenclature, those varieties of fowls characterized by the possession
of a very larj^'oly developed crest of feathers.

Of the origin of the Polish fowls, little or nothing is known : they arc not unfro-
quently stated to be the descendants of the great fowl of St. Jago ; hut as there are
more than twenty places in different quarters of the globe termed St. Jago, the infor-
mation is not of a very satisfactory character. With the kingdom of Poland, it is
certain they have no connection whatever ; whence, then, it may be asked, is tho
origin of the title by which they are so generally known ? By some writers this
name has been declared to be a recent innovation ; but the White-crested Black
have been known by it to the London dealers for at least half a century ; and in
the earliest editions of " Mowbray on Domestic Poultry," they are termed Polands.
The most satisfactoiy solution to the question is that offered by the late Dr.
Horner, who wrote as follows : "In scientific nomenclature, it has ever been the
practice to designate new genera, species, or varieties, from certain resemblances
to other well-knoxNii or familiar things, or from certain striking features ; so has
it been, I conceive, with the Polish fowl.

" Its remarkably elevated, rounded, and prominent skull-cap, or poll, could not
escape the observation of the older naturalists. Again, the large crest of feathers,
or top-knot, is another attribute which must have bespoken consideration in any
name to be given to this variety of fowl. The term 2^<>ll i« not unfrequently used
to designate the feathers, hair, or even wool, on the head of an animal : so that
whether we look at the unique anatomical conformation of the bird's head, or at its
more ostensible bunch of feathers, it must have commanded attention. Its head
or poll was its peculiarity — i.e. the bird with the remarkable head or poll ; hence
Pollish or Polish fowl. It is quite evident that this bird has nothing to do with
the country of Poland; and the disease of the hair, Plica j^olonica, offers no analogy,
as in this disease the hair is closely matted to the head; and is usually also thin or
spare in quantity, very different to the full, erect, and flowing top-knot of the Polish
fowl."

Presuming this derivation to be correct, the superiority of the term Polish over
that of Polands is obvious, without taking into consideration the grammatical inac-
curacy of the latter title.

There are certain characteristics common to the whole gi-oup of Polish fowls,
which may be alluded to before entering upon a consideration of the different
varieties. The most important is the possession of the feathered crest, which in
the cocks is composed of long pointed feathers, closely resembling those of tho
hackle ; and, in the hens, of feathers of the ordinary character, rounded at the ex-
tremity. The crest in both sexes arises from a globular tuber, situated on the fore-
part of the skull : an intimate connection exists between the size of this swelling
and that of the crest. In all cases where the swelling is not largely developed,
there cannot exist a good crest ; and as this tuber is formed before birth, it is easy

THE POULTRY BOOK. 173

to select those chickens that will he well crested, immediately on their emerging
from the shell. Perhaps the most extraordinary circumstance connected with this
swelling is, that it contains by far the greater part of the brain — being, in fact, a
protuberance of the frontal or forehead bone ; even in old fowls, however, this tuber
rarely becomes entirely bony, but consists in great part of membrane : hence there
is no protection for the brain beyond the feathers of the crest and the integuments;
so that a slight blow on the head, that would not affect an ordinary bird in the least,
will destroy a Polish fowl.

The peculiar structure of the skull of these crested fowls, was noticed as long
since as 1656, being described by Peter Borelli, in his " Histor. et Observat.
rarior.," page 154, and formed the subject of a chapter by the celebrated Blu-
menbach, who, in his work entitled " De Anomalis et Yitiosis Quibusdam Nisus
Formativi Aberrationibus Commentatio. Gottingae 1813," writes: —

** Those forces which act on the configuration of bones, may be observed in that
aberration of the formative nisus by which the primitive stock of animals de-
generates into constant and hereditary varieties.

*' As a sample of these, I may mention the remarkable variety of domestic
poultry which are distinguished by a thickly feathered crest on the head and by a
ball-like protuberance of the forehead connected with it.

*' After having subjected to the dissecting knife, and carefully compared with each
other, numerous heads of this variety at different ages, I think I have discovered
that the principal cause of the wonderful change of form is to be found in the tight
transverse construction of the integuments of the head. By this, the region of the
skull beneath is hindered to such a degree from its normal increase, that the brain
itself is tightly constricted, so that being pressed in front and raised upward, it, as
it were, inflates the fore part of the skull into a bony ball ; the occipital part of it,
on account of the smaller increase of the cerebellum, appears more depressed;
the skull itself, however, thus wonderfully inflated, becomes thinner than is usual
in other poultry.

"It is well known, moreover, that this serious alteration of form in the brain
exerts an influence on the intellectual faculties of these fowls ; they are almost
always, though in various degrees, stupid, and, as it were, without intelligence.

** What we have observed above concerning the aberrations of the formative
nisus, namely, that it occurs less frequently in animals of the male sex than
in females, is confirmed by the examples of this variety of poultry distinguished
by the protaberance on the head ; for of this deformity very slight traces indeed
are found in the cocks, and those but seldom.

" It is surprising that Pallas should have thought it probable that this variety
of poultry, afi'ected with the ball-like formation on the forehead, has been pro-
duced by a cross of the Numidian Meleagris with the common poultry : this
opinion, not to mention other things plainly contrary to it, is easily refuted on
careful dissection, by a comparison of the horned head of that bird with the
skulls of "the crested poultry. For in the Meleagris that small conical and com-

174

THE POULTRY BOOK.

pressed bony off-growth wliieli rests 0:1 the frontal p.irt of the head, is plainly
soliil, and has not the least connection with the cavity of the skull."

Blumcnbueh was evidently not intimately acquainted with this singular Viiricty of
fowls, as he makes several erroneous statements respecting their instincts and habits,
and states that the abnormal formation is confined to the female sex. Some
years since, the Editor, Mr. Tegetmeier, paid much attention to this very remark-
able aberration, and, having made a large number of preparations of the crania
of both sexes at different ages, read a paper on the subject before the members of
the Zoological Society, which was illustrated by engravings, and published in the
Proceedings of the Society.

The following cuts represent very faithfully this strange formation. The first
figure shows the entire skull of a Goldcn-spaugled Polish hen, the second that of a
Silver-spangled Polish cock, which has been divided by a vertical longitudinal
section : —

Fig. 1. Skull of a OcstoJ llci), sLowin^' the sjihi-rical tuberosity supporting the crest
and the deficiency of the intcrm;»xillary bones supjwrting tjic nostrils. '

Fig. 2. Section of the skull of a Crested Cock, showing the shape of the cavity
containing the brain.

By referring to these engravings, it will Ijc seen that the tuberosity, which is
situated on the fore part of the skull, is formed of bone, but that there arc several
apertures, which in the living animal are closed in by membrane.

On looking at the section, it may be noticed that the anterior part of the brain
is entirely contained in this tuberosity, so tliat tliis important organ is really of an
hourglass shape. This pecuharity in its form does not, however, as Blumenbach

THE POULTRY BOOK.

175

stated, appear to afifecL the instinct or intelligence of tlie birds, as they do not
diiier in these respects from other non-sitting varieties of domestic poultry. The
formation is connected in some very mysterious manner with the size of the crest
of feathers which ornaments the head of the Polish fowls : whenever there is a
large crest there is a large tuberosity, and vice versa — indeed, it appears impossible
for one to exist without the other.

The young when first hatched show the prominence most distinctly, each little
chick running about with a head that looks as if half a marble had been thrust
under the skin of the skull ; and by the size of the tuberosity, even at this early
age, the birds can be selected that will have the best developed crests.

Before the recent investigations of Mr. Tegetmeier and Mr. R. Palmer Williams,
of Dublin, so little was known about these birds that Blumenbach's errors remained
uncorrected ; and in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons there was a
skull described in the catalogue as the result of disease, whereas the peculiarity is
the natural formation in every variety of largely crested fowl, and may be found in
the Spangled PoHsh, both gold and silver ; in the White, and in the White-crested
Black, although the latter is evidently a very distinct breed.

Another marked peculiarity in the skulls of the Polish fowls is the deficiency in
the bones of the upper mandible. These bones (the intermaxillary) in most
fowls are arched upwards, and give due support to the membrane of the nostrils ;
in all the heavily crested birds, however, they are more or less deficient, as shown
in the figures of the Polish skulls on the pre^-ious page. The nostrils consequently
are flattened and scarcely so freely open as in other varieties.

The comb of the crested birds also assumes a peculiar character ; it consists of
two horns, forming a kind of crescent, as shown in the coloured engraving of the
Crevecoeurs. In good specimens of Polish, the comb is so very small as to be
almost wanting, but, however minute, the two-horned character is almost always
visible on close inspection, unless, indeed, as not unfrequently occurs, its entire
extinction has been effected by artificial aid.

The Polish fowls, as a class, are constituted of several well marked and very
distinct varieties. Among the best Imown are the White-crested Black, the Gold
and the Silver Spangled, the Pure White, the Pure Black, the Blue, and the Buff
spangled with white, without including in the group those nearly related to the
crested breed, known as Sultans, Houdans, Crevecoeurs, &c., &c.

The White-crested Black are better known throughout England than the other
varieties. AVe will, therefore, take them first on our list. Respecting this breed,
Mr. P. Jones, one of the oldest Polish fanciers, writes as follows : —

" They are not a hardy or prolific fowl, except under very fiivourable circum-
stances with regard to locality, temperature, sun, &c. ; they will not do well in
damp, low-lying situations ; but I believe that in a dry atmosphere, with dry, sandy
or chalky soil, and plenty of room, they may be reared very successfully and with
profit. With regard to th-cir appearance, there can be no denying their claims to
personal beauty ; in fact, I think few sights so pretty as about a dozen well-matched

17G

THE POULTRY BOOK.

perfect specimens in good condition on a smooth lawn or well-kept run ; l)ut, on the
contrary, nothing can look more deplorable than to see them in had condition, with
their crests saturated with mud and water, tails drooping, and heads hctwceu their
shoulders, and snuffling and sneezing with roup, to which disease there are few
fowls more liable, and few more diflBcult to cure. I have known apparently sound
healthy birds from a good dry run in the south of England, put into an ordinarily
good yard near London, all stricken down in twenty-four hours, one half dying in
a week, while the surnvors presented the pitiable spectacle I have just described.
But I do not wish to discourage my readers from keeping this beautiful variety.
To those who live in suitable localities they will give both pleasure and profit, the
hens being good layers and non-incubators — these being, indeed, the attributes of
all the Polish varieties.

"The cock should be about 51b. or 61b. in weight, with a bold and graceful
carriage, the neck shghtly arched back towards the tail ; body round, short, and
plump, and with rather short leaden blue or black legs ; the colour of a uniform
deep black throughout, with iridescent tints on the neck, tail, and saddle feathers ;
the sickle-feathers should be quite free from grizzling with white ; the crest should
be large, full, and regular, well filled on the crown or centre of the head, and each
feather of a clear pure white ; in front, immediately over the beak, there are sure
to be a few black feathers, but of course the fewer and smaller the better ; there
should be no appearance of comb, but full, well-developed wattles of a brilliant red ;
the ear-lobes should be moderate in size and white in colour.

" The hens should be about 4 lb. to 5 lb., the body somewhat similar in form to
that of the cock, but rather more compact ; the crest very full and globular, without
any black feathers intermixed, and the fewer the better in front ; but wo should
never be deceived by any bird which may be shown without them, as, if not pre-
sent, they have been removed."

The following remarks on the breed are from the pen of Mr. Hewitt, who
formerly was in the possession of superior specimens of this variety : — " There
are few descriptions of poultry, if any, that are more truly ornamental than the
Black Polish ; the extreme contrast between the colours of the body feathers and
those of the crests rendering them not only a very conspicuous but univer-
sally admired breed, even among those individuals who are not exactly to be
classed among poultry amateurs. But, in justice, I must record my opinion in
their favour, as really useful as well as ornamental fowl. They are non-sitters,
and interminable layers, always providing, however, the locality suits them.
The subsoil for them (to ensure complete success) must bo dry, and the situation
of their run not exposed to cold damp raw biting winds. If not possessed
already of these natural advantages of locality, then I would very strongly advise
any amateur to select some more hardy kind of poultry, or he may involuntarily
subject himself to much trial of temper and unnecessary vexation. If once
they should happen to become diseased. White-crested Black Polish are assuredly
the most diliicult of any description of fowls to restore to health, by any medical

m

THE POULTRY BOOK. 177

appliances with wliich I am acquainted. There is little doubt in my mind that
this is greatly induced by the large quantity of moisture the top-knots will retain
during drizzling hazy weather. The feathers of the crests are placed in a
position rather to hold than repel damp ; and from retaining it for some hours, the
cold and moisture combined of course superinduce disease — more particularly as
regards colds in the eyes, and in the head generally. For this reason, PoHsh of
all kinds require shelter that is always available in cases of sudden rains, even
more particularly than other breeds of poultry. If, however, well provided with
this accommodation, and likewise enjoying a dry warm walk, there is not any
variety that I think more remunerative, so far as the production of a large number
of eggs is considered ; it is worthy of especial note, also, that the eggs produced
are of a superior quality for the table. As it may possibly prevent the like
misfortune to some others, who are now commencing their poultry career as
amateurs, I will briefly mention a circumstance that cost me some loss at the
onset of my fancy for Polish. In those cases where the crests are fully developed,
it is perfectly impossible for the birds to see any approach from behind, and,
consequently, Polish are naturally very timid of coming danger, probably from
feeling their inability to avoid it : it was, doubtless, from these causes that in
some instances, when I suddenly caught or rather quickly picked up the birds, they
have instantaneously died in my hands from apoplexy, without any real injury from
external pressure. A slight shudder and indistinct gurgling noise were the only
accompaniment of their sudden decease. This disaster seemed to be particularly
common among those chickens that, hitherto enjoying an unlimited wild run, had,
for increased safety from thieves, been removed to close quarters. After its un-
pleasant repetition (and that generally in the cases of my very best birds) I never
took them into hand without first speaking to them ; and from that hour I never
lost another specimen by the cause complained of.

''In no class of fowls has trimming been so universally carried out at our
poultry- shows as in Black Polish ; indeed the difficulty is generally to find a pen
in which the crests have been left as naturally grown. This arises from the fact
that the less black they show around the top-knots the better ; and hence some
owners are so daring as to actually remove all such feathers as they deem objection-
able. Wherever so gross a case of tampering has fallen under my notice, I have
considered it my duty to disqualify the birds immediately ; although it seems to
have been a deception that, beyond all others, has been countenanced by some of our
poultry judges. I do not myself endorse the opinion that trimming in one class
is less objectionable than in others ; indeed, I hope that the practice will not be
longer indulged in, as in close inspections it is generally discoverable, and most
undoubtedly, in fairness to the conscientious exhibitor, it ought to be discoun-
tenanced.

" Having for some years paid extreme attention to the culture of this elegant
variety, I will just mention the results of my experience. In the first place, the
crests are, without doubt, their most prominent characteristics ; and to breed them

178 THE POULTRY BOOK.

woll-formcJ aud extremely large is a great tlcsidoratum. I rcpcatcclly proved that
a first-rate crested cock, tliongli mated to a Leu with a somewhat indillerent top-
knot, produced far better chickens than where the selection was reversed ; I would
therefore strongly enjoin the greatest care in the well-advised selection of the male.
In reference to hatching, the eggs must he incubated by some other hen. In
the choice of this foster-mother, I would state that large hens are very objec-
tionable, as Black Polish chickens seem even more susceptible of injury than those
of other descriptions. Cochin hens are very apt to leave their chickens before
they arc five or six weeks old ; and as this happens to be a period of peculiar
fatality to broods of young Polish, they should not be employed as their foster-
mothers. No hens will, it is certain, prove more vigilant, successful, and enduring
mothers than game hens. As young Polish are apt to droop away suddenly, I will
relate the treatment I found most beneficial. I gave them full feed of crushed
hemp- seed, chopped cheese, and maggots from stale flesh — the latter well scoured
for some days in bran or sand, to cleanse them from impurities : it proved a very
easy remedy and successful mode of treatment."

The circumstance that White-crested Black Polish require a dry sandy run, and
warm sheltered situation, is proved by the fact that several of our most successful
exhibitors reside on the dry sandy soil of the New Forest.

From the "VMiite-crested Black Polish, as from the Black Spanish and all other
black-plumaged fowls, are occasionally produced perfectly white birds, with light
eyes and the other features which have obtained for such productions the name of
"Albinos." They are both slight in frame and delicate in constitution; and wc
cannot recommend the attempt to breed from them, their produce being of a most
unsatisfactory descripliou, both as regards form and colour. They are, it should
be remembered, perfectly distinct from the Bearded White Polish.

CHAPTER XVI.

SPANGLED AND WHITE POLISH FOWLS.

"VT 0 sooner do we quit the White-crested Black Polish than the question of the
-L^ relative superiority of the bearded or wattled birds immediately presents itself,
as all the other varieties of Polish occasionally exhibit birds with and without the
beard. The beardless birds, however, have of late years gone entirely out of favour,
and, as we think, deservedly so, as they are inferior in all the characteristics of
Polish to the bearded varieties. Mr. Baker, of Chelsea, states, that "having been
lately in the south of France, where the Polish are much prized and infinitely
superior to any we have in this country, I was enabled to make further inquiries as
to the relative purity of the bearded and unbearded varieties, both Gold and Silver
Spangled, and was then fully confirmed in my opinion as to the superiority of the
former. I perfectly recollect that, some twenty years ago, there was a club of Polish
fanciers at Pdngolane, v/here the well-developed beard was considered of as much
consequence as a good crest."

In the bearded Polish, immediately below the cheek, and covering the front of
the throat, is a collection of elongated feathers, regularly imbricated and of trian-
gular form; the broadest part, or base, is uppermost, extending in a lino, as
whiskers, below the eyes. These feathers, from the base to the point below, should
occupy a space of about two inches. In the unbearded birds, the neck is compara-
tively slender, and destitute of the voluminous haclde that encircles that of the
bearded varieties : the wattles are large, and the ear-lobe, from the absence of the
ruff, more apparent. The skull, too, is less rounded, and, as a consequence, the
crest less perfect, especially in the Gold-spangled, which, as it has been well said,
appear to be waiting for some lucky accident to give to them good top-knots. The
principal features of the Polish family — the protuberant breast, arched tail, and
rounded body— are common to the varieties noAv under consideration and the
White-crested Black; but the latter are shorter on the leg and of less weight than
the spangled birds.

Of the spangled birds the Silvers may first claim our attention ; and here wc
gladly avail ourselves of the assistance of Mr. P. Jones, of Fulham, a most experi-
enced breeder and successful exhibitor of this beautiful variety.

" The weight of a spangled cock should not be under six pounds— from that to
seven and a half pounds is large enough; but a tall large bird shows advanta-
geously, not only in the poultry-yard, but in a show-pen. The size of the hen is

180 THE POULTRY BOOK.

not very important in Polish; from four to live and a half pounds is a good average
weight.

" The carriage of the cock is bold an(J erect to an extreme degree ; the breast is
thrown well forward, the head and tail carried well up; the wings rather low, so as
to show the bars and the lacing ; the general form of the body is round and plump,
the keel of the breastbone well covered with flesh ; body short; the neck moderate
in length and gracefully arched. In the hens the form of the body is round and
compact ; the head and tail carried well up.

** The plumage of the cock is ample and flowing, and should be well and evenly
marked ; the feathers of the crest, neck, and saddle long, but abundant and strong
in the shaft ; the fluft' on the abdomen should be very short; the ground colour of
the plumage must be of the purest clear white, and markings of intense metallic
black. In the hen the plumage is rather close and compact on the back ; the fluff
short, but ample. Clearness of ground colour, and intensity of black in the mark-
ings, are very important.

"The neck-haclde in the cock is very abundant; formed of long and strong
feathers, which are white at the base, edged and tipped with black, the hackle
should come well forward to the front of the neck, and on to the shoulders — the
more free from a straw or yellow tinge the better. In the hen the hackle is full,
but rather short, making the neck appear thick; each feather should be well marked
with a dark black spangle.

" The saddle of the cock should flow well round the tail and rump, and hang
well down ; that portion behind the thighs is frequently white, but in perfect birds
all the saddle-feathers are beautifully tipped with black. In the hen the saddle
feathers are rather long towards the tail, each one being boldly spangled.

" The cock's tail should be long, ample, and flowing ; Avith well arched centre
sickle-feathers, abundantly furnished with beautifully marked tail covert-feathers.
No variety of domesticated poultry has a finer or handsomer tail, when fully deve-
loped. The sickle-feathers should be purely white, each being tipped with a largo
black spot. The tail in the hen is somewhat large ; each feather should have a
clear white ground, ending in a large lustrous black spangle. This is a great
desideratum.

" The breast, in both sexes, should be well and evenly spangled from the throat
to the thighs, with moon-shaped black markings on the purest white ground. The
breasts of the cocks have generally a tendency to be too dark, and are sometimes
quite black in the upper part.

" The shoulder of the cock should be a little lighter than the general average
of colour — this, to my mind, is a great improvement ; but it should be lightly
spangled or spotted. That of the hen, though well spangled, is somewhat liable
to get short of colouring after the second year.

" The feathers forming the wing coverts or bars in both sexes must, to constitute
good birds, be well and boldly spangled, so as to constitute two transverse bars,
united by delicate lacing; this is an important and necessary condition, and

21Z'7'£1K 'iP (D JL H 2 IH,

THE POULTRY BOOK. 181

must be insisted on. The bars in the hen are the same as in the cock, but are
less bold and defined.

" The secondary quills should have a clear white ground, with a large green-
black spangle at the end of each feather. The thighs of the Spangled Polish are
long, and should be well spangled to the hock. The legs and feet blue, fine in
bone, with neat scales, and the toes rather long.

"The crest, which is the most striking characteristic of the Polish breed, is
long in the best cocks, very large and full, extending regularly all round, and
hiding the head and part of neck ; it should have no vacancy in centre ; each feather
of the crest should be black at base, white for some distance in the centre, and,
finally, if tipped with black it is perfect. The crest of the hen should be very
large, ample, and compact, forming a globular mass of feathers, regular in shape ;
each feather w^ell and evenly marked, with a white eye in the centre. After a year
or two most hens get a few white feathers in the crest, but the less they are in
number the better. In neither sex should there be any perceptible comb or
wattles, but in place of the latter a large, triangular- shaped, black or spangled
heard.

"The ear-lobe in Spangled PoHsh should be small and white ; the face hardly
seen, being covered with feathers and hidden by crest. The colour of the eye
should be dark, that of the beak blue, to match the legs and feet."

In addition to these characteristics of the breed, Mr. Jones has kindly favoured
us with the following remarks : — " There is, perhaps, scarcely any breed of
domestic poultry about which there exists, amongst amateurs, such a diversity
of opinion as to what should constitute a perfect bird, as in the case of Silver
Polish. Some breeders say they should be spangled; others, again, hold that
they were originally a laced fowl. Some maintain that they should be bearded ;
others that they should be beardless, and furnished with wattles like their relatives
the White-crested Black. Again, it used to be urged that the hens should
have white crests : now a white crest is regarded as a disqualification. With
reference to the first question, whether the birds should be spangled or laced,
it will not be denied that many of the best birds which have been exhibited at
our leading shows, have had a tendency to lacing ; that is to say, the spangle,
as it is called, instead of being confined to the end of the feather, has had more the
shape of an elongated crescent, the horns running up the edges of the feather.
This is more particularly to be observed on the breast and back of the hens ; but
in some of the cocks this lacing has been equally well defined on the breast.
It is a remarkable fact that from the same parents are sometimes produced
both laced and spangled chickens. The question of beards or wattles has now
pretty well resolved itself into beards, and the larger the better. I confess my
predilection is in favour of the beard, — as it appears much more in character
with the general attributes of the bird, one of which is abundant plumage in
every part.

" With regard to tails, I like a clear tail in the hen; and, however anomalous

182 THE POULTRY BOOK,

it may appear, I do not object to have the feathers beautifully and slij^litly mossed
or mottled in the cock, ^Yith a p:ood and well-defined blotch at the tip : if the
mossint:, however, is heavy, the beauty and distinctness of the spangled tip is
lost.

" As to their merits as a useful as well as ornamental variety, I may say that,
having kept them somewhat successfully (as the prize lists of most of the leading
shows some few years back will l)ear witness) for several years, and having
attended to them entirely myself, I can speak with the greatest confidence on
the subject.

" That they may be kept and bred in very small and confined places, I know;
but I also know they do much better if they have the advantage of an extended
run : but in this latter case they require a great deal of attention, as the crests are
apt to become clogged with wet and mud, which in smaller places, from the
necessity for constant cleanliness, is to a great extent avoided. In some situations
I have had whole clutches of chickens reared year after year without the loss of a
single bird, except by accident ; while at others, and even at home, I have some-
times lost whole broods at about six weeks old : the first had to shift almost for
themselves, while the others had every care bestowed on them. From the moment
of hatching to six or eight weeks old, nothing can be hardier ; but from that ago
up to five or six months, I have found them difficult to rear at home, although, as
I stated before, I have had from country runs eight and ten from a brood four
months old, all healthy plump birds. As table chickens, I prefer them for their
great delicacy. As layers during the spring and summer months, I believe they
are second to none ; and the eggs being of a good average size, would certainly
stand the test of weight, in the aggregate, with almost any other variety. I
have had them laying from January to October, and being non-sitters, the in-
dividual produce during that time is considerable. They are more easily kept
within bounds by a fence of moderate height than many other varieties, par-
ticularly if the bottom part of the fence, to the height of about eighteen inches,
be quite close ; because, although they undoubtedly have the full use of their
■^'iDgSj ys^ their upward range of vision being circumscribed by the overhanging
crest, and the close bottom to the fence preventing their seeing beyond in that
direction, they are fain to content themselves where they are. I believe them to be
naturally of a contented disposition, and form attachments to their feeders more
rapidly than any other variety. I have had a cock A\hich would at any hour of the
night fly from his perch by candle-light at my call, and feed from my hand ; in
fact, almost every Polish fowl I ever had would feed from my hand during the day.
As adult birds, I do not find them more liable to disease than others. As exhibition
fowls my experience certainly proves they will stand the wear and tear of travelling
and excitement of the show-room — as well as their unavoidable attendant, long absti-
nence—at any rate quite as well as any other variety ; and if I were to say
better, I do not think I should be Avide of the mark. To sum up — and making
every allowance for my own peculiar taste — I believe they stand at the top of the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 183

list of fancy poultry ; combining, as they do, with their universally acknowledged
beauty, so many of the points of excellence found in those varieties which are bred
more for utility than ornament."

With regard to the disputed question as to whether these birds should be really
spangled, as their name implies, or laced, we cannot but agree with Mr. Jones that
some of the best birds that have been exhibited have been of the latter description.
Most amateurs and judges, however, declare strongly in favour of spangling in
preference to lacing, and this opinion is supported by the high authority of the
" Standard of Excellence." That good birds of this variety existed many jears
since, may be gathered from the following communication from Mr. Hewitt : — ■
" Spangled Polish certainly did exist, bred as truly to feather as any other variety
of fowls, within the space of some twenty-five years. About that time I had
opportunities of closely inspecting them, as they were kept within a few doors of
the house in which I then resided. From this circumstance I can speak with the
most entire confidence of the exactness of the following brief description. In size
they very closely resembled those to which we now give the designation of Spangled
Polish ; but they differed in the extraordinary intensity of the blue colour of the
legs ; the spurs in the adult males were of ivory whiteness, and had a tendency to
turn up, until they nearly touched the knee-joints. Of combs they had not even
the rudiment ; and the wattles were only slightly developed. The ear-lobes were
florid, tinged with white about their centres. The ground colour of the plumage
was white, the whole of the feather being clear, without any lineal markings, and
simply tipped with an iridescent black spangle. In the hens this marking was
nearly circular, and without the slightest vestige of white beyond it. In the cocks,
particularly the old ones, the crests flowed freely on all sides, and eventually
became an impediment to their feeding, unless the corn was placed in a trough.
The feathers in their crests, being naturally of a similar conformation to those of
the neck-hackle, showed a fringe of white beyond the black spot towards the tip.
The tails of both sexes were clear, spangled at the extremity, as in the Silver-
spangled Hamburghs ; the side tail-coverts of the cock being spangled also :
adding greatly to the beauty of the bird. On the saddle of the hens, where the
feathers closely overlapped, the distinctness of the spots gave way to a somewhat
increased depth of colour, that was really objectionable ; still, any of these feathers,
examined separately, proved to be equally correctly spangled. The wings were
simply double ' barred,' by the close position of the spangles ; but no sign of side-
lacings was perceptible. The lesser flight-feathers were well marked at the ex-
tremities only. The first imported parent birds, that came originally from Lisbon,
were Silvers ; but in the course of a few generations they sported several Golden
chickens, but always marked as their predecessors. These were purposely mated
for two successive years, without any possibility whatever of access to their
lighter-coloured relatives ; yet, strange to say, they never bred any but Silver
chickens,- and those without the least impurity of the ground colour. These
spangled birds proved themselves most abundant layers and non-sitters, and

184 THE POULTRY KOOK.

apparently enjoyed much Imrdicv constitutions than any of ouv present varieties of
Polish. Having given the most perfect description I now can from recollection, I
cannot conclude without bearing testimony to their superlative beauty. I have
striven to obtain some of this strain, but I found, on inquiry, to my great chagrin,
that the poultry had passed into other hands. The new owners were no fanciers,
and to improve them they had for many years crossed them with the Game ;
and I was consequently nonsuited."

The Golden-spangled Polish differ so slightly from the Silvers, that a detailed
description of their characteristics is not required ; as, after making due allowance
for the difference in ground colour, the same remarks will, with scarcely any
variation, apply to both varieties.

The late Dr. Horner, of Hull, who was long known as one of the most
diligent and successful amateurs of this variety, kindly favoured us with the
following remarks on the breed: — ''As to carriage (I write of the Golden,
which I keep), it is nearly as bumptious as that of the Bantam ; the breast
being very protuberant, the tail very full and flowing, and well arched upon the
back.

" As to comb, there should not be any, not even a spike. I do allow a very
small patch of red comb-like structure, the size of a small split pea, lying close
like skin, at the root of the bill ; but no spikes. The feathers of the top-knot are
not simply red, for the lower part is black, the extension of the black up the
feather differing a little in different birds ; l)ut always should be there. In a
properly marked hen, the top-knot should be spangled like the rest of the body,
and not black. Now, as to white feathers in the top-knots of cocks, and hens also,
they are always present in birds two years old and upwards ; they are commonly
absent till the birds are a year old, but they will surely come, in greater or less
number, with the autumnal moult. Their presence must not be considered a fault.
Possibly, as a matter of taste, some would like them without white ; whilst others
certainly prefer them with white feathers.

" As to tail in the cock, it is generally black, bordered with chestnut, as arc the
sickle-feathers also ; but the smaller side w-avy feathers are like those of the body,
rich chestnut, edged with iridescent black. The tail of the hen is chestnut, tipped
with black. The cock's tail is often grizzled with white, and the hen's often
speckled and scratchy with black : such markings are, of course, to be regarded as
imperfections.

" The crest of the cock must not be flattened at the top, as in such cases the
feathers are too thin and long ; nor should it divide down the middle like a girl's
hair. It must, as far as possible, preserve a rounded globular form, which it will
do if the feathers are plentiful and not too long. I may just further add, that the
Polish is a spangled bird ; and hence I consider lacing (except on the wings) as an
imperfection. I strongly object to lacing on the breast of cocks — not an uncommon
thing to see; lacing on the backs of hens, that is, on tlic saddle and rump, is also
wrong — the feathers should be spangled."

(D(DE.ID:EH»SIPi!ini2!LlEID IPdDILHglH.

THE POXJLTEY BOOK. 185

The White Polish differ essentially, as we have already observed, from the
occasional white si^ecimens produced from the White-crested Black with wattles,
and are a distinct and recognized variety ; their chickens, both in colour, vigour, and
all other respects, bearing an exact resemblance to the parents. They are un-
questionably derived from the bearded spangled birds, inferior specimens distinctly
shoTving faint smudgy spangles on the feathers of the breast, &c. ; which, however,
are totally absent in really first-class birds. They have not been so frequently seen
of late years at the poultry-shows as their beauty and economical merits render
desirable. White Polish possess all the characteristics of the family in the
highest possible degree, the crests in good specimens are very large and perfect ; and
our experience leads us to regard them as hardier and more easily reared on a
clayey soil than either the Golden or Silver Spangled.

Black-bearded Polish are occasionally seen at our poultry- shows, but can hardly
be regarded as an established variety. The Editor's own experience leads him to
regard them as an occasional production from the White birds — at least his own
White occasionally produced Black ; but he is unable to state what the characteris-
tics of the chickens bred from the Black would be, as he has never attempted to
rear any.

The Blue or Grey Polish are also the frequent produce of the White Polish,
which they resemble in all characteristics except colour ; as might be expected
from their accidental origin, they cannot be depended upon to produce chickens
closely resembling the parents, but occasionally throw cuckoo, white, or speckled
produce.

The Cuckoo Polish, resembling in markings the Cuckoo Dorkings, are another
occasional variation from the bearded breeds ; but they have not been received with
much favour at the hands of the public.

Buff Polish— or Chamois Polish, as they are sometimes called, though for what
reason it would be very difficult to explain — are exceedingly pretty when truly
marked and well crested. To be perfect, these birds should resemble the Golden-
spangled, with these important differences, — namely, that the feathers should be
spangled with white instead of black, and that the ground colour should be a
delicate buff in the hens, with a greater degree of depth and richness of colour in
the cocks. From these birds ha\dng only recently come into notice, they have not
been bred up to this high standard of merit ; but those that approach to it are
exceedingly ornamental, and evidently would amply repay the trouble of a few
years' careful selection and breeding.

It is a singular circumstance that when a variation of colour takes place
in the plumage of birds, the change from black to white appears to be much
more easily effected than from any other colour to white. Thus, when black,
red, and white Game fowls are crossed. Piles are produced, in which the black dis-
appears, but the red of the saddle and hackle remains. By crossing a Golden-
spangled and White Polish, these Spangled Buff or Chamois Polish are produced.

186 THE POULTRY BOOK.

iu which the black spangle of the Golden bird is changed into the white spangle
of the Bull*, the ground colour remaining almost unchanged.

The Black-crested White Polish may next claim our consideration, as there is
abundant e\'idenco to prove that such a breed formerly existed. Mr. R. Palmer
"Williams, of Dublin, a gentleman who has paid gi-eat attention to the history of
the diflereut varieties of crested fowls, has favoured us with the following remarks
on these birds : — " The breed, up to about thirty years ago, was to be had in some
parts of Ireland, as I have been informed by friends who knew it well and describe
it as a very superior one ; they were extinguished, I may say, in consequence of a
famine and there being no Poultry Societies in those days. A few years after this
time, I heard of the breed, and tried to procure it ; and having heard that it was
to be had at Bordeaux, I went specially for it, but was informed that there, as well
as at Paris, the breed had been, but was not then, to be met with ; so that it would
appear that about the same time it vanished eveijwhere. From time to time I
picked up birds from which I thought to have recovered the breed : and had I had
the fine specimens of Crested White fowl now to be obtained, I think the breed
might have been recovered. The last of those I had, a hen, is now in the
museum of the DubHn Natural History Society. Her crest is black, and a few of
the hackle-feathers black. The parties who last had the Black-crested WTiite in
Ireland were the descendants of the French Huguenots at Portarlington and
Maryborough, which would lead me to expect the breed came from France, if not
from HoUand."

Mr. B. P. Brent also states respecting them : — " The last good specimen I
saw was in the year 1854, at St. Omer in France; it was a hen, and belonged. to a
boat-builder, who lived by the canal. She was of large size, so that the Malays in
the same jard appeared small in comparison ; her colour was white, with a large
black top-knot, some few of the feathers of which were, however, tipped with white :
her bill and feet were dark slate-colour, shape very plump and round. Her owner
described her as an excellent layer, the eggs being also of large size. He had
endeavoured to get others of the same breed, especially a cock, but hitherto without
success, although they were said to exist in Brittany."

The Editor of the present edition of the " Poultry Book," Mr. Tegetmeier,
endeavoured for a series of years to reproduce this breed by crossing the different
varieties of Polish — having as his foundation a white hen that showed a tendency
to dark in the crest. The experiments were only partially successful : there was no
difficulty in producing white chickens with black crests ; but white feathers made
their appearance in the crests the first autumn, and increased in number at every
subsequent moult; so that after a few seasons the birds lost all beauty of
appearance. Still it may be regretted that the experiment was not continuously
persevered with, as doubtless it would have required but a few more years of
careful selection to have resuscitated one of the most beautiful of all the orna-
mental breeds.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 187

The results of crossing Polish with other varieties are described in the
previous or following chapters. Eespecting the interbreeding of the Golden, Silver,
and Black varieties, Dr. Horner states : " When the Golden or Silver Spangled
are crossed with each other, cock with hen, or hen with cock, I found that the
chickens in both cases were purely marked — i.e. they were well defined Silver, or
otherwise Golden, Spangled. But when the Golden- spangled and the Beardless
Black, with white crest, are thus united, the chickens partake of the colour of
both parents in various degrees."

THE SERAI TA-OOK, OR SVLTAN FOWLS.

CHAPTEE XVII.

SULTAN FOWLS.

^HE Sultans, or Feather-footed White Polish, are a very elegant and pleasing
-*- variety : they were first imported into this country from Turkey, hy Miss Watts
of Hampstead ; their exceedingly ornamental appearance has gained them many
admirers, and they are now estahlished favourites at our shows. The following
description of them was puhlished hy the lady ahove-mentioned : —

" Tlic Serai-Tciook, or Fouis of the Sultan. — This is the last Polish fowl
introduced among us : they partake of the character of Polish in their chief
characteristics, in compactness of form and good laying qualities. They were sent
to us by a friend living at Constantinople, in January, 1854. A year before, we
bad sent him some Cochin-China fowls, with which he was very much pleased ;
and when his son soon after came to England, he said he could send from Turkey
some fowls with which we should be pleased. Scraps of information about muffs,
and divers beauties and decorations, arrived before the fowls, and led to expecta-
tions of something much prettier than the pretty Ptarmigan, in which we had
always noticed a certain uncertainty in tuft and comb.

"In January they arrived in a steamer chiefly manned by Turks. The voyage
had been long and rough ; and poor fowls so rolled over and glued into one mass
with filth were never seen. Months afterwards, with the aid of one of the first
fanciers in the country, we spent an hour in trying to ascertain whether the feathers
of the cock were white or striped, and almost concluded that the last was the true
state of the case, although they had been described by our friend as ' bellissimi
galli bianchi.'

THE POULTRY BOOK. 189

" We at once saw enough to make us very unwilling to be entirely dependent for
the breed on the one sad-looking gentleman, with his tuft heavy with dirt, dirt for
a mantle, and Ms long clogged tail hanging round on one side ; and we wrote directly
for another importation, especially for a cock, and to ask the name they had at
home. In answer to the first request, we found that good fowls of the land are
diflEicult to get there ; our friend has ever since been trying to get us two or three
more, but cannot succeed either in Constantinople or other parts of Turkey : the
first he can meet with will be sent. "With regard to the name, he told us they are
called Serai-Taook. Serai, as is known by every reader of Eastern lore, is the
name of the Sultan's palace ; Taook is Turkish for fowl ; the simplest translation
of this is, ' Sultan's fowls,' or ' fowls of the Sultan ; ' a name which has the
double advantage of being the nearest to be found to that by which they have been
known in their own country, and of designating the country from which they came.

" Time very soon restored the fowls to perfect health and partial cleanliness ; but
it was not until after the moulting season that they showed themselves as the
' bellissimi galli bianchi ' described by our Constantinople friend.

** They rather resemble our White Polish, but with more abundant furnishing,
and shorter legs, which are vulture-hocked and feathered to the toes.

** In general habits they are brisk and happy-tempered ; but not kept in as easily
as Cochin-Chinas. They are very good layers ; their eggs are large and white ; they
are non-sitters and small eaters. A grass run with them will remain green long
after the crop would have been cleared by either Brahmas or Cochins ; and with
scattered food they soon become satisfied, and walk away.

" In size. Sultans are smaller than the generality of Polish, the cocks weigh-
ing from four to five pounds ; the hens being in proportion. In form they are
very plump, full-crested, short-legged, and compact ; the plumage pure and un-
sullied white throughout, and very abundant ; their tails are ample, and carried
erect ; their thighs are short, and furnished with feathers which project beyond
the joint, or, as it is termed, are vulture-hocked. Their legs are short, white,
and profusely feathered to the feet, which are five-toed. The comb consists of
two small spikes, situated at the base of a full- sized globular Polish crest ; the
wattles are rudimentary, both sexes being amply bearded. No fowls are more
abundantly decorated — full tail, abundant furnishing, boots, vulture hocks, beards,
whiskers, and full round Polish crests. Good birds of this variety possess the
peculiar structure of the skull that has already been described as characterizing
the Polish breeds."

At the present time, the most successful breeder and exhibitor of this very
pretty variety is Mr. F. W. Zurhorst, of Donnybrook, to whom we are indebted for
the following account of their characteristics and habits : —

"A Sultan cock should have a full round crest, not branching out on either side,
like too many of our modern Polish, and leaving an open space in the centre, but
formed of closely set, silky, arched feathers, not concealing the eyes, but leaving
them unobscured. The small red wattles ought to be smooth, but are generally a

IJO

THE POULTRY BOOK.

little wTiukled autl slirivellcJ. The comb is small and spiky, though iu some
of the pure-bred specimens it becomes occasionally largo, coarse, and branched.
Both sexes have the neck full and arched : that of the cock is clotlied with a full
ample hackle. The tail is furnished with abundant sickle feathers, the throat is
fully muffled, the breast plump, the body square and compact; the legs closely
feathered, and furnished with those accessory plumes which constitute what is
known as vulture hocks.

" The legs, as old age approaches, are apt to got red, swollen, and inflamed, a fact
that I attribute to the pccuharity of the spur gro\nng iu a curved form round the
leg, the point generally growing in, and producing, in old age, considerable irritation.
My old birds are all so, and the pure-bred young ones inherit this peculiarity. I
have also noticed it in those specimens I have seen at shows, which looked like the
pure strain.

" Sultans are abundant layers of moderate-sized eggs. As adults they are as
hardy as any birds I know, with the exception of the tendency to cold, to which all
crested birds are subject if unsheltered during rainy weather ; but the chickens,
from their rapid and early feathering, are difficult to rear, evidently suffering
severely from the extra strain on their young constitutions. Sultans are small
feeders : from their quick, lively, and eccentric ways, they make most interesting
pots.

" In my o'mi indindual opinion they are unquestionably an original and pure
breed, entirely distinct from any other crested breed I am acquainted with ; the
fifth toe and other characteristic peculiarities being transmitted in pure specimens
with the greatest certainty.

" They have e-s-idently been largely crossed with other varieties, thus producing
the spurious breed formerly known as Ptarmigans ; the small flat falling crest,
exposed red face, absence of muffling, and slight shank-feathering, being abun-
dant proofs of a deteriorating cross.

" At the same time, I believe that an infusion of fresh blood is much wanted;
and I thought myself singularly fortunate when a friend described minutely
a white-crested bird which a lady had had given her by the captain of a vessel
from the Mediterranean, requesting to know the name of the breed. Evidently
Sultan, I thought ; and without much delay a negotiation for an exchange was
entered into, which resulted in my receiving an exact counterpart of the old
hens I had — direct descendants of the birds first imported by Miss Watts —
and fully confirming her interesting account of the original introduction of the
breed into this country. I have since bred many birds, and some of my finest
specimens, from the hen in question.

" From what I see at the shows, I cannot but think pure Sultans are very
scarce, and that many of the fowls so called are the result of modern attempts at
their manufacture.

" I believe I have said all I have to say respecting this variety, with tho
exception that, like most crested birds, they are non-sitters.

THE POULTRY BOOK.

191

" I trust that others, besides myself, will exert themselves to keep the pure
breed in existence ; for they are cheerful, lively, and prolific birds, an ornament
to any aviary, and easily kept in confinement."

A few years since, some very inferior specimens of Feather-legged White Polish
were imported, and, under the name of Ptarmigan fowls, were exhibited at several
of the poultry- shows. They attracted considerable attention at the time of their
introduction ; but were so inferior in size of crest and in character of comb to the
Sultans, that the latter have thrown them completely into the shade.

The Kumpless Polish, or Ghondooks, muSt be included amongst the varieties of
crested fowls. These very remarkable birds were first introduced by Mr. Higgs,
of Southampton, who exhibited a pen of Black Ghondooks, some few years since,
when, from their extraordinary conformation, they attracted great attention. They
were small Polish, with crests not fully developed, bearded, vulture-hocked, feather-
legged, and perfectly rumpless, being totally destitute of that portion of the
backbone which forms the framework of the tail. Their carriage was pecuHarly
upright and striking; and altogether they were very remarkable fowls. Some
purely white Ghondooks were subsequently imported, and passed into the posses-
sion of the Editor. By carefully crossing these birds mth other crested fowls,
the size of their crests was much improved, without losing their peculiar charac-
teristics ; and in this mode a variety of well-crested Ptumpless Polish was established
some years since, when the White variety was very successfully exhibited by Mr.
Tegetmeier, and the Black by Miss Bush, of Clifton.

But little more remains to be said on the subject of any of the numerous
varieties of Polish. Their general management when chickens has already
been alluded to in the articles of Messrs. Hewitt and Jones ; one precaution,
however, may be suggested, viz. the desirability of removing the pipes or tubes
of membrane which surround the feathers of the crest, when the latter
have obtained their full length. In all the other feathers of the body this
is accomplished by the fowl itself : but it is obvious the beak cannot be applied
to the crest. By gently compressing each pipe between the thumb and finger
nail, it is broken and removed, and the feather at once expands to its full dimen-
sions. Care must be taken not to interfere with the feathers which have not
attained their full growth, as they are, when immature, easily pulled out, to the
serious injury of the crest.

The sexes of Polish are difficult to distinguish at an early age ; the first indica-
tion to be relied on consists in the form of the feathers of the crest. These are
much more pointed in the cockerels than in the j'oung pullets, and, to a practised
eye, afford a ready means of distinction. As to their diseases, in damp situations
they are liable to a chronic cold, apt to degenerate into roup ; and they are, if too
closely bred, liable to tuberculous diseases and deformity of the spine, causing
what is usually termed humpback. In these weakly bred specimens one hip is
very liable to be higher than the other, and the birds also show a great tendency
to become wry- tailed; consequently it is important not to interbreed closely, as

192

THE POULTRY Bt OK.

either of these defects amounts to a total disqualification in the exhibition pen,
and, moreover, they possess the serious disadvantage of being hereditary. Polish,
unless supplied Avith a sand-bath, are subject to be infested with vermin of a large
character, but which are readily destroyed by dusting flour of sulphur under the
feathers ; a common flour-drcdgcr, or pepper-castor, being employed for the
purpose.

CHAPTER XYIII.

THE FRENCH BREEDS :
HOUDANS, CREVECCEURS, LA FLECHE, LA BRESSE, GI'ELDRES, ETC.

rpHE rearing of poultry for the table has long been regarded as one of the
-L staple industries of the French people. As a rule their market fowls are far
superior to those of England, and are produced in much larger numbers. At
the present time, we are importing no less than six millions of eggs per week
from France, and purchasing them at a cheaper rate than they can be produced
in our own country. These circumstances render it most desirable that we
should ascertain what the conditions are under which our neighbours surpass
us in profitable poultry-keeping.

Attention has recently been directed to poultry-keeping in France by the pubH-
cation in this country of an account of a horse-feeding poultry establishment near
Paris. This ridiculous hoax would not have been worth notice had it not been
reproduced and commented upon by persons from whom better judgment might
have been expected. The account was reprinted in many of our first-class
periodicals — such as the Gardener's Chronicle, the Mark Lane Express, the
various agricultural journals, &c. So high an authority as Mr. Cuthbert S.
Johnston, F.R.S., pubHshed the following ai-ticle respecting it, in the Mark Lane
Express. Mr. Johnston states : —

*'With care and good management, no branch of domestic industry is more
profitable than rearing poultry. But then we must carefully attend to the pre-
cautions essential to secure success. Thus, many persons have supposed that
what is profitable on a small scale might be made still more so when merely
carried on to a larger extent ; but repeated experiments in this and other
countries have proved this to be a mistake. The secret of the matter is, that
hens cannot thrive and lay without a considerable quantity of animal food.
Where but a limited number of fowls are kept about the farm-yard, the natural
supply of insects is sufficient to meet this demand; but when attempts have
been made to extend the business beyond the source of supply, they have not
prospered. It will be seen from the following interesting account, that M. de
Sora, in France, has adopted a method that has proved completely successful,
by affording an artificial supply of this essential portion of their food.

"The French practical j)hilosophers cei-tainly know ho v.- to make the most
of things. Thus M. do Sora has the power of making hens lay every day in
the year by feeding them on horseflesh. The fact that hens do not lay eggs

s

194

TriE roVLTRY BOOK.

iu wiutor as well as iu summer is well kuowu, aud the simple reason appears
to be that they do not jret the supply of meat which they ol)taiii iu the warm
season from worms and insects. M. de Sora was aware of these facts, and
living at the time upon a dilajjidated estate a few miles from l^irls, the land
having been bequeathed to him a few years previously, he set himself earnestly
to the task of constructing a hcnery which should he i>roductive twelve months
in the year. He soon ascertained that a certain quantity of raw mincemeat,
given regularly with other food, produced the desired result ; and commencing
with only some 300 fowls, he found that they averaged the first year some twenty-
five dozen eggs in the 305 days. The past season he has wintered, thus iiir,
about 100,000 hens, and a fair proportion of male birds, with a close approxi-
mation to the same results. During the spring, summer, and autumn, they
have the range of the estate, but always under surveillance. In winter their
apartments are kept at an agreeable temperature ; and although they have
miucemeat rations the year round, yet the quantity is much increased during
the cold weather. They have free access to pure water, gravel, and sand, and
their combs are always red. To supply this great consumption of meat, M. de
Sora has availed himself of the superannuated and damaged horses which can
always be gathered from the stables of Pairis and the suburbs. The horses are
taken to an uhattoir owned by M. de Sora, and there neatly and scientifically
slaughtered. The blood is saved clean and unmixed with oifal. This is sold
for the purposes of the arts, at a remunerative price. The skin goes to the
tanner; the head, hoofs, shanks. Sec, to the glue-maker and Prussian-blue manu-
facturer; the large bones make a cheap substitute for ivory with the button-
maker; while the remainder of the osseous structure is manufactured into ivory
black, or used in the shape of bone-dust for agricultural purposes. Even the
marrow is preserved ; and much of the now fashionable and highly-perfumed
lip-salve and pomade was once enclosed in the leg-bones of old horses. Uses
are also found for the entrails ; and, in fact, no portion of the beast is wasted.

"The flesh is carefully dissected off the bones, and being cut into suitable pro-
portions, it is run through a series of revolving knives, the apparatus being similar
to a sausage machine of immense size, and is delivered in the shape of a homo-
geneous mass of mincemeat, highly seasoned, into casks, which are immediately
beaded up, and conveyed per railroad to the egg-plantation of I\I. de Sora.

" The consumption of horses for this purpose by :\i. de Sora has been at the
rate of twenty-two per day for the last twelvemonths, and so economical are all
his arrangements, that he is enabled to make a profit on the cost of the animals
by the sale of the extraneous substances (.'numerated above — thus furnishing to
himself the mincemeat for much less than nothing deUvcred at his henery. It
has been ascertained that a slight addition of salt and ground pepper to the mass
is beneficial to the fowls ; yet M. de Sora does not depend upon these conditions
alone to prevent putrefaction, but has his store-rooms so contrived as to be kept
at a temperature just removed from the freezing-point through the year, so that

THE POULTEY BOOK. 19 J

the mincemeat never becomes sour or offensive. The fowls cat it with avidity ;
they are ever in good condition, and they lay an egg almost daily in all weathers
and in all seasons. The sheds, offices, and other buildings are built around
a quadrangle, enclosing about twenty acres — the general feeding ground. This
latter is subdivided by fences of open paling, so that only a limited number of
fowls are allowed to herd together; and these are ranged into difterent apartments,
according to their age, no bird being allowed to exceed the duration of four
years of life. At the end of the fourth year they are placed in the fattening-coops
for about three vreeks, fed entirely on crushed grain, and then sent alive to the
city of Paris.

"As one item alone in this immense business, it may be mentioned that in the
months of September, October, and November last, M. de Sora sent nearly 1,000
dozens of capons to the metropolis. He never allows a hen to sit. The breeding-
rooms are warmed by steam, and the heat is kept up with remarkable uniformity
to that evolved by the fowl during the process of incubation, which is known to
then mark higher on the thermometer than at any other period. A series of
shelves, one above the other, form tlie nests, while blankets are spread over the
eggs to exclude any accidental light. The hatched chicks are removed to the
nursery every morning, and fresh eggs laid in to supply the place of empty shells.
A constant succession of chickens is thus ensured, and, moreover, the feathers
are free from vermin. jNI. do Sora permits the males and females to mingle
freely at all seasons, and after a fair trial of all the various breeds, has cleared
his establishment of every Shanghai and Cochin-China, breeding only from the
old-fashioned barn-yard chanticleers. He contends that the extra size of the
body and eggs pertaining to these foreign breeds can only be produced and sus-
tained by extra food, while for capon-raising the flesh is neither so delicate nor
juicy as that of the native breed. The manure produced in this French esta-
blishment is no small item, and since it forms the very best fertilizer for many
descriptions of plants, it is eagerly sought for at very high prices by the market-
gardeners in the vicinity. The proprietor estimates the yield of this year at about
100 cords. [A cord of wood in England is equal to 128 cubic feet.] He employs
nearly 100 persons in different departments ; three -fourths of whom, however, are
females. The sale of eggs during the past winter has averaged about 40,000
dozen per week, at the rate of six dozen for four francs.

" These details are well worthy of our serious attention. That the demand for
poultry and eggs in this country far exceeds the native supply is evinced by the
large amount of poultry and foreign eggs annually supplied to us. In 18G2, .
235,280,860 eggs wore imported. It docs indeed seem probable that in certain of
our localities, where animal food unfit for human consumption can be procured
at a reasonable rate, we might profitably imitate the great establishments of
M. de Sora. Has the effect of giving a consideraljle portion of fish in the food of
poultry been ascertained? Why not devote the spoilt meat of London, and other
populous places, Avhich is now largely condemne!l as unfit for human food, to a

s 2

lOG THE rOULTllY ROOK.

propcrly-rofriilrtted cstublishmont of this Iciud ? Thus would tho poultry-yard
restore to us, in the shape of wholesome food, what is now so often condemned by
tho inspector to the fire ; and, moreover, if onco a demand for the poultry-yard
arose in this way, tho temptation to consign spoilt meat to Loudon would bo
diminished — the risk, now so dangerous to its owner and the consumer, avoided."

Mr. Johnston says those details arc worthy of uur serious consideration. It is
difficult to imagine how such a ridiculous statement could have received any
consideration whatever without the absurdity of the hoax being at once ap-
parent ; and yet, to our own knowledge, it was generally credited, and persons
made journeys from the United States, and even from Australia, expressly to
learn the details of the mode of working adopted at this supposititious establish-
ment. To any person hanng even a very slight practical acquaintance with
poultry matters, such a statement as that the *' 300 fowls averaged the first
year some twenty-five dozen, or 300 eggs, in the 3G5 days," carries its own
refutation. AMien we take into consideration the fact that a certain portion of
the fowls must have been cocks, and that time must have been lost during the
periods at which the hens were brooding and recovering from their annual
moult, it is evident that during a considerable portion of the year the hens of
these three hundred fowls must have laid two eggs a day each to make up this
fabulous average. Again, the statement that the fowls are fattened for the
market at the end of the fourth year, is one that could never have been repro-
duced by any person having .any knowledge of the subject. A fowl of four years of
age is beyond any ordinary power of mastication. The most convincing proof
of the non-existence of this establishment is contained in the following extract
from I\Ir. Geyelin's pamphlet on poultry-keeping. Mr. Geyelin was formerly the
manager of the National Poultry Company's establishment at Bromley, Kent,
and, in company with two of the directors, took a journey in search of M.
de Sora's establishment, the result of which we give in his own words. In his
report to the Company he states —

" The primary object of the journey was to ascertain everything connected with
poultiy-breeding in France which might assist in promoting the success of our
undertaking ; also to inquire into the truth of numerous assertions in the public
papers that there existed in the vicinity of Paris most extensive Gallinocultural
establishments, which by their particular system of artificial incubation, rearing,
and feeding poultry on horseflesh, realized, in one instance — viz., in that of M. de
Sora — upwards of £-40,000 per annum. I need scarcely say that, after the most
searching investigation within a radius of forty miles of Paris, my opinion has
been fully confirmed that such establishments do not nor can possibly exist;
moreover, I can now firmly assert that there is not one establishment in existence
within fifty miles of Paris where poultry-breeding is carried on otherwise than on
the old farm system ; in fact, as you will perceive hereafter, I have spared neither
time nor expense in this inquiry ; yet, although I have been unable to trace any-

THE POULTRY BOOK. 197

tiling like a system in ponltry-breeding in France at all approaching to that we are
about to carry out, it cannot be denied that I have obtained very valuable infor-
mation, which will no doubt prove of great advantage to our Company ; moreover,
I observed such startling novelties connected with poultry-breeding in France,
that I deemed it to the interest of our Society that at least two of the Directors
should come there also, to enable them to corroborate this report, which otherwise
might have borne the appearance of exaggeration in many respects, and perhaps
have still left a doubt in the minds of many persons whether I really made all
possible inquiries into the truth of the reported existence of Gallinocultural
establishments in France.

" I will now briefly relate the steps I have taken to inquire into this matter.
At the Jardin des Plantes of Paris, which corresponds to our Zoological Society
in Eegent's Park, also at the Acclimatation Society in the Bois de Boulogne,
where the various breeds of poultry form an important object, the existence of any
such Gallinocultural establishments in France was totally unknown, and they
observed very justly that if any such really were to exist they would be the first to
Imow of it. Next I called three consecutive market days at the wholesale poultry
market. La Yallee, Paris, where all the poultry, dead or alive, forwarded from the
various parts of France, is sold by auction, from 5 till 9 o'clock in the morning.
Several agents and poulterers made inquiries for me of poultry merchants from the
different parts of France, but with the same result. I made further inquiries at
the dead poultry market at the Halles Centrales, also of a number of fancy poultry
dealers, but all to no purpose. A few days later, on calling again at the Jardin
d' Acclimatation, Monsieur A. Geoffrey St. Hilaire, the director, told me that a
friend of his had informed him that such an establishment really did exist at
Mouy, near Beauvais in Picardie ; and he gave me his card, and the following in
writing, adding, however, that he did not believe in it, and that he should feel
obliged by my communicating to him the result of my investigation : —

" ' On m'a affirme qu'il existe a Mouy pres de Beauvais un grand etablissement
de Gallinoculture — M. de Sora, si toutefois mes renseignements sont exacts, entre-
tiendrait a Mouy (12,000) douze mille volailles, avec lesquels il approvisionne les
marches de Paris.'

" I then at once telegraphed the following : — ' De Sora, Mouy (expres),
Beauvais. Avez vous un etablissement de Gallinoculture? Picponse payee
bureau restant. ' Geyelin.'

At the same time I posted a letter to the same effect and asking permission to
visit the establishment. The reply to the telegram was — not knoicn,- the letter
as yet has not been returned. But to make the inquiry triply sure, I started
myself for Mouy ; arrived at Eeil Junction, I was informed that such an establish-
ment really did exist at Mouy, and within half a mile of the railway station ;
which news delighted me — to know that my journey was not like a wild goose
phase, Therefore, on arriving at Mouy, I proceeded at once to the poultry establish'

106 THE POULTRY ROOK.

meiit; but not to that of ^l. do Sora, ^vho.sc name is not oycu known to any person
in that ncighhourliood, but of ^F. I^Ianour}', eleveur a Anpj}' pros INIouy, to whom
I briefly related the object of my call. I was received with every courtesy, and
informed that he knew of no such name as ]\[. do Sora, nor of any establish-
ment of the kind, bnt that he devoted his time to rearing some 5,000 head
of ponltry per annum ; he neither fed them on horseflesh nor supplied the markets
of Paris ; that he sold none but pure breeds, and those to gentlemen and fancy
poultry dealers."

This extract may be considered as satisfactorily disposing of the question as
to the existence or non-existence of M. de Sora's establishment. Mr. Geyelin's
journey, however, was not without interest from other points of view. He
describes in particular the manner in which turkeys are employed in France as
foster parents for chicken. This plan has been introduced with some consider-
able degi-ee of success into this country ; and we have since seen a large number
of chickens carefully protected by turkey cocks, confined under coops.

Mr. Geyelin writes : —

*' Amongst some places I visited, in company with two of your shareholders,
may be mentioned the farm of Madame La Marquise de la Briffe, Chateau du
Neu^-ille, Gambais, near Houdan, where we observed twelve turkeys hatching at
the same time ; here, also, we witnessed the rearing and fattening, which will be
alluded to hereafter. lu another place, that of M. Auclie, of Gambais, a hatcher
• by trade, we observed some sixty turkeys hatching at the same time ; and we were
informed that during winter and early spring he had sometimes upAvards of one
hundred hatching at the same time, and that each turkey continued hatching for
at least three months. At the farm of M. Louis Mary, at St. Julien de Faucon,
near Lizieux, in Calvados, I saw a turkey that was then sitting that had been so
upwards of six months, and, considering it rather cruel, the hatcher, to prove the
contrary, took her off the nest and put her in the meadoAV, and also removed the
eggs ; the turkey, however, to my surprise, returned immediately to her nest and
called in a most plaintive voice for her eggs. Then some eggs were placed in a
comer of a box, which she instantly drew under her with her beak, and seemed
quite delighted. j\Iorcovcr, I was informed that it was of great economical
advantage to employ turkeys to hatch, as they eat very little and get very fat in
their state of confinement, and therefore fit for the market any day.

" The hatching-room is kept dark, and at an even temperature in summer and
winter. In this room a number of boxes, two feet long, one foot wide, and one
foot six inches deep, are ranged along the walls. These boxes are covered in with
lattice or wire-work, and serve for turkeys to hatch any kind of eggs. Similar
boxes, but of smaller dimensions, are provided for broody fowls. The bed of the
boxes is formed of heather, straw, hay, or cocoa-fibres ; and the number of eggs
for turkeys to hatch is two dozen, and one dozen for hens.

" At any time of the year, turkeys, whether broody or not, are taught to hatch in

THE POULTRY EOOK, 199

the following manner : — Some addled eggs are emptied, then filled with plaster of
Paris, then placed into a nest ; after which a turkey is fetched from the yard and
l^laced on the eggs, and covered over with lattice. For the first forty-eight hours
she will endeavour to get out of her confinement, but soon becomes reconciled to
it when fresh eggs are substituted for the plaster of Paris ones : they will then
continue to hatch, without intermission, from three to six months, and even longer ;
the chickens being withdrawn as soon as hatched, and fresh eggs substituted.
After the third day the eggs are examined, and the clear eggs withdrawn, — which
are then sold in the market for new-laid ; l)ut, as they may be soiled or discoloured
from having been sat upon, they clean them with water and silver-sand to restore
their original whiteness.

" The turkeys are taken off their nest once a day to feed and to remove their
excrements from the nest ; but after a while they cease self-feeding, when it is
necessary to cram them, and give them some water once a day.

" In some parts of France, where poultry-breeding is carried on as a trade, they
seldom allow a hen to lead the chickens after being hatched, as the hen is more
valuable for laying eggs ; but they entrust this office either to capons or turkeys,
who are said to be far better protectors to the chickens than a hen. They require,
however, a certain amount of schooling preparatory to being entrusted with their
charge, which consists in this : "When a turkey has been hatching for some
months and shows a disposition to leave oft', a glassful of wine is given her in the
evening, and a number of chickens are substituted for the eggs ; on waking in the
morning she kindly takes to them, and leads them about, strutting amidst a troop
of seventy to one hundred chickens ^\-ith a dignity of a drum-major. When, how-
ever, a troop leader is required that has not been hatching, such as a capon or a
turkey, then it is usual to pluck some of their feathers from the breasts, and to give
them a glass of wine, and whilst in a state of inebriation to place some chickens
under them ; on getting sober the next morning they feel that some sudden change
has come over them, and as the denuded part is kept warm by the chickens they
take also kindly to them.

" In conclusion, I feel in justice bound to say, that these artificial living pro-
tectors are most efficient to shelter chickens in the day-time ; and in the evening
they are placed with their charge in a shallow box filled with hay, from which
they do not move till the door of the room is opened next morning. I must not
omit to mention that the chickens are not entrusted to the mother or a leader
before they are a week old, and then only in fine weather."

The importance of poultry-keeping as a branch of rural economy in France did
not need the absurd exaggeration of the De Sora hoax to call attention to the
subject. In this country we have, perhaps, been too much in the habit of looking
at poultry from a fancy point of view. If we set aside the awards in our Dorking
classes, the prizes at the various poultrj'- shows have always been bestowed in
accordance with the value of the fowls as ornamental, rather than as profitable

200 THE roi'LTTRY Tronic.

poultry. Prizes Imvc rarely bot-u ollercil for fowls simply as talilo poultry. It is
therefore Avith much pleasure that wo call attention to the following account of the
show of fat poultry at Paris, which was instituted by the Minister of Agriculture, and
held in December, 18G1, in the xolousi in the l\da'i(i dc V Industrie at Paris. The
exhibition was a great success ; there were more than five hundred contributors,
and between two and three thousand specimens of poultry, including foAvls, turkeys,
geese, and ducks, all killed, and ready for cooking. Nineteen departments
were represented. The arrangements were admirable ; sloping tables were placed
around, and double stands of the same kind in the centre of each room. These
were covered with blue paper, upon which the poultry was laid out with ample
space on all sides, the various lots, each consisting of four specimens, being sepa-
rated by fillets of wood, painted red, so that every article exhibited could be seen
perfectly. On the walls were neatly-painted devices, containing the names of the
classes and localities in which they were produced. The first day was devoted to
making the necessary arrangements ; the second, till one o'clock, to the decisions
of the jury, after which the pul)lic were admitted at a charge of half a franc ; and
the third to exhibition and sale of the articles. The jury was composed of Count
Leopold Ic Hon, president, representative in the Corps Legislatif of the district
La Bresse (in Burgundy), famous for its poultry ; two inspectors-general of agri-
culture ; four farmers, and four dealers in poultry. The sum of 4,000 francs was
devoted to prizes, besides medals in gold, silver, and bronze. The grand prize
consisted of a large gold medal and 1,000 francs. The awards were marked by
means of oval cast-iron tablets, painted blue, Avitli the ]-aised letters picked out in
gold colour. The fowls were divided into five classes — birds of the races of La
Bresse, of La Fleche, of Houdan, of Normandy (better known in England as
Crevecoeurs), and all other varieties. Medals and prizes in money were given in •
all the classes, both for capons and poulardes. The Bresse fowls were by far
the most numerous, fiOO lots being exhibited against 200 Houdans, 200 Normans,
or Crevecoeurs, and 150 La Flcche. Gold, silver, and a number of bronze
medals and honourable mentions were awarded in each class, and the grand j|9?*i.r
dlionneur was awarded to M. Gorgondet, of Treffort, in the department of the
Aix, for four pullets of the race of La Bresse. The other classes consisted of
turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, Guinea fowls, and other poultry. The fowls of La
Bresse were not bo remarkable for size as for smallness of bone and plumpness ;
the manner in which they are prepared for market is quite artistic. Some of
the geese were very good — truly gigantic ; but the turkeys would not have borne
comparison with those of Leadenhall market. The sale was very brisk, and the
names of almost every celebrated gastronomic cstal)lisliment in Paris Avere to be
seen on tickets in all directions. Forty and fifty francs were asked and easily
obtained for prize geese and turkeys ; and fowls that had obtained medals were
marked in the morning after the exhibition as high, if not higher, than thirty-six
francs each.

The proceedings did not terminate with the award of the prizes ; for at tho

I mohtmn. vno

HI 'D 'U D il n So

THE POULTRY BOOK.

201

Agriculturists' dinner, lield during the show, the discussion of the merits of the
poultry was the chief topic, and the first agriculturists in France were called upon
to decide practically on the comparative merits of two hreeds — the La Bresse and
the Crevecoeurs. Fowls were discussed in every sense both during and after dinner.
Their feeding, cost, age, and market price were enlarged upon hy keen advo-
cates, with a view to giving prominence to the peculiar merits of their respective
favourites. The loss of weight occasioned by various modes of cookery came at
last under discussion, and the questions mooted became too subtle and various to
be decided v^'ithout an adjourned meeting and more elaborate tests.

At the dinner held on the 26th of January, 18G5, the discussion was renewed,
and some Houdan breeders entered the lists against the Creveca3urs and the Bres-
sians, the former competitors.

Five specimens were selected from each of the three rival breeds for special
comparison, and were weighed before and after being prepared for the cook, and
also when roasted.

The average weight of these fowls was as follows : —

Unprepared
Pre]Dare(.l for the cool:
Cooked

Or, more precisely, the loss per cent, was as follows ; —

In preparing for cook
In cooldn"'

La Bresse.

noudan.

Crcvccoiur.

lb. oz.

lb. oz.

lb. oz.

.. G li .

... 5 4

... 4 11

... 5 i)h .

... 4 3

... 3 14

.. 3 31 ,

,.. 2 15|

2 12i

)ilows 5 —

La Bies.so.

Houdan.

Crevecojur.

20-98 ..,

. 20-32 .

.. 17-58

40-08 ...

, 28-83 .

.. 28-42

44-32

40-95

Total loss per cent. ... 52'51

The Crevecoeur chickens are stated by M. de Kergolay to have been j'ounger
than their rivals, and on that account to have lost less weight, since the fatting
process had not been carried so far in their case.

The Houdan breed are also very precocious ; those hatched vrith the new year
being ready for market by the middle of April, after three weeks of fatting on
barley-meal moistened in milk, "bolted" three times a day without drink, the
cost of food being l-s. to Is. 3d.

M. de Lavergne, one of the highest French agricultural authorities, contributed
to ''Le Journal d' Agriculture Pratique" for January, 1865, a paper on " the
Importance of Poultry in France." This valuable article was reproduced in the
Journal of the Eoj-al Agricultural Society of England, with other important docu-
ments, which were translated by Mr. Frere, from whose paper we have derived
much valuable information on the subject of the present chapter.

M. de Lavergne states that in 1840 no notice was taken of poultry in the statistics
of the empire ; in 1858 it was stated incidentally that the proceeds amounted to
88,000,000 francs (^3,500,000), derived half from poultry proper, and half from
eggs and feathers, — an estimate much below the mark, as he proceeds to show.

With reference to eggs, there are existing accounts by which that estimate may

202

Till-: roULTRY BOOK.

be approximately tosteJ. First, the vuluo of the export trade, 24,000,000 francs ;
secondly, the consumption at Paris, equivalent to 12,000,000 francs ; in all,
30,000,000— leaving only 8,000,000 for all the rest of France, even if the feathers
are quite left out of the account. Such an estimate is therefore quite inadmissible ;
for as the population of Paris is one-twentieth of that of all France, at Paris rates
the total value would be 210,000,000 francs.

M. de Lavergne, however, admitting that the consumption per head in the pro-
vinces is less than at Paris, considers it may be fairly set at rather more than half
as great ; and that the eggs, which at Paris are worth GO francs per 1,000, average
•10 francs per 1,000 in the country. He thus obtains a total of 100,000,000
francs, or, with the export, 125,000,000, as the annual value of French eggs, and
considers this estimate to be under the truth. As to the poultry, it is harder to
generalize. That sold in Paris at 1 franc per lb. is choice and dear ; in the country
it is not so much in use, and cheaper. On the whole, he concludes that the poultry
may, like the eggs, be valued at 125,000,000 francs (£5,000,000) ; a result
sufficient to provoke further and more precise investigation, for his estimates only
profess to be tentative and approximate. At this rate the consumption amounts to
5s. per head for the whole of the population.

For Paris a more exact account is kept, which exhibits very striking results.
The value of the poultry and game together consumed in that city rose from
£500,000 in 1852 to £'800,000 in 1802 ; and that of the eggs from £240,000 to
£480,000. It is estimated that there is about five times as much poultry as game
consumed. The population of the capital had meanwhile increased by 300,000
souls. It is calculated that prior to 1780, the Parisians consumed annually 8 lb.
per head of game and poultry, but, in 1802, 30 lb. — a very significant index of
increased vrealth and prosperity.

The next point for consideration is the distribution of this rural wealth, i.e.,
v.hich departments are most and which least noted for breeding fowls. It will be
sufiiciout to state that of the twenty leading departments, eleven encircle and
supply Paris ; with these two other departments, Calvados and Eure-et-Loire, may
perhaps best be classed; " Le Nord " and Pas de Calais have a large home con-
sumption to meet ; two departments supply Lyons ; and the remaining five are in
the valley of the Garonne, where both soil and climate are so favourable that
chickens form part of the common food of the inhabitants. As a rule, the districts
that grow buckwheat are famous for poultry ; not so those which grow rye.

These statistical inquiries were followed up by a more detailed inquiry by M.
Barral into the sale of the Houdan poultry in the department Seine-et-Oise.
The official returns for the three districts which rear these fowls are as follow : —

Poultry. Kgg« and Feathers.

f £

AiTondissement of Mantes l-',5'.)-i ... 0,7fil

Arrondisscment of Drctix ... ... k,0.'<7 ... 7,ul(i

Arroiulisscment of Nogent ... ... 2. '278 ... 2,h01

£'Z:i,m8 ;£-20,081

THE POULTRY LOOK, 203

or, in round numljers, the cliickens sold maybe valued at _^24,000. But a pamphlet
prmted by M. Delafosse, proprictaire cVOrral, Goussainrille pres Houdan,
estimates the value of the fat chickens sold in the three leading market-towns
much higher. He states, that it is to be desired that the excellent and fine breed
of Houdan poultry should be propagated in every other country, as it is in France
where the poultry trade has taken such a development that it forms one of the
principal sources of riches. A few statistics of this trade in the neighbourhood
of Houdan will give a correct idea of its importance. At the markets of Houdan,
Dreux, and Nogent-le-Soi, there are sold annually upwards of 6,000,000 fat
poultry, namely : —

Per 'Wcok. For Year. Annual Value.

HoiKTaii (Chief Market in Mfintts) ... iO,000 ... 1.020.000 ... 70,800

Dreux r;0,000 ... 2,400,000 ... 00,000

Nogent-le-Soi 05,000 ... 1,680,000 ... 07,200

Totals 125,000 0,000,000 i:240,000

a sum ten times as large as the omclal returns assign to the whole of the three
*•' arrondissements." Of this sum, £136,000, according to M. Delafosse, is paid by
the purveyors of Paris to three communes alone, in these proportions : —

Goussainville 04,000

Saint Liihin de la Hnyo 00,000

Havelu ,.. 12,000

i-136,000

The remainder is drawn from other communes or purchased by poulterers of
Versailles, St. Germain, &c. The inference drawn from the comparison of these
two statements is, that M. de Lavergne is quite within the mark when he mul-
tiplies threefold the official return of the value of the poultry of France.

Having treated of the subject of French poultry generally, it is desirable that we
should enter into an examination of the merits of the different breeds enumerated
at the head of this chapter. Yfe will commence with the Houdans.

In an article on the relative economical merits of the several varieties of French
poultry which was published in TJic Field, it was stated : — " The Houdans may
certainly be regarded as the Dorkings of France. Large, heavy, short-legged, five-
toed fowls, with small, light bone, a remarkable absence of offal, and with irre-
gularly speckled or mottled plumage, they strongly recall to mind the old-fashioned
coloured Dorldng, as it existed before any attention had been directed to uniformity
of feathering by the poultry shows. Their merits as table fowl are of the highest
excellence. No pure-bred chickens mature with greater, or perhaps with as great
a degree of rapidity ; they feather early, are extremely hardy, and are consequently
easily reared. The old birds are robust, and the eggs, which are numerous, Hre
remarkable as being almost invariably fertile. There can be no doubt of the
economic value of this race, more especially for tabic purposes."

204 TlIK POULTRY HOOK.

The accompanving wooilcut, taken from the birds which oLtainccl the first prize
at Paris in 18G5, and which afterwards passed into the possession of the National
Poultry Company, shows the characteristics of this l)rood, which is thus described
in Mr. Gcyclin's pamphlet : —

" Whatever has been said to the contrary, this breed, when pure, is most cha-
racteristic ; but it must bo admitted that most of the farmers near lloudan know
as little of the pure Houdan breed as those of La Flechc and Creveccour know of
theirs ; and if you were to order some first-class birds of them, irrespective of
price, they would with good conscience forward fowls of a large size — hut, from a
want of knowledge, some cross breeds. To illustrate this, I may mention that I
could have purchased at the markets in those respective localities splendid
thorough-bred specimens for about three shillings, the price of common fowls, —
but which were worth in Franco even one pound each. There are, however,
in each locality some persons who take an interest in their pure breeds, parti-
cularly since they have been encouraged by the reward of prizes from poultry
exhibitions.

" The Houdan fowl has a very bulky appearance, its plumage invariably black
and white spangled ; a crest of the same colour ; comb triple, the outsides opening
like two leaves of a book, and the centre having the appearance of an ill-shaped
long strawberry. With the cock the comb is very large, w^hilst with the hen it
ought to be scarcely perceptible. The legs are strong and of a lead colour, with
five claws, the two hind ones one above the other. Strongly developed whiskers
and beards both in cocks and hens. This is one of the finest races of fowls, but
its qualities sui-pass even its beauty ; besides thc'smallness of their bones, the fine-
ness of their flesh, they are of an extraordinary precocity and fecundity ; they lay
large and white eggs, and the chickens are fit for the table at four months old.
It is, however, obsei-ved that they are very indifferent for hatching. The weight of
adults is fi-om seven to eight pounds, in which the bones figure for one-eighth.
The chickens, when four months old, weigh, without the intestines, about four-and-
a-half pounds."

Little more remains to be said respecting the aj^pearancc and merits of this
breed. It is obvious that in a variety Avhicli is essentially valuable as supplying
fowls for the table, compact heavy bodies, short legs, absence of offal, hardihood, and
early maturity are of much greater importance than any peculiar arrangement of
colour and marking. In fact, the disposition of the colour has hardly been attended
to by the French breeders. Some of the hens are very dark ; others, on the contrary,
but slightly speckled with black ; and even the size of the feathered crests varies
very greatly in different specimens. Should the Iloudans ever become as fashion-
able in this country as their merits deserve, the points that would be looked for by
the judges in a show-pen will be mainly, size, and compactness of form ; unifor-
mity of marking in the pen ; well-developed crests, particularly in the hens ; and
in the cocks the crescentic lobed comb with its central mass. As there is a
strong feeling in England in favour of the additional toe in the Dorking fowl, wo

//

//

bhU

■M!/i/\h

m

^^' ^(

h^-:

r\ ' I

M

w

vK

'^J)U

I .1

vu'r\^

I 1

Ai^

K \

i\u'

\, I I

lA't^

^^^

sis -d

\\ \

^i--.' ,//i|

^^A\

%

'U'

-'.*--:•.. j^ — ,

il

liii

■1

A 1 h'h

1 /'\ ' f

i h

/^

'-yr^

''ru.

4i

7T'///'"/V///4

■^7t

'%^

'^/.&

W'l-.

#^;il*f§%y'''

f^mK0mwhw0W^^^

THE POULTRY BOOK. 209

may suppose tliat this useless appendage will be regarded as equally indispensable
in the Houdan.

The popular prejudice in favour of stoutness of bone in the shank or leg,
we hope, will not influence the breed. Dorking breeders are continually boast-
ing of the thickness of the leg-bones in their fowls. The French breeders, on
the other hand, are, with much more sense, in the habit of calling attention to
the small bones of the best breeds. If a Dorking farmer is asked why he likes
thick legs in his birds, he replies that "you must have large bones to get a large
frame," confounding stoutness of bone with size of frame- work; whereas the two
things have no connection whatever. No grazier would tolerate a thick leg in a
short-horn, however large its frame ; but would regard the extra weight of bone as
so much oifal, as the French breeder justly regards it in his favourite table-fowls.

The Houdan chickens are very pretty when in the down and first plumage.
The neck, back, and wings are black ; the breast and under parts white. From
the very first they are lively, hardy, little things ; feathering very early and
maturing with a marvellous rapidity.

There can be little doubt that the merits of the breed will ensure for it a
favourable reception in this country.

Next in our list follow the celebrated Normandy table-fowls known as the Creve-
coeurs. Some idea of the value attached to this breed by our French neighbours,
may be gained from a statement of the fact, that at the first great Agricultural
Exhibition in Paris, in 1855, there were two equal sets of prizes offered for the
poultry exliibited ; the first for Crevecoeurs, the second for all other varieties
taken together. As Crevecoeurs are essentially French fowls, it will perhaps be
desirable in the first instance to give the description of them published in the
work termed " Oiseaux de Basse Cour, " by Mme. Millet Kobinet. The authoress
of this book, which was issued under the authority of the Minister of Agriculture,
states : —

" In Normandy, especially in the neighbourhood of Crevecceur, there is a
variety of fowl which supplies Paris with a large proportion of the handsome
poultry with which the markets abound.

*■' The hens are low on the legs, with large fleshy thighs, the wings large, and
the body square; the abdomen is voluminous and pendent, especially in those
which are more than a year old ; they walk slowly, scratch but little, and rarely
fly. Their plumage is black, or black and white variegated : they carry on their
heads a large tuft, and a small upright two-horned comb ; whilst a large cravat of
feathers under the neck gives to them a matronly air. They are very tame, ramble
but little, and prefer seeking their food on the dunghill in the poultry-yard to
wandering afar off. They are somewhat later in laying, and, perhaps, lay less
frequently than the common (French) fowl ; but their eggs are much larger, and
they continue to lay a longer time. They sit badly, and are apt to break their eggs
from their great weight, which is, at least, one-third more than that of the common
fowls : they are very easily fatted.

T

210

THE POULTRY BOOK.

"The cocks, which aro simihir iu form to the hens, have a brilliaut black
plumage, sometimes golilcu or silver-coloured; their heads are handsomely sur-
mounted with beautiful tufts, and large, toothed, two-horned combs, which,
together, form a kind of crown ; they have also dense cravats of feathers, and are
adorned with handsome pendent wattles."

The finest capons of this breed, when fatted for the table, are described by the
same authoress as weighing four kilogrammes, or rather more than nine pounds
English weight.

The Crevecccurs have been much longer known in this country than the
Houdans. Their black plumage, large crests, and two-horned combs render
them very conspicuous, if not elegant fowls. Their characters are most ad-
mirably given in the coloured illustration of a group, drawn by Harrison Weir.
Like the Houdans, they are hea\7, short-legged, compact fowls, but their shanks are
much darker in colour and four-toed. They lay large eggs, and as a rule do not sit.
There is no doubt of their value as table fowl, but iu this country they certainly
are not as hardy as the Houdan breed, nor are the chickens hatched and reared
with such facility, being more affected by cold damp weather than any other of
the French breeds. In favourable localities they mature very rapidly, and, under
the general title of Normandy fowls, furnish a very large proportion of the first-
class poultry that appears in the markets of Paris.

As exhibition fowls, it is desirable that they should be heavy, compact, as
free from hght feathers as possible, well crested, and with the two-horned cres-
centric comb well developed.

There is a variety of this breed of a slaty blue colour ; but those that w^e have
seen have not been equal either in appearance or weight to the darker variety.

Both Houdans and Crevecoeurs offer great advantages for cross-breeding for
the table. Large Dorking hens running with imported cocks produce, in the-
early spring, chickens that for size, hardihood, early maturity, and fitness for
the market, surpass those of any pure breed that we have ever raised.

It may be well to state that some of the French witers estimate the value of
the Crevecoeurs as even greater than that of the Houdans. Thus M. Jacque
states —

" This breed produces some of the best fowls which appear in the French mar-
kets. Its bones are even lighter than those of the Houdan ; its flesh is finer,
shorter, whiter, and more readily takes on fat. The pullets are of extraordinary
precocity, since they may be put up to fatten at the age of three months, and they
are ready for the tal)le in fifteen days after. At four months old a fowl of this
breed has reached its full perfection as to weight and quality. A poularde of five
or six months attains the weight of six-and-a-half pounds when fatted, and weighs
four-and-a-half pounds dressed for the cook. It is this race which produces the
fine poulardes and capons sold in the markets of France. Those of the Houdan
race, although of superior quality, come after them. The Crevccocur is the first
race in France for delicacy of flesh, ease of fattening, and precocity ; and we

THE POULTRY BOOK. 211

believe that it is the first in the world in these respects. It is one of the best for
crossing.

" The hen produces large eggs, and is an excellent layer, but scarcely ever sits ;
and the eggs must therefore be hatched by other fowls. In many parts of France
turkey-hens are made use of for this purpose, as they can be taught to sit almost
at any time."

Our own experience would not lead us to form quite so high an estimate of their
merits as M. Jacque has done.

The third variety on our list, the La Fleche, are a tall, handsome breed, so close
and hard-feathered that they are much heavier than they appear to the eye. They
are capital layers of large eggs, and heavy fowls for the spit ; but when plucked
their long legs and black shanks are against their value as market fowls, at least
in England, where there is a prejudice in favour of white legs in table poultry.
They stand very much in the same relation to the Houdans that the old-fashioned
large Spanish fowl does to the coloured Dorking.

Mr. Geyelin writes as follows respecting them : —

" In appearance the La Fleche somewhat resemble the Spanish ; the plumage,
which is jet black, fits close to the body, and gives an idea of less bulk than those
of Houdan and Crevecoeur, although they actually are heavier fowls.

" In the markets, on account of the exquisite flavour of the flesh, they fetch
fabulous prices ; at the time I was at La Fleche, the beginning of July, the fat
chickens sold at five shillings each. Their skin is white, fine, transparent, and very
elastic, which enables them to take an extraordinary amount of fat. The weight of
the full-grown birds is from eight to ten pounds, and the bones less than one-
eighth of the weight ; when standing erect they measure twenty-two inches in
height, and twenty-three inches in circumference, taken from under the wings.
The legs are four-clawed, of a lead colour, the comb two-horned, the face white,
like the Spanish ; they lay abundantly early in the year, but as sitters they are as
bad as the Spanish."

In this country they have been known for a few years, and have been frequently
exhibited at the poultry shows, where large close-feathered specimens, with good
white ear-lobes, pure black plumage, and well-marked two-horned combs, have rarely
failed in taking prizes. Some of the birds exhibited have shown small crests ; but
these have not met with favour in the eyes of the judges. As far as regards their
value as table fowls, and the method of fattening them for the French markets,
we must refer to the following account of twenty years' experience in rearing
birds of this breed by Mdlle. Millet Robinet, the author of " Oiseaux de Basse
Cour " (Paris, Dusacq), a work from which we have previously quoted, and a high
authority on the subject : —

Mdlle. Ptobinet states, the poularde to be fattened should be five or six months
old, and should not have laid ; the flesh under the wings should be very white ;
the eyes under the lids should be red ; the claws should be short, the rump and

212 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

Bhoiiltlcrs largo ; it shouUl bo in good condition when put up to fatten." Mdlle.
Robinet considers cramming the most eftectual and economical means of
fattening. Tbis requires tlie use of coops, in wbicb each fowl has its own
compartment. The coop is a long narrow wooden box, set on short legs : the
outer walls and partitions are close boarded, and the bottom is made vdih. rounded
spars li in. in diameter, running lengthways of the coop : on these spars the fowls
perch, their dung falling thi-ough the bars. The top consists of a sliding door,
nearly as wide as the compartment, by which the chickens are taken in or out. The
partitions are eight inches apart, so that the fowl cannot turn itself round. The
length of each box may be regulated by circumstances, care being taken that the
attendant has room to pass along and to sit down ; and furthermore, that cocks,
capons, and pullets, or the lean and the fat lots, be not mixed up indiscriminately.
Fowls of difl'erent degi-ees of fatness should not inhabit the same box, because
their rations will differ, and the new comers will disturb the older settlers by
their noise.

Young cocks will fatten, though not so readily as capons ; their flesh is some-
what inferior in delicacy to that of capons, and more so than that of the poulardes.
The floor below the boxes is covered with ashes, or dry earth, to catch the
droppings, which are removed every two days with a scraper. The dung is equal
in value to guano, and should be preserved from waste and moisture in old casks.

The food for fatting fowls in France is chiefly buckwheat meal, bolted quite
fine. This is kneaded up with sweet milk till it gets the consistency of baker's
dough ; it is then cut up into rations about the size of two eggs, which are made
up into rolls about the thickness of a woman's finger, but varying with the sizes
of the fowls; these are subdivided by a sloping cut into "patons," or pellets,
about two-and-a-half inches long.

A board is used for mixing the flour with the milk, which in winter should be.
lukewarm. It is poured into a hole made in the heap of flour, and mixed up little
by little with a wooden spoon so long as it is taken up ; the dough is then kneaded
by the hands till it no longer adheres to them.

Some say that oatmeal, or even barley-meal, is a good substitute for buckwheat-
meal ; but Mdlle. Millet Robinet is not of that opinion. Indian corn may do,
but it is dear, and makes a short crumbly paste, unless mixed with buckwheat,
when it answers well if cheap enough ; but buckwheat is a hardy plant, which
may be grown anywhere at small cost.

The food is thus administered : — The attendant puts on an apron which will
stand being soiled or torn, and having the pellets at hand with a bowl of clear
water ; she takes the first fowl from its cage gently and carefully, not by the
^vings or the legs, but with both hands under the breast ; she then seats herself
with the fowl upon her knees, putting its rump under her left arm, by which she
supports it ; the left hand then opens its mouth (a little practice makes this very
easy), and the right hand takes up a pellet, soaks it well in the water (this is
essential), shakes it on its way to the open mouth, puts it straight down, and

•LA 3* a. s t; m •£,

THE POULTRY BOOK. 213

carefully crams it with tlie forefinger well into the gullet ; when it is so far settled
down that the fowl cannot eject it, she presses it down with thumb and forefinger
into the crop, taking care not to fracture the pellet.

Other pellets follow the first, till the feeding is finished, in less time than one
would imagine. It sometimes happens in cramming, that the trachea is pressed
together with the gullet ; this causes the fowl to cough, but it is not of any
serious consequence, and with a little care is easily avoided. The fowl when fed
is again held with both hands under its breast, and replaced in its cage without
fluttering ; and so on with each fowl.

The chicken should have two meals in twenty-four hours, twelve hours apart,
provided with the utmost punctuality ; if it has to wait it becomes uneasy, if fed
too soon it has an indigestion, and in either case loses weight. On the first day of
cramming only a few pellets are given at each meal ; the allowance being gradually
increased till it reaches twelve to fifteen pellets. The crop may be filled, but at
each meal you must make sure that the last is duly digested, which is easily
ascertained by gentle handling. If there be any food in it, digestion has not gone
on properly ; the fowl must miss a meal, and have rather a smaller allowance next
time ; if too much food be forced upon the animal at first, it will get out of health
and have to be set at liberty.

The fatting process ought to be complete in two or three weeks, but for extra fat
poultry twenty-five or twenty-six days are required ; with good management you
may go on for thirty days ; after this the creature becomes choked with accumulated
fat, wastes away, and dies.

When a fowl is to be killed, it should first be fasted for twelve to fifteen hours,
and then held carefully, the mouth opened, and the pointed blade of a knife thrust
into the palate till it pierces the brain ; or a few feathers may be plucked from
the side of the head, just below the ear, and a deep incision made at the spot.
In any case it must be fastened up by the heels immediately afterwards, that it
may bleed freely, for on this the whiteness of the flesh depends ; but during its
struggles it should be held by the head.

After drawing and trussing, the chicken is bandaged, until cold, to mould its
form ; and if the weather is warm it is plunged for a short time into very cold
water. A fowl takes usually rather more than a peck of buckwheat to fatten it.
The fat of fowls so managed is of a dull white colour ; their flesh is as it were
seen through a transparent, delicate skin.

At the Paris fat poultry show, the four young La Fleche cocks, to which the
prize was given, averaged eleven pounds (English) each, and sold at from 20s.
to 24.S. each.

We have now to enter upon the consideration of the fowls reared in the district
of La Bresse, in the north-eastern portion of France. The fowls from this tract of
country are well known in the Paris markets, and at the exhibition of fat poultry
took the greatest number of prizes. It is rather difficult to account for this fact,
for they are certainly smaller birds than cither of the three varieties first named.

214 THE POULTRY BOOK.

It mnst, in fact, have been due to their being more carefully fattened with buck-
wheat meal and milk than their competitors. The National Poultry Company,
which has paid much attention to these French breeds, has imported a number of
the La Bresse fowls ; but they are very inferior to the other French varieties in its
possession. In fact, the La Bresse appear to have no special characters whatever,
but look like ordinary single-combed, speckle-feathered, farmyard fowls. As stated
before, their triumph at the fat poultry show must have been owing to their being
very highly fattened — a conclusion which is supported by the fact that in cooking
they lost more than the other breeds.

M. Dubosc, a strong advocate for the La Bresse fowls, has written the following
account of the district and its poultry ; this was translated by Mr. Frere, and ap-
peared in the Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, from which we extract it :

"La Bresse, which now constitutes the ' arrondissement ' of Bourg in the
department of Ain, extends from the banks of the Saone eastward to the spurs of
the Jura, and consists of three very distinct districts. The western district joining
the Saone is populous (having 97 inhabitants to 100 acres) ; the lauds, which
mostly belong to the occupiers, are worth from £80 to ^6100 per acre, more than
half being in excellent pasture, and much stock is kept ; in the district on the
extreme east, adjoining the mountains, the population (23 to 100 acres) is alert,
hard-working, and frugal, but hardly live at ease ; there are 100 acres of arable to
22 of meadow, for which the vineyards are but a poor substitute ; much of the land
is still waste.

" The central region (which includes the towns of Bourg and Coligny) is in most
respects midway between the other two ; most of the soil is reclaimed or on the
point of being so, and the rents (now 24s. to 32.s. per acre) have doubled since the
old French Eevolution. No region has had greater difficulties to surmount than
this ; none has combated them more vigorously.

" The land was flat and impermeable, destitute of lime, covered with stagnant
pools of water, and the roads were proverbially bad. To get rid of the water, the
arable fields have, with incalculable toil and perseverance, been raised at the
middle so as to slope to the four borders, and intersected by a network of open
drains at right angles one to the other. Leases some centuries old contain
covenants that the farmer shall cart 2,000 to 3,000 cartloads of earth yearly. The
work seems to have been completed in the early part of the eighteenth century.
After this, beds of marl were found and applied generally to the land ; since 1836
the roads have been set to rights.

" Alternate husbandry with crops of roots and clover followed, stolen green
crops being obtained. One peculiarity that attracted the special attention of M. de
Lavergne was, that the gi-owth of maize is combined with that of buckwheat.

"By the end of the eighteenth century the district had established its repu-
tation for capons and poulardes : about the same time the growth of maize
became general, for consumption by oxen and pigs as well as poultry.

" The rearing of fowls in La Bresse is one of the staple occupations of the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 215

locality ; but it is not carried on in large establishments, experience proving that
the collection of large numbers of poultry in one place invariably gives rise to
epidemics amongst them. The Bresse race is not, however, so pure as some
others, the delicacy of the meat and the rapidity of the fattening being supposed
to depend principally on soil and the mode of feeding. The Bresse pullet can
be fattened at the age of three months, while those of other localities are not
got ready for market until a much later period.

" The fowls of La Bresse have certain features which clearly distinguish them
from other breeds of the neighbourhood. They are above the average size, short
legged, small boned, the plumage white, with some few spots of grey. The comb
is single, straight, and indented. They have four toes on the leg, which is brown
and smooth ; the skin is fine, and the flesh delicate and savoury.

" The hens begin to lay in February, and for a month or six weeks lay daily,
then three or four times a week, until they have laid about 160 eggs, besides
rearing two or three broods.

" The cocks are changed continually, local experience confirming the general
opinion that the produce of young males fatten the most speedily.

'' The first broods come off in March ; the earliest chickens appear at market
at the beginning of May : they then, at two months old, weigh 2 lb., and sell for 2
to 2^ francs.

" The chickens when young are fed on a paste made of skim-milk, bran, and
potatoes, boiled and mashed ; when older they have tail corn or buckwheat. The
' pillettes' w^hich are to become poulardes are put into the coop at the age of
three to three and a half months ; the capons at four months. In the extreme
cold of winter the fatting process occupies three or four weeks longer than at
other times.

" A fat poularde of La Bresse at four or five months weighs 6 lb., a capon six
months old 8 lb. to 10 lb.

" The fatting goes on in a closed and dark chamber; each fowl has a small box
allotted to it, and is kept almost motionless. The food given is a mixture of the
meal of white maize and of buckwheat, moistened with skim-milk. The poultry-
woman takes the bird between her knees, opens the beak with her left hand,
and inserts a pellet with her right. After three or four weeks of fatting they are
killed by bleeding them at the palate : * they are carefully lilucked at once, and
then wrapped in a piece of fine linen steeped in milk, and fastened on with a
piece of string : this is kept on until they are sold. To produce a fine poularde
takes about five gallons of meal.

"Their whiteness, fine grain, and rounded form, cause them to be in gi-eat de-
mand. The best specimens are bought by purveyors, who forward them to various
parts of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The home markets have a

* Query — Bj^ thrusting a sliai-p-poiutecl kiiife tlirougli the back of the roof of the mouth into
the brain, there being no large vessel in the roof of the mouth. — Ed. Poultry Book.

216 THE POULTRY BOOE.

weekly supply of some thousands throughout the wiuter, weighing from 2 lb. to
6 lb. apiece. Several communes realize more than ^£80 per week for four or five
mouths for their poultry. The price varies with the season, being highest about
New Year's Day, especially if the weather is cold, and admits of carriage to a
distance.
" The general run of prices at Bourg Market is —

S. (J. s. d.

For fowls, hcilf-fat, weigliiug 8 lb.

2

0 to ;}

4

» »

4 1b.

... 4

0 „ 5

0

Choice specimens : —

roulardes, (i lb. (uett)

...

... 7

0 „ 8

0

Capons, 8 lb.

... 8

0 „ 10

0

10 lb. 12 0 „ 14 G

" Veiy choice capons sometimes make as much as .£ 1 apiece. During the
last twenty years the price has not varied materially, but the sale has at least
tripled.

" On every farm poultry is fatted to a certain extent, but the trade in choice
specimens is, in some measure, confined to small proprietors or farmers in certain
communes on the borders of La Bresse and Revormont. One of these * Cliambriers^
will sell between September and March 200 to 300 fowls, half-fat, or prime-fat
specimens, making of his poultry alone from £3 to nearly £5 per acre of his
occuiiation.

"All do not succeed alike, even when favourably circumstanced, for certain
families and farms enjoy a special reputation ; but success generally depends on
having the breed quite pure. Cross-breeding has been tried at various times, to
increase the size or improve the quality of the race, but these attempts proved
failures. When a cross with the far-famed Cochins was tried there was a gain in
size, but a loss in delicacy and flavour, so that this cross is now quite interdicted.
Any fowl that shows the least sign of cross-breeding by a yellow tinge, or even by
ha-sing yellow scales on the legs, loses at once one-fifth or one-sixth of its value at
market. These attempts have served at least to establish the value of the breed,
and the importance of maintaining its purity.

" In short, their delicate mould, early maturity, and readiness to fatten, make
them the short-horns of the poultry-yard, with this advantage over their bovine
rivals — that the quality of the flesh is first-rate, as various renowned epicures have
testified. Until lately the poultry of La Bresse was little known or appreciated at
Paris, though for forty years it has been exported to St. Petersburg.

" The breed is hardy, and will adapt itself to all parts of France. But the fatting
trade is not so accommodating. To insure success not only the pure breed and
the proper food (white maize and buckwheat) must be procured, but the skill and
the habits handed down from one generation to another among the farmers of La
Bresse must be naturalized and followed up."

Li reading this account of the habits of the fowls of the district of La Bresse,

THE POULTRY EOOK. 217

we conceive tliat it is necessary to make very considerable allowance for the patriotic
enthusiasm of M. Dubosc. Doubtless the fowls so carefully fattened are ad-
mirable specimens of table poultry; but thus treated, almost any small-boned
white-skinned variety would be equally good. The birds themselves are much
smaller than either the Houdans, Crevecoeurs, or La Fleche, and offer no more
evidence of being a pure breed than the ordinary mongrels of a farmyard, where
purity of race is not at all regarded. If any enterprising Bressian agriculturist
were to import a few good Dorkings to cross with the native stock, he would achieve
a success that would place him far in advance of all his competitors.

For determining the relative value of the different breeds of French fowls on
this side of the Channel, we have much pleasure in availing ourselves of the
knowledge of Mr. F. W. Zurhorst, the Honorary Secretaiy of the Poultry Club, a
breeder of great practical experience, who has reared most of the French varieties.
Mr. Zurhorst writes as follows : —

"In giving my experience and opinion on the characteristics and merits of the
French breeds, it must be borne in mind that I do not pretend to a lengthened
acquaintance with them, but during the two or three seasons I have kept them,
I have bestowed much careful attention on their comparative merits, and if my
opinions differ from those of persons who have had longer to do with them, they
must simply be taken for their worth.

"I will begin with the breed I have been longest acquainted with, viz. Creve-
cceurs. Mr. Harrison "Weir has so happily caught the characteristics, and what
I may call the expression, of these birds, that little need be said on that subject.
They certainly are very handsome ; I cannot wonder at our judges giving a pre-
ference to the perfect, intense glossy black, only to be met -vrith. in rare specimens,
over the red or straw-coloured mixed hackle and saddle, which invariably distin-
guish the larger birds ; but at the same time, on economical grounds, I would
deprecate their being so judged, as they are large, compact birds, delicate in their
flesh, and if the leading points denoting purity of race be present, viz. crest,
comb, and shape, size should be the test of merit, and colour ignored.

*' Crevecoeurs are lively in their temperament, but in this climate by no means
prolific, and I find it is almost useless to set their eggs before April.

** They are delicate in constitution, and as a pure breed these characteristics
must place them in the second rank of French fowls in economical value. They
will unquestionably deteriorate if bred for colour, but at the same time will
always be cultivated for their handsome and original appearance.

'* My next experience is with Houdans, and I do not hesitate to commence with
the broad assertion that they are by far the most valuable breed that has been
added to our collection for many years.

*' Unusual fertility (I never knew an egg fairly set to miss), very early maturity,
extreme hardiness, both as adults and chickens, together with a large, compact
Dorking body, with little offal, white flesh, and legs only slightly shaded, are the
leading characteristics of the breed.

u

218 THE rOULTRY BOOE.

" Abundant layers of moderate-sized eggs, they iu this point far excel the
CrevecoDurs, which are only moderate iu this respect, and their broken plumage
of black and white, handsome crests, and branching coral combs, make them
fully their equals in point of beauty. My chickens of this year are the object ot
admiration, for their size and beauty, to all visitors to the yard, aud I am quite
jealous of the new comers putting my old favourite Sultans and White Cochins
so much iu the shade.

"As a cross with our common breeds, they are of inestimable value, not only
from the certainty of the introduction of thoroughly alien blood, but also from the
valuable characteristics I have named.

" The abominable fifth claw, which I suppose must be insisted on as a mark of
purity of breed, is by no means a certainty, as many chickens come four-clawed,
and it would not be difficult to breed it out, but I must say, as far as my obser-
vation extends, it has not in this breed the detrimental effect it has on our
highly-bred Dorkings, much of whose tendency to disease of the foot and claw
I attribute to this monstrosity.

"By careful attention to breeding for size, and avoidance of intcr-breeding, I
feel sure this variety will ere long surpass our far-famed Dorkings, Avhose increasing
delicacy of constitution fits them only for certain favoured climates and soils, and
materially lessens their utility.

" Now, for the La Fleche — long, weird, hobgoblin-looking birds, prolific layers
of tremendous eggs of moderate fertility; large and turkey-like, they are far
superior to Spanish as table birds, aud fully equal them as layers.

" They are less hardy than Houdans, and their chickens much more difficult to
rear, being like the Crevecoeurs, subject to throat attacks. They are liable not
only to the disease known as gapes, but also to inflammation of the windpipe,
accompanied by mucous deposit, producing what is familiarly known as "the
rattles." The specimens we see in the show-pens are invariably jet or brown-
black ; but I find the chickens are by no means true to this colour, for in the
blackest, white feathers appear on the wings, and many come with chestnut and
grey wings aud breasts. I would warn those who must have them black, not to
breed from brown-black hens, but from jet-blacks.

" The adult cocks, as might be supposed from their length of limlj, and size of
body, are much subject in this climate to leg-weakness and disease of the knee-
joint, and suffer much from travelling to and from shows.

" In the foregoing remarks I have treated these breeds from an economical
point of view, not as exhibition birds ; and I believe the best interests of the
community will be served by making all points subservient to size, health, and
condition.

" In Crevecoeurs I should look for size, handsome antler-like comb, full pen-
dulous wattles, full crest, squareness and fulness of body, and sound health and
condition ; plumage black, mixed with straw or red, or all black indifferently, full
rich hackle, and well sickled tail.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 219

" In Houdans I want size, with compact bodies, broad breasts, legs as light as
possible in colour, five claws, plumage similar to that of the Crevecoeurs, but
broken black and white ; brisk lively carriage, and sound health and condition.

" In La Fleche I look for size, large long bodies, long snaky necks, large evenly
double- spiked combs, utter absence of crest, long pendulous wattles, and white
deaf-ears, shanks long and dark in colour, tail jet-black and rather small. This
breed differs materially in the shape of the head from any of the others, it
being long and Malay-like, inducing a suspicion that that old standard variety had
at some time or other something to do with the foundation of this new breed.

" That these three breeds all come true to points, if not to colour, is sufficient
to establish them as separate and notable varieties, though it is not difficult to
trace in all of them the characteristics of some of our old-established, pure
breeds.

" Of the La Bresse, Guelders, and other French breeds, I know nothing; but I
do not hesitate to pronounce those I have mentioned on the present occasion as
valuable acquisitions, and I give my verdict for the Houdans, as by far the best.
I should have mentioned that they are all heavy feeders, but the Crevecoeur and
La Fleche astoundingly so for their size ; a Crevecceur in full health will eat as
much or more than a Buff Cochin."

There remains for our consideration the continental breed, known as Gueldres
or Guelders. These birds, though not much known in this country, have been
long described in the American works on poultry, in which they are termed
Guelderlands, after the province of Holland of that name, lying south of the
Zuyder Zee, whence they are said to have been obtained.

Guelders are birds of medium size, with very full, prominent breasts, and large
flowing tails. Their most striking characteristics are in the head, which is
ornamented with very large pendant wattles, but is destitute of either feathered
crest or comb, unless the existence of one or two red points — which are often
entirely absent — can be regarded as the latter organ in a very rudimentary
condition. Their colour is generally either grey, cuckoo, or pure black, but we
have seen them spangled, like a Golden Polish.

There is no doubt whatever that the Guelders were originally a sport from
the feather-crested Polish family. The black look exactly like a White-crested
Black Polish, wanting the crest : there is the same form of body, fulness of
chest, largely developed pendulous wattles, and nostrils flattened and deformed,
from the absence of the intermaxillary bones.

In those spangled birds that we have seen, the analogy to the gold-spangled
Polish was equally close, the birds being as fully bearded as the most ardent
Polish fancier could desire.

The Cuckoo Guelders have large pendulous wattles like the black, and some of
the American birds of this colour have strongly-feathered legs.

Guelders are very good layers, and, as might be expected from their close affinity
to the Polish, are non-sitters. They may be correctly characterized as very useful

u 2

220 THE POULTRY BOOK.

fowls for family purposes, carrying a groat amount of flesh on the breast, hut
they are rather too small to furnish first class-fowls for the markets — at least
in this country, where full-sized poultry always commands a more than propor-
tionate price.

The manager of the National Poultry Company describes Ouclders as
"handsome birds of Cuckoo plumage, close fitting, like that of the La Flcchc.
They are not quite as large as the Houdans, but equally hardy. They arc
abundant layers of very fine, large, fertile eggs, and also good table fowls. It
would be difficult to say which do better, the Houdan or Guelder chickens. I like
this breed so well that I class them next to the Houdans.

La Bresse are the fat poultry of France, and that is all I can say for them,
they have no thoroughly marked characteristics."

The remaining French breeds resemble the La Bresse in being destitute of any
specially marked characters. Thus the fowls of Mans, well known in the French
markets, are closely allied to the Crevecoeurs. In the catalogue of the collection
in the Jardiu Zoologique D'Acclimatation they arc thus described : — ** The fowls of
Mans have a small crest of feathers falling over the back of the head ; the comb,
double and very large, is formed of small excrescences grouped together. The
wattles are rounded and of medium length ; the plumage is in general black with
green reflections. These fowls are of moderate size ; they lay large eggs, but do
not sit. They furnish very good table poultry, fattening very readily Avheu cooped."
Several other breeds are also described in the French poultry books, but they do
not appear to possess any decided individuality that calls for special attention ; in
fact, as described, it is difficult to distinguish one breed from another.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SILK FOWL.

'T^HE Silk fowl is one of very gi*eat antiquit}'. Tlie celebrated naturalist Gesner,
-'- "who lived in the early part of the sixteenth century (1516 to 1565), published
engravings of several varieties of poultry in his "History of Birds." One of
the fowls represented by him is a woolly hen, which he termed Gallina Lanigera.
The bird is represented without any tail-feathers ; rose-combed, clean legged, and
with four-toed feet. Aldrovandus, whose treatise on birds was published in the
following century (1645), enters largely into the different varieties known to the
ancients ; he also describes and illustrates a woolly hen, and states that in the
East, fowls are bred as white as snow, covered, not with feathers, but with wool,
like sheep ; and that in the city of Quelinfu, in regno Mangi, M. Paulus Venetus
says that hens are to be found which have, instead of feathers, hairs like those of
a cat, and that in colour they are black, and lay good eggs. Aldrovandus's figure
of the woolly fowl is tailless, and the wings are not visible ; the hen has a double
comb, deeply serrated, well developed wattles, short and thick legs, and four-
toed feet. At the period at which Aldrovandus wrote, these woolly fowls could
not have been known in England, or even common on the Continent, for in
Willoughby's " Ornithology," published in 1678, and edited by the celebrated
John Ray, it is stated — " The wool-bearing hen I take to be altogether fabulous,
and its figure in Aldrovandus fictitious." It is further suggested that it might
be the frizzled hen, or even a cassowary. There can be but little doubt, however,
that the birds described by Gesner and Aldrovandus resembled what are now
kno^Mi as Silk fowls.

The Silk fowl is a native of the East of Asia. Mr. Edward Blyth, formerly
Curator of the Asiatic Society's Museum, writing from Calcutta, states — " The
only Silky fowls I have seen here were from China, or Malacca, or Singapore :
the latter with single red combs and wattles ; the former with complex, blackish
rose-combs, very short, stubby beaks, and a quantity of glaucous blue skin in place
of wattles, imparting a most remarkable appearance."

The usual colour for the plumage of Silk fowls is white with a black or dark-
blue skin, the surface of the bones is also covered with a dark membrane or
periosteum. The feathers have the webs separated, so that their covering seems
formed of hair rather than that which is ordinarily allotted to birds ; the quill
feathers of the wings have the filaments of the vanes so much divided that they
are useless as a means of flight, and the tail in the best specimens is but little

2-22 THE POULTRY BOOK.

more developed than that of a Cochiu ; but a sickle-tail, arising in all probability
from a cross with some other breed, is not unfrequeut.

The comb is usually depressed aud warty, approaching in form to that of the
Malay ; but variations in this respect are frequent, aud single combs, with those
of an intermediate character, are by no means uncommon. The one first mentioned,
however, is regarded as the most correct form ; its colour, with that of the wattles,
should be of a dull leaden blue ; the face is very thinly covered with feathers,
through which the dark-blue skin is conspicuous ; the ear-lobes are commonly of
a bright blue ; the legs, which are not unfrequently heavily feathered, are dark
blue, almost black, as are the feet, which are generally furnished with five toes,
and many specimens are furnished with a small feathered crest at the back of
the comb. In form. Silk fowls are compact, and low on the legs ; in this respect
resembling well-bred Cochins.

Silk fowls are by no means of so great a weight as they appear, for their
feathers, when in good condition, are very fluffy, aud stand well out from the
body, giving them the appearance of far greater bulk than they in reality possess.
Their ordinary weight is under two pounds each for the hens, and two pounds and
a half for the cocks. From their small size they are not unfrequently termed
silky Bantams, and are often exhibited at our poultry shows in the classes for
those breeds.

The eggs laid by Silk fowls are small in size, and of a pale buff colour. The
hens usually lay about twenty or five-and-twenty eggs before showing any desire
to sit ; they are admirable mothers, and on this account as well as from the
warmth afforded by their downy plumage, they are well suited for rearing pheasants
or partridges.

The chickens of the white variety are hatched with canary-coloured down, and
more attractive little creatures can hardly be conceived. They are easy to rear
when hatched not earlier than March or April. To those who may wish to keep a
few fowls in an aviary, or in a garden or shrubbery, the Silldes have many recom-
mendations, for they are docile, readily confined by a very low fence, and easily
contented within very narrow limits. In such localities they may be relied on to
furnish a supply of excellent eggs for the breakfast-table ; and when desirous of
sitting, they may safely be intrusted with the eggs of any other fowl. The point,
however, in which these birds appear to least advantage, is in their character as
{able-birds ; for their black skin and dark bones are, with most persons, fatal
objections. If, however, the repugnance to their appearance can be overcome,
they will be found admirable eating, as Temminck truly remarks — " It is certain
that the flavour and whiteness of the flesh of these fowls greatly surpasses that
of other poultry, and if their disagreeable aspect when on a dish did not keep
them from our tables, we should estimate them as fully equal to Guinea fowls,
^\hich they resemble in the whiteness and flavour of their flesh."

Mr. Hewitt sums up their advantages and drawbacks very impartially, in the
following remarks — " I believe them to be a variety that quickly degenerate, when

THE POULTRY BOOK.

223

bred in our climate ; as those I first possessed produced chickens in a few years
after their importation, in which the peculiarities of their race were fast waning
away, although the degeneracy was not to be attributed to cross-breeding with
other poultry. I am certain that no fowls I ever possessed were so satisfactory for
rearing pheasants, partridges, and other delicate youngsters : under their protection,
I scarcely lost a single chicken. The unusual warmth of their plumage, no doubt,
produced this result ; and they are certainly well worth a trial by those who are
interested in the production of game artificially. They were also tolerable layers,
and the eggs were of equal excellence to those of other fowls. The young chickens
are both interesting, unique, and very beautiful. They are certainly a variety of
poultry that require far more protection from hard and wet weather than most
others. Their downy covering soon becomes saturated; and if much exposed,
disease inevitably ensues.

" Silk fowls should be strictly limited to their own particular walk, and pro-
hibited the possibility of access to any other description of fowls ; for by crossing,
the injury is equally apparent in the offspring, whether considered as fancy fowls,
or designed for table purposes. For the last-named service, so far as appearances
alone are concerned, they are the very reverse of covetable.

" The skin of highly-bred Silk fowls, if boiled, assumes an extremely dark violet
colour, and the external surface of all the bones is of a precisely similar hue ;
should they, on the other hand, have been roasted, they become even less inviting,
for by this treatment they appear considerably darker still, and of course cannot
be placed before visitors who are unaccustomed to them, without a general
explanation that seldom proves perfectly satisfactory. Even though so untempting
to the eye, they are not an indifferent fowl as to flavour : I have many times
partaken of both pure and cross-bred Silk fowls, and found them, when well fed,
equal to most others.

" I found in all instances that the silkiness from which these fowls derive
their appellation, is not transmitted to the off'spring produced by intermixture with
other varieties ; these chickens simply betray their origin by the colour of the skin
and bone — indeed, they exhibit but little of the general outward character of their
silky ancestry ; and thence it is that country poulterers are themselves frequently
unaware of this great drawback to their value as sale birds, until they are denuded
of their feathers. With all their failings, they are really invaluable for the rearing
of tender chickens requiring great warmth and care."

It is usually stated, in the compilations that have issued from the press as
original works on poultry, that the Silk fowl is the GaUus Morio of Temminck ; this
statement is, however, perfectly destitute of foundation. Temminck, in his
" Histoire Naturelle General e des Gallinaces," describes the breed under the name
of the Coq a Duvet, and gives it the scientific title of Gallus Lanatus, or downy
fowl, and the name Gallus Morio is applied by him to the Coq Negre, the negro, or
black-skinned fowl, which has plumage of the ordinary character. This latter breed
is evidently the result of a cross between the silky and the ordinary fowl. The

224

THE POULTRY BOOK.

editor, Mr. Tcgctmcior, made some experiments on the cross breeding of Silkj-s
vnih other varieties, the result of which may bo worth recording, as the knowledge
of them may prevent some annoyance to those keeping Silk fowls. He found that
when they were crossed with other breeds, the chickens produced seldom had the
silky feathers, but were clothed in plumage of the ordinary character. In one
case of a Silky hen running with a Spanish cock, of nine chickens hatched, eight
were cockerels ; they all had dark plumage, with brassy hacldcs and saddles, and
in one or two instances, spangled breasts. The single pullet was black. All the
birds were characterized by a black slun and periosteum, and much of the cellular

FEATHER OF SILKY COCUIN.

tissue or structure separating the layers of muscles on the breast and legs, was
also black, though the flesh itself was white and very excellent eating. These
fowls were obviously identical ^nth the Galhis Morio, or negro fowl, of Temminck.
The pullet and one of the cocks were mated the following season, and the
produce closely resembled the parents; one of the chickens, however, was covered
with feathers like those of the Silk fowl ; her plumage was black, and in form she
partook more of the character of the Spanish than of the Silky breed. Subse-
quently the cock was given away, and allowed to run with a number of common
hens, but the result was not satisfactorj', as the chickens hatched in the farm-yard
were dark in the skin and bone, and regarded with disfavour by the purchasers.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 225

Wliatever may be the objection to these negro fowls as regards their appear-
ance upon the table, none can be alleged against their edible qualities, which are
undeniably good. In France, where they are curious in cookery, these fowls are
even valued for their appearance, and at one of the dinners of the Acclimatization
Society, held at St. James's Hall, there were some boiled negro fowls served
up, surrounded with white sauce, to make the dark colour more evident.

The silky character of the feathers is one which occasionally occurs in other
breeds, as in the Cochin; and when this is the case, it may be propagated by
a careful selection of brood stock. The so-called Emu fowl, or Silky Cochin,
has already been described (see page 46). The preceding wood-cut shows the
peculiar character of the feather in this breed ; it is very accurately rendered in the
engra\ing, which has been carefully copied from a photograph, the feather itself
having been used as the negative.

chapteh XX.

THE FRIZZLED FOWL.

THIRDS with feathers more or less completely recurved are not uncommon in
-■-^ many jiarts of the East. In a large collection of the domesticated birds of
nearly every country in the world, formed by Mr. C. Darwin, and placed at our
service, many specimens occur with recurved feathers, some like Malays, with
short frizzled hackles, and others with the peculiar plumage passing over the
entire body.

Frizzled fowls were described by Aldrovandus in 1645, and his description and
engravings were alluded to by Willoughby, who, in his *' Ornithology," states —
" We have often seen, and ourselves also have now at Middleton, another kind or
variety of hen called in English the Frisland hen, not (as I suppose) because it
was first brought to us out of Frisland, but because the feathers of the body are
curled or frizzled ; by which epithet I believe this bird was first called, the word
being afterwards, by the mistake of the vulgar, corrupted into Frisland, of like
sound. For knowing this to be an outlandish hen, they thought it could not be
more fitly denominated than from its country, and thereupon imagined it to be
called a Frisland hen, instead of a frizzled hen. Nor did they want a probable
argument to induce them to think it to be of a Frisland, breed or original, viz.
the curling of the feathers, which one would be apt to attribute to the horror of
cold. I suppose this to be the same bird which Aldrovandus hath put in the
chapter of monstrous hens in the last place, whose figure, he saith, was sent him
l>y Pompilius Tagliaferrus, of Parma, with this description : ' I would have you
to understand that there are two things especially found in this cock worthy of
admiration. The first and chief is, that the feathers of its wings have a contrary
situation to those of other birds, for that side which in others is naturally under-
most or inmost, in this is turned outward, so that the whole wing seems to be
inverted ; the other is, that the feathers of the neck are reflected towards the head,
like a crest or ruff, which way the whole tail also turns up.'"

Mr. E. L. Layard, writing from Ceylon, states that this fowl " is called by the
Cingalese, Caprihuhullo. It is found here but rarely, and the natives say they
came from Batavia. This agrees with Temminck."

The Frizzled fowl is the (Jallus crispus (Frizzled fowl) of Brisson, and the
Callus yennis rcrolutis (Fowl with rolled-back feathers) of Linna3US ; the Cuq a
plumes frisees of Temminck, who states that it is domesticated, and thrives well
in Southern Asia, Java, Sumatra, and all the Philippine Islands, and that the
prevailing colour of the race is white, the legs being generally smooth ; but there

MUinUmJ^^ i

THE POULTRY BOOK. 229

arc many sioecimens variously coloured with black and brown, and some have
feathered or booted legs.

The most ornamental that we have seen are those with white feathers over the
entire body. In good specimens they curve back from the body, so as to give the
bird an appearance of being ruffled, or of having its feathers rubbed in the wrong
direction ; the tail is generally ample and well siclded. As the birds have not
been bred to any particular standard, their size, the colour of the plumage and
legs, and the character of the combs, vary greatly in different specimens. The
engraving gives a very faithful representation of some exceedingly good specimens.

The following remarks on this variety have been kindly furnished for the present
volume by Mr. Hewitt : —

"No variety of fowls can possibly present a more unique appearance than does
the Frizzled fowl. All the body feathers, without exception, appear twisted out-
wards and backwards — similarly to the curled feathers in the tail of a drake —
exposing the down underneath to the influence of the weather; it is to this
exposure that I myself attribute the fact of their being the most uncertain
layers I ever met with among any variety of poultry. After the occurrence of rain
T have found that the Frizzled fowls continued in a state of dampness for several
hours after the common poultry have become perfectly dry, and the results prove
they are susceptible of injuries from such exposure. Those breeders with whom I
have personally conversed, all declare they do not approve of the Frizzled fowls,
from their want of constitution; and from the fact that when dressed for the
purposes of sale they carry so little flesh in accordance to the apparent size of the
fowl itself. I have myself tested them as mothers, but find many superior ; and,
when killed for table, they are of scarcely passable quality. The full-grown cocks
generally weigh about five pounds, the hens nearly four. In plumage they are
mostly white ; still I have seen many brown and grey specimens. They usually
are of a somewhat sickly appearance, and generally, if handled, feel thin and spare.
Their combs are generally single, and the wattles large. The tails, which are
of full size, have, like the flight-feathers of the wings, a broken, irregular appear-
ance on the vane, as though they had been ruffled by passing the hand down them.
I have met with many persons that have kept them for fancy sake, who regretted
the experiment, as the fowls often became diseased, and were generally out of
condition, although enjoying the same advantages as all the other varieties that
remained in perfect health. They are quickly prevented from laying by the
occurrence of severe weather, at which time they look very forlorn and wretched ;
and always appear to suffer far more from exposure to cold and wet than the
generality of fowls."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE RUHrPLESS FO"V\Ti.

T^HE Rumpless fowl was described and figured by Aldrovandus, under the title
-*- of tbe Persian fowl, in the edition published in 1645. In this work, which is
still extant, the cock is represented with short stout legs, feet with four toes, and a
few drooping saddle feathers falling over behind, in the place of the tail. The hen
is of the same general form as the cock ; both sexes are represented with double
combs, that of the cock being of enormous size, and deeply serrated.

This is the Gallns ccaudatus, or Coq WalULikilU of Temminck, and the Gall'ina
Cauda seu uropygio carens, or Fowl without a tail, or rump, of Linnasus. It is the
Euviplcss or Persian Cock of Latham, and the Rumpkin of others ; the specimens
figured by Aldrovandus two centuries ago, appear only to have differed from those
which are now seen in having a black plumage variously marked with yellow.

Sonini and Temminck state that it is a native of the Ceylon forests, and is
called by the natives WallikikilU, or Cock of the Woods. These erroneous
statements are disproved by Mr. E. L. Layard. Writing from Ceylon in 1850,
be says : — " The Paimpless fowl is not a wild inhabitant of this island, in spite of
Temminck. It is a rather rare, tame introduction from Cochin, I am told. It
may appear like boasting, but I can confidently say I am more acquainted with the
Ceylon Fauna than any man lining, and that if the bird had existed wild I must
have seen it. WallikikilU is the name for the female of Gallns Stanlei/i, meaning
literally, Walli, jungle, and kikilli, hen. The name of the Rumpkin is Choci-
kukullo, literally Cochin fowls."— (" Gard. Chron.," 1851, 619.)

There can be no doubt that the Rumpless fowl does not exist in a wild state in
any region of the globe. It has evidently taken its rise in an accidental variation,
■which has been perpetuated by the care of man ; its continued existence is a very
good example of the perpetuation of a variety by the process of artificial selection.
Temminck, though in error respecting their origin, described the structural
peculiarities of these remarkable fowls with great accuracy. He states : — " Tho
distinctive characters of this species consist in the loss of the last vertebrae of
the back, those that bear the fleshy protuberance termed the rump ; the absence
of these vertebra3 is the natural cause of the cocks and the hens of this kind
losing the feathers of the tail."

At a recent date there were in the Zoological Gardens, Paris, specimens of
Rumpless fowls described under the erroneous name of " Wallikiki"

The Rev. J. Cla3i;on, in the " Philosophical Transactions " for 1693, p. 992,
Bays that he observed in Virginia that the hens and cocks were for tho most part

THE POULTRY BOOK.

231

without tails ; adding, that he was assured that our English hens, after some time,
lose their rumps. Buffon accepted this absurd statement as truth, and even Dr.
Latham seems not to have felt certain of its being untrue.

The general characters of the Eumpless breeds vary very much. Aldrovandus
describes them as being black ; at present, they exist of various colours : in
many, white feathers largely prevail ; some are irregularly spangled, whilst others,
in plumage, resemble the Black-breasted Ked Game.

Mr. Hewitt states respecting them that^" It is difficult to breed them to any
particular colour ; as with the most rigid care in the selection of the brood-stock,
the chickens sport into nearly every variety of marking and ground-colour. The
only birds of this kind that I ever knew to breed truly — so far as colour was
considered — were purely white ones ; they were by far the prettiest collection of
Eumpless fowls that ever came under my notice. They were all white, without
exception, and every bird had a somewhat small single comb. Like this variety
generally, they were good layers and sat well. The wattles were very compact,
and the legs and feet were of a rather heavy, bony appearance, the colour being
white. This strain of Eumpless fowls originally came from the Isle of Man.
From this island I have known others introduced into the Liverpool market that
were quite black; others a beautiful fawn, and likewise several lots irregularly
speckled, and, indeed, without possessing any characteristic whatever, except being
rumpless. Extraordinary differences in point of size exist in these fowls ; some
specimens range as heavily as six and a half to seven pounds each ; others do not
exceed two and a half or three pounds. Some have small lark-crests ; others — and
these constitute the majority — have none. As usually met with, they appear to
possess no distinguishing formation of comb ; rosy, cupped, and flat combs being
equally prevalent. There is, therefore, no positive standard that can be laid down
as the peculiarities of this variety, save the one to which their name refers. The
size of the eggs varies proportionately with that of the hens by which they are
produced ; they are white, and somewhat larger than might have been anticipated.
I now proceed to mention a still more perplexing proof of their versatility of
character : a friend of mine purchased a successful pen at a poultry-show, taking
them away to a walk where no other fowls ever trespassed ; and yet the chickens
were, in a considerable number of instances, furnished with fully-developed tail-
feathers, being not rumpless. On inquiry of the previous owner, he stated — ' Mine
have always done so from the time I first kept them ; but the tailed birds will
very probably produce rumpless chickens.' Three such birds were then purposely
retained ; and they produced the next year more than twenty youngsters, all of
which, but one, were rumpless and destitute of tail-feathers. The white ones I
have before alluded to, occasionally produced chickens that were not rumpless, but
only rarely. I believe Eumpless fowls to be hardy, as even in exposed situations,
on the sides of Welsh mountains, they continue in good health and prosper well,
even in cases where the fowls at all times shift for themselves, and but slight
attention is shown to the chickens. I can willingly add my testimony, likewise.

232 TUE POULTRY BOOK.

to tlie good quality of a Rumpless fowl on the dinner- table, the flesh being
abundant, white, firm, and of good flavour ; but, as a drawback to their utility,
it may be stated that all Eumpless fowls are sadly prone to lay unfertilized
eggs."

There can be no difficulty whatever in rearing epecimens of almost any breed
without a tail. Some years since the editor had in his possession a specimen of a
tailless crested bird, and from this hen, as described at page 191, ho reared a
number of Paimploss Polish, by mating her with a White Polish cock ; some of
the oflspring were matched up with Golden Polish, and some very good Rumpless
Gold-spangled chickens were the result. The strain was then given to a gentle-
man, who, though not an exliibitor, has amused himself in mating those
Rumpless birds with other varieties ; in this manner he has reduced their size
very much, and has at present a pretty set of very small Rumpless Nankin Ban-
tams, which arc the greatest novelty we have ever seen in Rumpless breeds.

CHAPTEE XXII.

DUMPIES — REDCAPS — BAENDOOR FOTVLS — DOMESTIC FO"SYLS OF IXDIA.
DUMPIES, OR SCOTCH EAKIES.

UNDER this title a breed of fowls lias long been known in Scotland. The most
important characteristic of these birds is the extreme shortness of the bones
of the leg, the shank bone often not exceeding two inches in length. In America
they are termed Creepers, and are held in higher esteem than in this country,
being frequently crossed with Cochins and other large breeds. One of the first
exhibitors of the variety in England thus describes them: — " The Scotch Bakies,
or Dumpies, are a breed of fowls closely resembling the Dorking in form,
sj'mmetry, and quality of flesh ; the average weight of the full-grown male bird
is from six pounds to seven pounds, and of the hens, from five pounds to six
pounds ; their legs are singularly short, not exceeding two inches in length
from the hock joint ; the comb is generally single, erect, and well serrated ;
the body round and plump, and the tail ample. As layers and sitters, they
have great merit. They are gentle and quiet when hatching, and subsequently
prove attentive mothers, their short legs enabling the chickens to brood well
under them, even when standing up. They are perfectly hardy, and a good
variety, well adapted for the table ; their eggs are larger than the usual
average of an English market egg."

The results obtained by crossing these birds vnth other breeds are thus
described by Mr. Hewitt: — "It is well Imown that most of our largest breeds
have a tendency to become leggy. In the Dumpies we at once obtain the best
possible cross that could be desired for correcting this evil, as the shank-bone
of well-bred birds barely exceeds a couple of inches in length. Dumpies carry
much meat in proportion to their apparent size, the flesh on their wings,
breasts, and merry-thoughts being largely developed. Their superior quali-
fications for the spit have urged a few persevering amateurs to commence a series
of crossings for the purpose of improving our table fowls, and the produce of
two such experiments I will describe. A Buff Cochin hen running with a
Dumpy cock produced chickens that proved very weighty birds, but which
were not by any means distinguished for their beauty; their chief recommen-
dation" consisted entirely in the twofold excellency of their being inexhaustible
layers, and as almost interminable sitters. They were very careful mothers
of their chickens, and tended them much longer than thorough-bred Cochins
would have done. This cross exhibited a coarse, unseemly head, with a large,
flagging, heavily- serrated comb, and very long loose wattles. In colour, they
were mostly grizzled, with v.hite about the wings, the ground being rich buff;

X

234 THE POULTRY BOOK.

they proved invariably silver-hacldecl ; the body, too, had a somewhat freclded
appearance, and they were not feather-legged ; the colour of the legs was
white. It was, therefore, next to impossible to detect their actual lineage by
the eye, more particularly as they stood somewhat higher on the legs than
the old Cochin mother. In the other case the Dumpy was crossed with a very
superior darkly-feathered robin-breasted Gray Dorking hen. This cross was
exceedingly satisfactory ; the chickens were very neat, cleanly-looldng birds,
no way reduced in actual size from that of their Dorking parent, but rendered
much lower on the leg ; from their extraordinary dumpiness, they did not
look as heavy as they really were, but an appeal to the scales told immensely
to their advantage. Many possessed the additional Dorking toe, and showed
a very close approach to the most form of this variety, but they lacked apparent
size ; it was on handling that their great weight became evident. Their
plumage was an irregularly speckled, and even the second cross with the
Dorking did not materially diminish this eyesore. They did not lay any-
thing like so well, nor did they prove of the strong rude health that cha-
racterized the half-bred Cochins. They laid but very little better than Dorkings.
Divested of their feathers they were specimens worthy of any board, and this
characteristic constituted their great advantage."

A few years since, Dumpies very frequently made their appearance in the
" Variety Class" at the poultry shows, but lately they have gone out of fashion, at
least in England, and we have not seen a good pen exhibited for some time.

REDCAPS.

At some of the shows in the North of England, prizes are offered for Redcaps,
in addition to those for Golden-spangled Hamburghs, with which the Redcaps are
often said to be identical. In some localities these birds are highly valued as
profitable fowls and abundant egg producers, and we have seen nearly thirty pens
entered for competition at a Yorkshire show.

The chief points in which Redcaps differ from Spangled Hamburghs are in
size, in combs, and in markings. In size they very greatly excel the usual
Hamburghs, being as large and compact as ordinary Dorkings ; and in markings
they want the regularity and beauty of spangle so characteristic of Golden
Mooney and Pheasant fowls, being much darker on the breast and other parts.
The most striking difi"erence, however, is in the extraordinary development of comb ;
this is increased in size to so great a degree, that the combs of the hens are much
larger than those of the ordinary Hamburgh cocks, even when at their greatest
size. So enormous are they, that it is almost impossiljlc for them to balance on
the skull, and they constantly lop over to one side. This, however, is not
regarded as a serious defect by the amateurs of the breed, their aim being to
produce combs that are of extreme size, square in front, well spiked, and peaked
behind ; in fact, a rose comb, immensely magnified. The cocks not unfrequently
possess combs upwards of three inches in breadth at the front, and more than four

THE POULTEY BOOK. 235

in length, measured to the end of the peak behind. Valuable as Eedcaps may
he, both as table fowl and as enormous egg producers, we cannot do more than
regard them as a local breed, not likely ever to rise into general estimation. The
excessive development of comb, so highly valued by the fancier of the variety, is
a property that would rather be regarded as a deformity by amateurs in general.

BAEN-DOOR FOWT^S.

The title of Barn-door fowls is given to the mongrels that are found existing in
all places where no care whatever is taken respecting the purity of the breed of
poultry. Their characteristics vary in almost every locality. In many parts of
the country, the ordinary farm-yard fowls show a strong likeness to the game
breed, arising from the custom, formerly so extensively followed, of putting game
cocks out " to walk" at the cottagers' and tenants' of the landed proprietors. In
some of the old leases, drawn up when cock-fighting was not an illegal amuse-
ment, a clause was insei-ted that each tenant should walk a cock or cocks for the
proprietor of the soil. The close, hard feathered, neat, compact fowls, seen in so
many districts, evidently result from this custom. In parts of the country where
other breeds are largely kept, their mongrel progeny are visible : thus, near
London, the common fowls show a strong infusion of the Spanish blood.

In parts of the New Forest, in Hampshire, Polish parentage has given rise to
many crested hens. At the time of the Cochin mania, when every one tried to
rear birds that were to sell at one pound sterling per pound, avoirdupois. Cochins
were raised in every locality, the result being that fowls having a yellow skin, and
legs with heavy useless bone, appeared for a few seasons in all the poulterers'
shops ; and the higglers who bought up the young birds to fatten for the London
markets, denounced the introduction of the fashionable Asiatic breed, with a
zeal and energy more vigorous than^poHte.

The Barn-door fowls would not require any lengthened consideration, except to
correct an impression that still exists in the minds of some prejudiced persons,
who assert that these common mongi-els are superior for economical purposes to
any pure and well-marked breed. "We would inquu-e of such persons if they
know of any Barn-door fowls that lay as many eggs as Hamburghs, amongst
the non-sitters, or the Cochins or Brahmas amongst the sitters, or whether any
are equal to Dorkings or Houdans as table fowl. These erroneous views may be
accounted for by the fact that, until within the last few years, the improvement
of poultry has been generally neglected in this countiy ; it is only recently that
we have been aroused to a correct appreciation of their value. Every competent
person who now directs his thoughts to the subject, at once acknowledges that poultry
are as capable as any other kind of farming stock of being increased in value
by breeding from select specimens ; and the consequences of this conviction are
apparent in the fact that the improvement which has been effected up to the
present time has been of a most marked and decided character. If any sanguine
poultry-breeder had prophesied a few years since that Dorking pullets would be

236 THE POULTRY BOOK.

sho^Mi weighing nine pounds each, that three Ayleshury ducks would be exhibited
weighing thirty pounds, a pair of turkeys nearly fifty pounds, and a couple of
geese exceeding half a hundredweight, he would have been regarded as a
harmless enthusiast ; yet these weights have been reached, and doubtless will, in
their turn, be surpassed. In addition to weight, other characteristics have been
improved, early maturity has been encouraged, greater hardiness of constitution
bestowed, an increased production of eggs secured.

We are not desirous of converting every farmer into a breeder of ornamental or
exhibition poultry ; but we do plead very strongly for the substitution of good
short-legged table fowls, or of prolific layers, for the Aveedy stilty mongrels, neither
good as market fowls nor valuable as egg producers, that now disgrace far too many
of our farm-yards. Farmers unduly neglect this source of wealth. They too
often keep worthless stocks of fowls under conditions not conducive to their well-
doing, and complain that they do not pay the expenses of their keep. Some
agriculturists, on the other hand, have found their fowls pay well ; but then their
bh'ds receive the same degi-ee of attention that is given to the other specimens of
valuable live stock.

There is one gi*eat drawback to the i^rofitable rearing of table fowls near
London, namely, the want of a more direct communication between the rearers
and the consumers. The middle men, or the market salesmen, swallow up a very
large proportion of the profits. The producer reaps but a small return, the
poulterer pays a high price, and has to reimburse himself by charging the consumer
at a very exorbitant rate. Unfortunately, it is not easy to suggest how this state
of things can be remedied. But the evil is one which bears heavily alike on the
producers and consumers. The former are entirely in the hands of the salesman,
who returns what sum he chooses for the fowls consigned to him, and the
remuneration is of so poor a character that few farmers find it answer their
purpose to send fowls to the London markets. Consequently, the tables of the
metropolis are ill supplied, and poultry is far dearer than it should be, to the loss
of all parties concerned except the salesman.

THE DOMESTIC FOWLS OF INDIA.

In the chapter on the Malay fowls, we have alluded to the general characters
of the domesticated Indian varieties, some of which arc of large size. There is,
however, no evidence whatever of the existence of any wild type approaching the
fowl termed by Temminck Callus giganteus. The theory that every domesticated
variety must have had its wild original, has given rise to the most erroneous
suppositions, which, being repeated by writer after writer, have at last been
accepted as facts, and statements have been made and implicitly believed, that
the Rumpless, the Silk fowls, the Malays, and even the Crested breeds, have all
had their wild progenitors roaming at large in the Eastern jungles. In the
proceedings of the Zoological Society for 1832, Colonel Sykes described, under
the name of the Kulm fowl, a large variety, domesticated in the Deccan; this has

^' "k

THE POULTRY BOOK. 239

been erroneously regarded as descended from, or identical with, the supposed wild
Galliis giganteus, of whose existence there is no evidence whatever. Many of the
Indian breeds are of what may be termed the Malayan type, and characterized by
great height, long snaky necks with short hackle feathers, scanty tail coverts, close
firm plumage, and stout elongated shanks. Some years since, a breed of this
kind was exhibited at our poultry shovrs under the title of Eangoon fowls, and in
the Illustrated London News of April, 1865, there was figured a group of Indian
fowls, with the name of Begum Pilly Gaguzes. For the liberty of reproducing
this engraving we are indebted to the courtesy of the proprietors of that journal.
The birds it pourtrays are good examples of the Malayan type, but are neither so
close feathered, so tall, or so weighty as the best examples of Malays exhibited at
our ordinary shows ; the height of the cock was stated to be two feet six inches,
and the weight of young birds when seven or eight months old, was given as eight
pounds each. In the account of these birds that accompanied the engraving, it
vras stated that they were introduced for the purpose of crossing with Dorkings,
and thus improving our common breeds, but for this purpose a good Brahma or
short-legged Cochin would be far superior. The engraving, however, is of much
interest as illustrating a type of fowl common over a large portion of the south of
Asia.

CHAPTEPt XXIII.

BAKTAMS.

TT is usually stated iu \\orks on Poultry, that the smaller varieties of domesti-
-■- cated fowls, known under the general name of Bantams, arc the descendants of
certain distinct species of wild fowls existing in the Eastern Archipelago. There
is, however, no real foundation for this statement. Bantams of all kinds are merely'
domesticated varieties that have been reared and rendered permanent by the care
of man. Two of the most distinct lands, namely, the Sebright and the Game
Bantams, have been produced within the memory of persons now living, and, were
all the different varieties exterminated, they could be reproduced by careful breeding
for a few years.

Dwarfed fowls have been known since the time of Pliny, who states — " There
is a dwarfed kind of fowls that are extraordinarily small and yet fruitful."

Aldrovandus describes a dwarf hen, and he is quoted by Willougliby, writing in
1678, who states — " This variety is found in England, is kept by the curious, and
called G'r/^s." Since that time the smaller breeds of fowls have been noticed by
all writers on the subject.

The different varieties of Bantams reared in this country at the present time are
numerous. The breeds most in request, are the following : — The Sebright, or Gold
and Silver-laced Bantams ; the Black Bantam ; the White Bantam ; and the Game
Bantam. To these may be added the older breeds, such as the Booted or Feather-

THE POULTRY BOOK. 241

legged Bantam, the Nankin and Partridge-coloured varieties, and the more recent
introductions, such as the Pekin or Cochin Bantam, the Japanese Bantam, &c.

THE SEBRIGHT, OR GOLD AND SILYER-LACED BANTAMS.

The Sebright, or Gold and Silver-laced Bantams, are undoubtedly the most
artificial breed of fowls we possess, and, on account of their extraordinary
beauty, and the high value of perfect specimens, may first claim our attention.
Regarding the history of these birds, the following communication, published some
time since by the editor, contains the most definite and accurate account that
has been made public : —

" Respecting the origin of these remarkable birds, no satisfactory account has
ever yet been given to the public ; consequently, numerous and contradictory state-
ments are current concerning them. By some they have been termed the
' Sebright Jungle Fowl,' as though they were the direct and unmixed descendants
of a breed from the Indian jungles ; but it is hardly requisite to state that the
wild original is unknown to naturalists. Others, again, have attributed their
origin to careful crosses between the old Nankin-coloured Bantam, and some of
our Hamburghs or Pheasant fowls ; whilst a third have referred them to a cross
between the Bantam and the Laced Polish.

" The last supposition seems, at first sight, to be the most monstrous, from the
assumed difficulty of getting rid of the crest and nostril of the Polish fowl ; but,
in reality, this is not a valid objection. I have, for some time, been devoting much
attention to the diff"erent Polish varieties and their crosses, and can state from
experience that, by careful selection, the Polish crest may be entirely bred out in
the second generation — that is to say, that fowls may be one quarter Polish, and
yet show no trace of crest. I do not say that this will be the case in all that are thus
bred, but it will be in many ; and the converse also holds good, that many birds
reared from a half-bred and a pure Polish may show no perceptible falling off in
the size of crest from that of fowls whose pedigree is unmixed.

" For example, last season I reared some cross-bred fowls between White
Cochin hens and a White Polish cock ; they were white, slightly crested, bearded,
Atitli blue legs, slightly feathered ; one I kept as a sitter, and she was running
this year with a very large-crested Polish cock. I hatched a few of her eggs,
and have now before me a White Polish cockerel thus produced, with very
full crest, the only trace of his illegitimacy being that his blue legs are slightly
feathered.

" I mention these cases to prove that the supposed difficulty of getting rid of
the Polish crest is not an insuperable objection to the Polish Sebright theory ;
but, fortunately, I have something more than mere theory to advance. The
following account was, by the kindness of the late Dr. Horner, obtained from
the present Sir Thomas Sebright, for the purpose of publication in the Poultry
Book : —

" Dr. Horner stated : ' The following information was courteously given me by

y

'^^'^ THE POULTRY ROOK.

the present Sir Thomas Sebright himseh'. It was about the year 1800 that the
lato Sir John Sebright l>egan to fashion the Sebright Bantam. The first cross
was between a common Bantam and the Polish fowl. The chickens resulting
irom this alliance were bred in-and-in until the required markings and size were
secured. Sir John then accidentally found a hen-tailed Bantam cock in the country
where ho was travelling. This short-tailed bird ho in-bred with his newly manufac-
tured Bantams, thereby giving their progeny the present form of tho square tail.
Sir Thomas is quite satisfied that it was iho Polish, and not the Golden Pheasant
(now named tho Spangled Hamburgh), with which the Bantam was first crossed.
I thought, in my inexperience, that the top-knot and beard of the Polish could
hardly have been got rid of; but tho last two seasons alone have been sufficient
to show me how easy it is to get rid of these appendages. Thus, last year, I
had a young cock bird with a beard, and also with a crest of feathers behind
a somewhat irregular rose-comb. This bird was bred from a Polish cock and
one of Sir Thomas Sebright's Bantams. This year I crossed this young cock
with a Golden Pheasant hen, and obtained three , chickens, all cocks. One of
these is quite free from both beard and crest, and with a fine rose-comb and good
wattles ; the other two have no crests, but havo some beard, fine rose-comb, and
small wattles.'

" This account, I think, may be regarded as putting the question at rest, for I
do not see that we can have any higher authority on the subject ; and I must say
that I feel a considerable amount of pleasure in having been the channel through
which this interesting fact has been made known."

Sebright Bantams are of two varieties. Golden and Silver-laced. In the first
the ground-colour is of a rich golden tint ; in the second it should be a pure
silveiy white ; every feather should be perfectly laced— that is, edged with a line
of black, completely encircling the feather.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of the Sebright cock is the total
absence of the usual hackle and saddle-feathers common to the sex ; he is also
perfectly '' hen-tailed," or devoid of arched sickle-feathers ; the principal feathers
being nearly straight, and forming a square tail like tlrat of the hen. The tail
side-coverts are well developed ; and great stress is laid on their being perfectly
laced, as in no part of the plumage is the colour more apt to run. The comb in
show birds must be double, terminating in a well-formed point ; while the legs and
feet are required to be blue, and wholly free from the least appearance of feathers.
The feathers on the head are apt to appear dark, from the wider margin of the
lacing ; this, however, should be avoided, since a main point of the Sebright is the
preservation of the same proportion of ground-colour and lacing throughout the
whole of its plumage. The ear-lobe is small, and, in our opinion, should be white ;
but this is rarely, if ever, seen. Mr. Hewitt thus alludes to this point : — " In the
Sebright Laced Bantams I have yet to see a specimen in which the ear-lobe is per-
fectly white ; for, although so many have been bred by myself in the last twenty
years, all that I have ever yet had were either more or less blushed, or perfectly red

THE POULTEY BOOK. 243

in the ear-lobe. I freely admit that I should prefer the white, but feel confident that
it is not to be generally, if ever, obtained. I have also invariably noticed that any
unusual whiteness of the ear-lobe is accompanied by a great falling off in the lacing,
and therefore, if attainable only at so great a cost, it must not be insisted on.
Whether the ear-lobe is white, or possesses the blue tinge, either form would place
the bird above those of its competitors who, equal in other points, manifested the
decided red stain. In the carriage of these birds we find the very extreme of pride,
vanity, and self-importance ; the feet are raised in walking much more than in
any other of the Bantams, and planted again with the greatest deliberation and
precision. When alarmed, their deportment is most striking ; the wings drop to
the ground, not listlessly, but as if determined to make the most of their tiny
proportions; while the head is thrown back, and the tail raised, so tbat they
nearly meet."

It is desirable to give a more minute description of the characteristics of these
birds, as it is necessary to breed them to an exact standard for exhibition.
We have, therefore, much pleasure in adding the following detailed description
by Mr. Hewitt, who is known as one of the most successful breeders of both
varieties.

Respecting their weight and size, Mr. Hewitt gives 20 ounces as the extreme
weight for the cock, and states that, if less, the bird is greatly to be preferred for
exhibition, though for stock they are rarely useful at a less size ; but it is desirable
to l)reed them a few ounces less for show purposes. In the hens the extreme
weight is 16 ounces : the same remarks apply respecting the weight of exhibi-
tion and stock birds as in the case of the cock.

The carriage of the Sebright cock is the height of self-importance ; the head is
drawn back, until the tail, which is well raised, nearly touches it ; the wings droop
about half way down the legs ; the birds are restless, impatient, and constantly
moving ; much given to pugnacity, and always seeking antagonists, which they
attack fiercely, despising disparity of size altogether, and, from their rapidity of
motion, are frequently triumphant over weighty adversaries. In the hens, the car-
riage is upstart, gay, and lively.

The general character of the plumage of the cock is very fine, close-lying, and in
first-class birds laced accurately throughout. Across the shoulders is generally the
most faulty part, if the birds are not very correctly bred ; but in really good breeds
no such imperfection of plumage exists. It is imperative in first-class birds that
the lacing should completely encircle the feathers. In the hens the plumage
should be brilliant, well-laced, very close-lying, and compact ; each feather being
very long and narrow.

The neck of both sexes must be perfectly hen-hackled, and accurately laced ;
although, near the head, from the feathers being smaller, the black predo-
minates.

The conformation of the saddle-feathers in the cock is the same as in the hen,
being all regularly laced ; as the feathers approach nearer the tail, they become

Y 2

244 THE POULTRY BOOK.

wonderfully distinct and beautiful in their markings. The saddle of the hen is
perfectly laced with a clear unsullied ground. The feathers generally look dark
here, because they overlap each other considerably.

The tail in the cock should have a perfectly clear ground-colour (golden or
silver, as the case may be) ; every feather should l)c laced throughout ; but
this degree of perfection is only rarely attainable. The tail, however, must bo
perfectly hen-tailed, tipped with black, and without sickles. A clear ground-colour
is a most important advantage in the tail of a Sebright, but very diflicult to obtain
in the male bird. In the hen, the tail somewhat longer than in other Bantams,
the ground-colour perfectly clear, and the lacings accurately marked. In the hens
this is much more easily attained than in the cocks.

The breast of both sexes must be accurately laced throughout.
The secondary quill-feathers that are visible when the wing is closed, must
be accurately and completely laced throughout, with a perfectly clear ground ;
perfection in this point is most important.

The primary quills or Hight-feathers should have a clear gold or silver ground,
and be tipped with black. But in very aged fowls of the Golden-laced, they
almost always become gi-izzled with white, particularly towards the roots.

In the thighs the feathers are much darker than the body plumage ; but never-
theless they should still show the laced margin.

The legs and feet are entirely slate-coloured, small and well- formed, and quite
free from feathers.

The comb must be of a perfect double or rose shape, set firmly on the head,
without any tendency to fall over on either sid6 ; full of points, which are rather
more blunted than in the Hamburgh fowls. It should end in a good peak
behind, turning slightly upwards ; be neat, but not overgrown ; a comb that is
raised highly from the head is called helmet-combed, and is objectionable. In the
hen the rose-comb should be well-formed and very neat, the peak at the back well
defined and up-turning. A depression at the back of the comb is a very common,
but great failing, equally objectionable for breeding and for exhibition. In Se-
brights of both sexes the combs arc more livid in colour than in most other
breeds.

The wattles should be small, florid, and not hanging loosely, those of the hen
being still more compact than they are found in the cock.

A white ear-lobe is greatly to be preferred, if attainable without failings in
the lacing of the plumage, but a red ear-lobe is admissible. The face is very
neat, and a little darkened round the eyes, or gipsy-faced, as it is commonly called,
compared with that of other fowls. In the hens the face possesses the very extreme
of neatness, is highly expressive, and with a jaunty appearance.

The eye is dark-red, vivacious, impatient, and sparkling; the bill uniformly
slate-coloured.

With regard to the selection of birds for breeding stock, Mr. Hewitt remarks : —
At three years old the Sebright becomes what is called kite-winged ; that is, the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 245

principal feathers of the tail and wings are greatly grizzled with white, and the
■ birds are sadly deteriorated for exhibition. Frequently, however, have I found
that in this state they produce stock far superior to those that have been reared
from them in their pristine beauty.

It is also found that better markings are usually produced by the union of a
heavily-laced bird with one that is scarcely sufficiently so, than when both parents
are perfect in this respect. " Why this should be so," says Mr. Hewitt, " I know
not ; but I am confident that those that are best-laced frequently produce offspring
very far from perfect in their markings, while those formerly so successfully
exhibited by myself were bred as stated."

With regard to the breeding of these birds, Mr. Hewitt has favoured us with
the following remarks : —

" Of Sebright Bantams, whether Golden or Silver-laced, I am, by dearly-bought
experience, assured that a perfectly hen-tailed cock is rarely serviceable for brood
purposes, however valuable he may be in the exhibition pen. I do not insist on
the unvarying sterility of such a male bird, because a few exceptions have come
within my knowledge ; but the general rule is that eggs laid to such a cock are
either entirely sterile, or only one egg in many nests proves productive, —
although as an exception the most compact hen tailed cock I ever yet met with
has the sole range of my yard, and the eggs of the hens (running with him) are
in almost every instance fertilized. The ground-colour of this bird's tail is
perfectly clear frosted silver, the markings as complete as though laced by the hand
of an artist, and the whole bird unexceptionable. This is the only instance I ever
yet met with in which such a male Sebright proved a really satisfactory stock bird.
The combined experience of many other admirers of the Sebright Bantams is
concurrent with my own — viz. that even a very trifling disposition to sickle-
feather in the tail brings with it proportionably increased productiveness ; and
that, on the other hand, absolute perfection of hen-tailed character in the male
bird as generally entails sterility. It must be remembered, these remarks apply
to Sebrights as stock birds, and not to exhibition fowls. In the latter position, no
one can entertain more positive approval than myself of the so-called hen-tail,
and success in the show-pen depends exclusively on outward appearance, alto-
gether regardless of powers of procreation ; but to introduce an entirely faultless
cock as the progenitor of future stock, is almost always apt to lead to disappoint-
ment. I have noticed, as a general rule, that even the slightest deviation from
feminine character in the tail of the male Sebright — say the elongation by only
half an inch of the two principal tail-feathers — brings with it a probability of
fertility ; and would therefore advise Sebright amateurs desirous of breeding these
birds, not as a rule to depend exclusively and altogether on a perfectly hen-tailed
cock.

" I am convinced that very much of the disappointment so generally com-
plained of, in breeding chickens in anything like proportionate numbers to
the eggs incubated, arises altogether from the principle of purposely selecting

240 THE POULTRY BOOK.

the most dimiuutive, aud couBequeutly the most weakly, fowls of this variety, as
the parent birtls. This plau would not receive the sauotion of the breeders of
any other kind of stock whatever, simply on account of its iuevitahlo tendency to
produce deterioration of character in the oti'spriug ; nor have I tho slightest doubt
in my own mind but that the determination of Sebright amateurs to obtain small
birds, by any aud every means, has increased the difficulty of breeding them as
much as the mistake of constant inter-breeding. Great care should be taken that
all the stock birds have perfect rose-combs, as no others are admissible for
competition ; aud imperfections of the comb are apt to prove hereditary for many
generations, and are very difficult to breed out. Another very essential feature is
the clear ground-colour of the old birds selected for stock, as even the slightest
impurity in this respect is perpetuated in the oftspriug. In my remarks as to
male Sebright Bantams, I particularly desire to be very distinctly understood.
A cock of this variety for exliibition purposes undoubtedly should possess neither
hackle nor saddle feathers ; and as to the tail, should bo altogether devoid of
sickle-feathers — the hen-tail makes the perfect bird ; but they rarely breed well,
so for that especial reason are so much the more valuable when they do. When
possessing a good hen-tail with the side tail-coverts regularly and distinctly
marked, it is impossible to imagine a more beautiful specimen in any variety of
fancy poultry. The gait of some of these birds is extraordinarily characteristic : I
have seen the carriage so peculiar, that the head and tail have nearly touched each
other if the fowls were a little alarmed ; and the lacings on the breast and wing-
coverts thus displayed itself to unusual advantage. In the Sebright chickens I
have invariably found those covered Avith the darkest down, when first hatched,
eventually made the best laced sjiecimens ; and that the lighter coloured are
less distinctly laced, when adult, in exact proportion to the lightness of their
colour when hatched."

Tho assumption of the male plumage by barren hens has been already alluded
to in the chapter on Game fowls. The change from the female to the male
plumage, as before remarked, is always accompanied by perfect sterility, whether
it shows itself in the hen pheasant or in the hen of any of the varieties of
the domestic fowl. In those cases that have been hitherto observed, the barren
hen has assumed the plumage proper to a male of her own variety. But in an
interesting case made known to ub by Mr. Hewitt, in which a Sebright hen
assumed the masculine attire, the conditions are somewhat difierent. The male
Sebright being perfectly hen-feathered, has no male plumage, properly so called,
both sexes being feathered alike ; consequently, if any change occurs in the
plumage of a Sebright hen, it must be by the assumption of feathers which are
not proper to the male of that breed.

The barren hen in the possession of Mr. Hewitt that has assumed a cock's
plumage, has the hackle-feathers fully four inches long, narrow and pointed, with
broad dark margins and a narrow line of white running down the centre of each
feather. The saddle-feathers are five inches in length, narrow, pointed, and

THE POULTRY BOOK. 247

beautifully and regularly laced with a dark border arouud a light centre. The
sickle-feathers are fully a foot in length, arching over in the most perfect manner,
light in colour, and tipped with black at the extremities.

This case is a very remarkable one. That the barren hen, in assuming the
male garb, should, as it Avere, become more masculine than a cock of her own
variety, indicates very strongly that the hen-feathered condition of the male
Sebright is an abnormal variation^which has been propagated by the careful process
of artificial selection, and which would soon be merged in the general stock, were
it not kept up by care and attention on the part of the poultry fanciers.

BLACK AND WHITE BANTAMS.

Black Bantams constitute one of the established classes at the poultry exhi-
bitions ; and judging from the great improvement that has been effected in them
during the last few years, are certain to maintain their position for the time to
come. A lengthened description of their characteristics is not required, inasmuch
as the plumage should be a uniform black, without the slightest trace of any
other colour. In the cock the lustre of the feathers should be decided, reflecting
the same resplendent metallic purple tints that are seen in high-class Spanish ;
the hens of course being of a duller hue. The comb in the cock should be a
bright crimson rose-comb ; the wattles and face red ; the ear-lobes perfectly white,
strictly defined, and not implicating the face; the tail should be full, carried
jauntily towards the back of the head, and with well-arched sickle-feathers ; the
legs short, and black or dark leaden-blue in colour.

White Bantams, although, like the Black, established favourites at our shows,
scarcely require a more detailed description. The smallest possible size consistent
with health and condition, a plumage of immaculate whiteness, a full sickle-tail,
neat rose-comb, red face, white ear-lobes, neat small-boned white legs and feet,
include their principal characteristics. In size they should be very diminutive,
first-rate specimens not reaching one pound and three quarters a pair.

In the " Standard of Excellence " it is laid down as a rule that both black and
white bantams are disqualified as exhibition birds if the cocks weigh above 20 or
the hens more than 18 ounces each.

Mr. Hewitt, whose opinion is always valuable, has furnished us with the follow-
ing notes on these two breeds : —

"Although the rule is strictly imperative as to Sebrights, that the male bird
should be perfectly hen-tailed, the contrary holds good with both Black and White
Bantams, in both of which varieties well- developed sickle-feathers are essential.
When the tail is thus ample, it adds also very greatly to the general beauty of the
bird. Of late years, at many of our poultry exhibitions, we have met with
specimens far less in size than those formerly shown ; and adult hens, in good
condition, varying from ten to twelve ounces in weight, are not by any means
rare, both among Black and White Bantams. The cocks will generally exceed
the weight of their mates by about a quarter of a pound.

248 THE POULTRY BOOK.

" A very pi-ovniliii{]j fault in White Bantam cocks is an inclination to assume a
yellowish tiuge, or even a very slight saftVon hue, across the shoulders aiul saddle,
as they arrive at maturity, a defect which is fatal to the success of the pen at any
exhibition, if competing with fowls without this drawback. It is also a fault that
it is most difllcult to eradicate, as it is apt to prove hereditary. For this reason
the greatest care should be taken to avoid a male bird possessing this blemish,
when selecting brood stock. Yellow c>r blue legs are also most objectionable in
White Bantams ; their legs should be clear Mhite, without any stain whatever.
Black Bantams, on the contrary, must have black legs. In both varieties the
combs are rosy, and should be small, neat, and firmly seated to the head. Among
lilack Bantams it is by no means uncommon to find a cock of two or three years
old assume a ruddy hue on the longest of the ncck-hackles, and even occasionally
to moult brassy-winged, or even red-shouldered. It is needless to say these fowls
are then perfectly useless as showbirds ; nor would I depend on any such l)ird for
stock. I have seen this failing occur in a Black Bantam cock that had been
hitherto considered as one of the best of his race ; for three years he was perfectly
black, and afterwards showed annually an increasing amount of the faulty
colouring complained of. Perfectly white ear-lobes, by the striking contrast they
afford to the colour of the plumage, greatly increase the beauty of a pen of this
variety."

GAME BANTAMS.

There is, perhaps, no variety of ornamental fowl that has sprung so rapidly into
favour as this exceedingly beautiful and diminutive breed. A few years ago they
were almost unheard of ; but now the offer of a five-pound silver cup will secure an
entry of forty or fifty birds ; and a show hardly occurs in which there is not a class
for them.

"With regard to their origin, there is no doubt that they have been produced in
two modes, — firstly, by the continued in-and-in breeding of the ordinary Game
fowls, by which size has been lost, w^hilst the other characteristics have been in
great part maintained : thus, Mr. Mousey, of Norwich, a well-known and very
successful breeder and exhibitor of both Game and Bantams, has reared them very
carefully, by closely inter-breeding the same strain of Game fowls for several years,
and continually selecting the smallest specimens. On the other hand, by crossing
a small Game cock with a Bantam hen, the requisite size has been obtained,
although at a loss of some of the beauty of the breed. There is little doubt that
both these courses have had their share in the production of most of the specimens
now seen at our shows.

So much for the origin ; now for the characteristics of the breed. These
require verj' little detail. Game Bantams, both cocks and hens, should be
exact and perfect diminutives of the ordinary Game fowl, not only in feather,
which is easily obtained, but also in comb, eye, beak, form, carriage, and even
courage ; and just in proportion as they depart from this standard do they become

LtlOIMuN, IlKy<

WHa'i'IE iUHlD ©iiffllE -iBilHr'JAmSo

THE POULTRY BOOK.

249

of less and less value. So universally is this fact recognized, that in the " Standard
of Excellence," no distinct characteristics are printed for Game Bantams, it being
stated with regard to their general shape and colour that they are the same as in
the corresponding varieties of Game fowl, but that those cocks vreighing above
24 ounces, or hens more than 20 ounces, are regarded as disquahfied for com-
petition.

The ordinary Bantam form, with short legs, wings scraping the ground, and the
carriage of the head and tail Hke that of a fantail pigeon, is exceedingly objection-
able when occurring in Game Bantams. What should be aimed at is the well-
developed thigh and leg, and gallant bearing of the Game cock ; with a long neck,
and the wings closely pressed in to the l)ody ; the head should be exceedingly neat,
although the beak should be massive at the root ; but it is only a useless repetition
to go over the points of Game Bantams in detail, for they are precisely similar to
those already laid down in the chapter on Game Fowls.

With regard to colour, the black-reds have been most abundant, and are those
most generally shown. In this variety the cocks are usually good, but the hens
are apt to be faulty in colour.

Brown-reds are not as common as black-reds, but exceedingly good specimens
are often shown. Duckwings, though not uncommon, are certainly not equal to the
black or brown-reds. It is very rare to see a pen of Duckwing Game Bantams equal
in colour to a good pen of full-sized Duckwing Game, but doubtless it will only
require a few years more careful breeding to produce them as good in character as
the other varieties. For many years Pile Game Bantams were regarded as great
desiderata, and numerous were the attempts made to rear them by crossing the
different breeds of Game Bantams with the common White Bantam. For a long
time the efforts were not very successful, but at present we have Pile Game
Bantams frequently appearing at our exhibitions ; not perhaps showing the full
merits of the other breeds, but still very passable specimens of the variety.
White Game Bantams are still desiderata.

Of all Bantams the Game breeds are the hardiest and most self-reliant. They
may be reared with safety anyAvhere ; for, being active, vigilant, and possessed of
great powers of flight, they readily escape from all pursuers ; as sitters and mothers
they are unsurpassed; and being active foragers, they find a large proportion
of their own food, and when killed furnish the plumpest of all poultry for the
table.

FEATHER-LEGGED BANTAMS.

The Feather-legged and Feather-footed Bantams were formerly amongst the
most common of their race in this country. They were to be found of various
colours, as black, Avhitc, yellow, and also speckled ; and were larger than the
birds of the present day, and more stoutly built. They possessed one great
recommendation in their comparative inability to employ their booted legs for
the purpose of scratching ; their utility, therefore, in a garden, in destroying grubs

250 TUi: POULTRY BOOK.

aud insects, was not couutcrLalaucetl by much injury to the seed-beds and borders.
The inordinate length of the feathers on their legs and feet was injurious to their
chickens. In wot weather, especially, the young broods were apt to be en-
tangled and crushed, and the employment of the hen as a mother was sadly
interfered with.

Mr. Hewitt remarks concerning this variety that — " Perfectly bred birds of this
description are now very rarely to be met Mnth, although some twenty-five or
thirty years since they were not by any means an uncommon variety. The old
booted Bantnia was a hardy and extraordinary-looking fowl, considerably larger,
however, than the Bantams that we at the present time generally meet vnih ; the
point which Bantam-fanciers now consider all-important, diminutiveness, having
been but little attended to, as they used to weigh nearly two pounds each.
Booted Bantams are usually of a brown or grey speckled colour throughout, having
either single or rosy combs, and very lively intelligent-looking faces. The most
evident singularity of this variety is the extraordinary development of the feathers
of the thigh, which in well-bred fowls are so lengthy as to wear away consider-
ably (by the friction of walking) upon the surface of the ground. If any of the
largest of these feathers are closely examined, they prove quite as long in the shaft
as those of the wing itself. The ' boots ' or feathers, extending along the outside
of the legs to the feet (aud in most instances to the two outside toes also), arc fre-
quently longer than the feathers of the wings themselves, especially if the fowls
have been well attended to, and enjoy a walk where they are not likely to break
them in pieces. By reference to my early memoranda of this breed, I find the
longest boots I ever remember seeing were in a cock ; they measured nine and a
half inches on each leg. ' Muflfs ' (as they were formerly called) of seven inches
long were easily acquired. From this peculiarity, these fowls scratch less in gar-
dens than any I ever possessed ; but few advantages prove real benefits if tested in
all ways. The boots, during the time of incubation, are apt to drag the eggs from
the nest ; and not unfrequently, during the first few days of their existence, prove
fatal to the chickens also ; and should any of the long feathers on the leg be
injured at the base, during their growth, they bleed very profusely. Booted Bantams
are good layers, and the fowls themselves very plump and excellent for the
table."

Some very good specimens of purely White Booted Bantams have been exhibited
within the last few years, and certainly have been not the least attractive specimens
of their race.

PEKIN OR COCHIN BANTAMS.

The most remarkable novelty that has appeared in the Bantam classes at our
poultry shows for several years past is unquestionably the singular variety knoAvn
as the Pekin Bantam. These birds may be described as miniature Cochins,
bearing the same relation to the full-sized Buff Cochins that Game Bantams do to
ordinary Game fowls, but with a still greater disparity of size between the two

THE POULTRY BOOK.

251

races. So^close is the resemblance of the Pekin Bantams to the colour, form, and
feathering of the Buff Cochins, that on their first exhibition it was generally ima-
gined that they had been bred down from the large variety, in a similar manner to

PEKIN OB COCHIN BANTAMS.

that in which the Game Bantams had been produced from Game. On inquiry,
however, we find that the breed did not originate in England, but that the birds were
obtained from China at the sacking of the Summer Palace at Pekin. During the
occupation of the Palace by the British, a pair of these Bantams used to come daily
into the officers' tents to be fed ; and as a quantity of spoil was being collected to
be sent to England, these two were caught up and forwarded. This pair were
the progenitors of all those since reared in England. The very close in-and-in
breeding necessitated by the introduction of only a single pair has had its
inevitable result in the want of fertility in the eggs, and great mortality of the
chickens ; consequently the great drawback to these very singular little birds is the
extreme difficulty of breeding them ; as the chicks die in the shell, at various
stages of development. Under these circumstances, it is obvious that unless some
new blood be introduced, this very quaint variety will become extinct. As the pro-
bability of any fresh importation from Pekin is rather doubtful, we should strongly
recommend the introduction of fresh vigour from another breed, and the subse-
quent restoration of the desired characters by careful selection of brood stock.
Thus a small nankin-coloured Bantam hen, placed with these birds, would produce
half-bred chickens ; of these, one or two of the pullets most closely resembling the
Pekin Bantams should be reserved, and matched with a pure bred Pekin cock.
From this union would result chickens three-fourths Pekinese. The hens of this
latter cross, again mated to a Pekin cock, would produce birds of seven-eighths
Pekin blood; and if care were taken and judgment exercised in the selection of

252 THE POULTUY UOOK.

the breeding stock, there wouUl not be the shghtest visible trace of the bar sin-
ister in their escutcheon.

"With ropird to the cliarnotcri sties of these quaint little orientals, much need
not be said ; their form is so correctly given in the sketch by Harrison Weir that a
lengthened description is not required. The fluffy plumage, the uncouth cochin
form, the feathered legs and single comb, arc admirably portrayed.

As they are regarded as l^antams, it is needless to insist on the fact that the
smaller the size the more highly would the specimens be valued in the show-pen.
Pekiu Bantams are stated to be good sitters and mothers ; the males even take a
share in brooding the chickens ; but they have been too recently introduced into this
country and too sparsely distributed for their merits to be generally appreciated.

Since the above description has been in t}i)e, wc have received the follow in-
teresting account of the cross-breeding of these birds from one of the most successful
exhibitors of the variety, who states : —

" The first pen ever exhibited was at the last show ever held at the Crystal
Palace. I believe that was in the year 18G3. Whenever I have heard of these birds
being shown I have made inquiries about them, and can only find traces of the one
original stock. To remedy the mortality of my chickens, I last year procured a
White Feather-legged Bantam hen with single comb, and penned her with a Pckin
Bantam cock ; from them I reared one cross-bred pullet, which I mated with a
Pekin cock. I have now hatched from her eggs some very fine chickens, that can
scarcely be distinguished from the pure-bred birds, excepting that they carry the
tail rather too high. I think in another season I shall be able to breed out that
defect as I intend to put a cross-bred cock to the pure Pekin hen and also breed
from the pure-bred cock with the cross-bred pullets. I have no doubt I shall obtain
chickens very like the original. The cross-bred chickens that I have raised this
year have been very strong and easily reared."

JAPANESE BANTAMS.

The comparatively recent extension of our intercourse with the Japanese people
has resulted in the addition of a new variety to our list of Bantams.

Examples of the Japanese breed have been frequently exhibited at our shows,
and good specimens have almost always secured prizes in the class for new varieties
of Bantams.

The birds of this breed may be described as exceedingly short-legged, full-
feathered, little fowls, with largely-developed single combs, and very full-sized
well-sickled tails.

In colour they vary very much ; some are marked in precisely the same manner as
the Cuckoo Dorkings, both cocks and hens showing the same transverse bands of
dark greyish blue over a lighter ground-colour ; others are variously marked and
speckled ; but by far the prettiest arrangement of colours in the plumage is found
in those that have pure white bodies and wings with flowing black sickle feathers
in the tail.

THE POl'LTRY BOOK.

253

This combiuation is very elegant, and is rarely passed over without notice by tlie
judges at the poultry shows.

In addition to these varieties some small Frizzled-feathered Bantams have also
been introduced from Japan.

XAXKIN BAXTAM3, ETC.

Before the advent of Poultry shows had led fanciers to look for breeds charac-
terized by strongly-marked and very distinctive peculiarities, several varieties of
Bantams were to be found in different districts of the country. Some short-
legged breeds were known as Creepers, or Jumpers, from the nature of the
locomotion necessitated by the extreme shortness of their shanks ; others -were
named from the marks upon their feathers, as the Spangled and Partridge
Bantams.

At the present time a variety of a slaty, or blue-dun colour, closely approach-
ing that of the Andalusian Fowl, or blue-dun Game Fowl, are sometimes
exhibited, under the name of Fly-fishers, probably from the fact that their slate-
coloured hackle-feathers are in considerable demand amongst fishing-tackle makers,
for the purpose of manufacturing artificial flies.

One of the most common of the old Bantams was that known as the nankin or
yellow breed. These, although now seldom exhibited, still have their admirers.
Their prevailing colour is that of the pale orange yellow of the nankin cotton.
The hens are usually slightly pencilled on the hackle ; and the cocks show an
intermixture of darker colours on the wings and saddle, and a well-arched
dark tail : they usually possess double or rose-combs, and dark uufeathered
legs.

Such are the principal varieties of Bantams at present known in this country.
The difterent breeds have been so generally diffused that they have inter-bred not
only with each other but with the smaller varieties of the ordinary fowls ; con-
sequently there may be seen in many poultry yards mongrel Bantams of every
conceivable variety, that possess no distinctive character beyond that of being
more diminutive than the ordinary fowls.

The chickens of almost all the varieties of Bantams are hardy, and sufficiently easy
to rear, provided they are kept from wet during the first week or ten days of their
lives, as at this early age the least dampness seems fatal to their well-doing.
They do not require any particular dietary : a due supply of animal food in
the shape of ants' eggs, or, failing that, custard as advised for Dorkings, oatmeal,
grits and small tail-wheat, will rapidly get them through all the difficulties of
chickenhood.

The hens are admirable sitters and mothers, and are generally chosen as foster
parents of partridges it is wished to rear in a state of domestication.

Even as profitable poultry Bantams are not destitute of merit ; in proportion to
the amount of food they consume they furnish a very fair supply of eggs, which
may be cooked on the breakfast-table by placing them in a basin and pouring

^^^ THE POULTRY HOOK.

boiliug water upou them, reuewing it l.y n iVesli supply in the course of two
or three minutes. As table fowls the hardy little Game breeds are really excellent ;
plump, full-chested, and meaty, they may bo served up as substitutes for par-
tridges ; and if they are allowed a free range in coppices, where they can supply
themselves with a great variety of insect food, they acquire a game-like flavour,
that adds very gi-eatly to their value on the table. As useful and ornamental pets
we know of no birds that are sujierior.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE ORIGIN OF THE DOMESTICATED VARIETIES OF FOWLS. — THE JUNGLE FOWLS.

rpHERE is perhaps no subject in the whole range of poultry literature, on which
-*- more absolute nonsense has been written than on the origin of the different
breeds of our domesticated poultry. In place of making any accurate scientific
investigation into the facts of the subject, the majority of writers on poultry have
adopted certain theories, and endeavoured to prove them by the most ridiculous
statements, which they have gravely put forward as truth. If any naturalist
wishes to read the absurd fancies of the compilers of treatises on poultry, we
would advise him to turn to the chapter on " The Wild Fowls of India," in Messrs.
Wingfield and Johnson's Poultry Book.

It is there stated that the Kulm cock of India, or St. Jago fowl, the Gallus
giganteus of Temminck (a breed which is a domesticated variety nowhere existing
in a wild state), is one of the races of wild Galli, to be regarded as the forefathers
of our poultry yard.

We are also informed that ''the Jungle fowl consists of two distinct species,"
the Bengal Jungle fowl, and the Sonnerat Jungle fowl, and that the Gallus
Stanleyi (which is in reality the wild fowl of Ceylon, and a perfectly distinct
species), is *' a variety of Sonnerat's fowl."

Although Jungle fowls are said to be of two distinct species, the writers state
" that many of our present breeds of fowls may have been derived from these
four species — Gallus giganteus, Gallus Sonneratii, Gallus furcatus, and Gallus
Banldva, we have little doubt. But still these are not necessarily to be regarded
as the sole ancestors."

After this definite statement. One would hardly expect to find on the same
page that Gallus furcatus " seems to possess no tie that might connect it
with our domestic race." Such are the blunders of compilers who write on
subjects on which they are perfectly ignorant. Amongst other ridiculous state-
ments in the same chapter, is one that the Black-red Game is descended from the
Bengal Jungle fowl, and the Duckwing from the Sonnerat, the authors, or
rather compilers, ignoring three facts, the knowledge of either of which would
show the absurd nature of their theory: first, that the hybrid Sonnerats are
almost always sterile ; second, that they possess the peculiarly flattened shaft to the
feather, which so strikingly distinguishes the Sonnerat cock, and which is absent
in every domestic variety ; and last, that Black-red Game fowls may be bred from
Duckwings, Duckwings from Black-reds ; in fact these birds are habitually reared

256 THE POULTRY BOOK.

in this manner, as may be ascertained by reference to the chapter on Game Fowls
in the present vohime.

"We have quoted these remarks to show the amount of ignorance that prevails
respecting the origin of our domestic breeds, selecting Messrs. Johnson and
Wingfield's book as being comparatively recent, and the most pretentious w'ork
that has been published on the subject.

Leaving tho absurd conclusions of the mere bookmaker for the investigations
of men who are of tho highest authority as observant naturalists, wo arrive at a
totally different conclusion.

Three of the most eminent naturalists of the present day, working indepen-
dently of each other, and regarding the same facts from diftercnt points of view,
have come to a similar conclusion respecting the origin of our domestic breeds — a
conclusion that must be acquiesced in by all who have studied their premises. It
is that there is but one species from whence all our domesticated varieties have
descended, and that that species is the common red Jungle fowl, the Gall us
ft'rrughicus, of India.

Mr. T. C. Jerdon, the author of that admirable wwk, " The Birds of India ;"
Mr. E. Blyth, whose opportunities for personal investigation into the history of
these birds has been unusually great ; and Mr. C. Darwdn, whose attention has
been devoted for many years to the study of the subject of variation in our domes-
ticated animals, have all independently arrived at this conclusion.

The facts on which their inferences are based are too numerous to be detailed at
length in a work of the character of the present volume, but they may be briefly
alluded to. In the first place, no one of the numerous domesticated varieties
exists in a wild state ; the forests of the tropical world know no such fowls as the
Kulm cock, the Silky fowl, the Cochin, the Frizzled fowl, the Bantam, &c., cl-c,
as is so constantly stated by writers on poultry.

Such being the case, we must either imagine the origin of our domestic breeds
to be some species that no longer exists in the wild state ; — or to be some existing
wild species ; — or to be the result of crosses between several existing wild species.
The first supposition is most improbable. We know that the jungles of India offer
to birds by far too secure an abode for us to imagine that the original breed of
poultry has been exterminated. The improbability that our breeds are the results
of crosses between two or more species has been already alluded to. The investi-
gations of Dr. Salter, which were detailed at length in the " Natural History
Review," prove most convincingly that the hybrids so produced arc deficient in
fertility, and that the cross-bred races soon die out, even under the most favour-
able circumstances. Moreover, their plumage is unlike that of any domestic
variety. Hence we are reduced to regard the common Jungle fowl, the Gallm
ferruglneus of Gmelin, as tho original species from whence all our varieties are
derived.

To the minds of persons unaccustomed to study the extent of variation in
species, this conclusion may appear very forced and unnatural. That the Cochin

THE POULTRY BOOK.

257

and the Bantam, the Game cock and the Silk fowl, had but one origin, seems
at first sight incredible ; but the existence, in other species of animals, of varieties
as diverse as these is universally acknowledged. The gulf between the European
and the Negro, or that separating the Turk from the Tasmanian, is as great as
that between any two varieties of fowls. The toy terrier and the gigantic St. Ber-
nard are as diverse as any two gallinacean varieties.

Such being the conclusions arrived at by the most eminent authorities on
natural history, it is desirable that we should possess a detailed description of
the form, plumage, and habits of the wild original of our domestic breeds. For
this purpose we take the liberty of quoting, with some slight additions from
Jerdon and other authorities, the following most interesting account of the Jungle
fowl, from the pen of a well-known Indian ornithologist, who has published the
results of his observations in The Field under the signature of Ornithognomon.

The genus Gallm includes several distinct species ; the Gcdlus ferrugineus,
also called the Gallus Bankiva, of Continental India ; the Gcdlus Sonneratii, of
Southern India only; and Gallus fur catus, of Java; the Gallus Stanleyi, of Ceylon,
which resembles the Gallus ferrugineus, but is red beneath ; and several other
doubtful species, as the Gallus Mneus, supposed to be a hybrid between the
Gallus furcatus and Gallus ferrugineus ; and a species has been lately described
from Batavia under the name of Gallus Temminckii.

The common Jungle fowl of India is the Gallus ferrugineus of Gmelin, the
Gallus Bankiva of Temminck, the '' Bunmoorgh," or "Junglee Moorgh," of
the Hindostanies, ''Bnnkookra" (Bengali), " Geragogor " (Gonds), "Natsoopia"
(Botan), Paroktshee (Lepchas of Dorjelling), '' Beer seem " (Koles), " Tauquet "
(Burmese), " Ayamootan " (Malay), ''Brooga" (Sumatra), '' Bengkicoo," or
" Bengkeeko " (Javanese).

The cock measures, from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, about 26
inches ; 2 feet 3 inches across the stretched wings ; the length of the closed wing
is from 8 to 9 inches ; the tail measures 15 inches ; the leg or tibia is 4 inches long;
the tarsus or shank, 3 inches ; the middle toe. If inches ; the spur, 1 to 1^ inches;
and the weight of the bird is about 2f pounds.

The hen is only 1 foot 5 inches long, the length of the tail 7 inches, and the
wings spread 2 feet.

These dimensions, which are taken from average-sized specimens, show hov,'
domestication and feeding have increased the size of our common breeds, some of
which almost rival the turkey in size.

The following are the points indicating the pure wild breed : —

The form is bulky, broad across the back and shoulders, the bird standing high
and very erect, with protruding breast and a nearly horizontal tail, the tips of
the centre feathers of which barely clear the ground. The plumage is thick, and
the feathers of the neck and upper tail-coverts are linear, pointed, and drooping.
Head and face bare, with a small circular patch of feathers over the ear-hole.
The comb is high and serrated, rising from nostrils and overhanging the occiput.

z

258

THE rOULTRY BOOK.

There are two wattles uiuler the base of the bill, and a smaller pendulous flap
under each car ; in the female both comb and wattles are rudimentary. The bill
does not alter in domestication. Legfs stout, rather lengthened, with a single row
of scales in front, and a double row behind, the sides of leg being reticulated.
Toes rather short, and webbed to nearly their first joints ; a large spur on the
inner side of the shank, about three-quarters of an inch above the thumb,
attaining a length of one inch and a half in old birds. The wings are short and
bowed ; the quill-feathers suddenly narrowed from near their bases ; the fifth and
sixth primaries are the longest ; the secondaries very little shorter. The tail is
composed of fourteen feathers, shaped as in the barn-door cock, but not held so
vertically.

In the cock, the iris is orange ; the bill, horn colour ; legs, blackish-lead
colour, with a slight green tinge ; the face, comb, wattles, and throat, fleshy
carmine ; neck and head feathers, bright orange, pale and golden where flowing
over the back ; the feathers at bottom of neck, black at the bases ; back,
rich deep vinous rust colour ; lower back and upper tail- coverts, fiery orange,
the latter golden-tipped ; tail and its longest upper coverts, or sickle-feathers,
black, glossed with green ; wing-coverts like those of the back, but the two-last
rows black, glossed with green ; the secondaries, chestnut on the outerwcb, and
dusky within ; the primaries dusky ; all the lower parts black ; the ear-coverts
are white in the Bengal birds and orange rusty in the Burmese and Malayan
varieties.

The hen has the skin of the face a paler red than in the male ; legs, livid
horn colour ; cro\\-u, ear-coverts, and throat, vinous rusty ; rest of neck, golden
tawny ; each hackle is centered ^^'ith brownish-black, and the larger ones are shafted
■\Wth ta\\Tiy colour within the black. All the upper parts are full burnt-umber brown,
the feathers vermiculated and centered sepia, with pale tawny shafts ; the side tail-
feathers are plain sepia, as are the inner webs of all the remiges ; all under
parts vinous reddish-brown, the shafts pale ; primaries and their coverts, plain
sepia, ^\-ith the outer margins ashj-.

The breast and under parts of the 3'ouug cock-birds arc much broken up with
rusty-coloured feathers, and in the first moult both sexes are similarly coloured
mottled brown, with dusky \\'ings and tail ; when first hatched, the chicks are
covered with cream-coloured dovm, and have sepia-coloured bands along centre of
head and through the eyes.

Every poultry fancier will at once recognize the fact that of all our domesticated
varieties, the breed which most closely resembles the Jungle cock in colour, form,
and carriage, is the Black-breasted Red Game. If the tail of a small Game cock of
this variety were depressed so as to be carried horizontally, it would be difficult to
distinguish the bird, provided it had not been dubbed, from the descendants of its
wild progenitors, and now roaming at large in the Indian jungle.

The Jungle fowl is found all over Continental India wherever jungle exists — to
the westward, as far south as the Yiudhian range and the Eaj-peepla Hills ; to the

THE POULTKY BOOK. 259

eastward it extends into tlie Madras Presidency as far as the Godavery, where it
meets with Sonuerat's Jungle fowl, individuals of the two species frequently inter-
breeding. It is more abundant to the eastward of the Ganges, through the vast
Teraij and Morung forests, Dacca, Silhet, and Chittagong; and, farther south,
through Arakan, Burma, and Tenasserim, Malayana, and the islands of the x\rchi-
pelago as far as Timor and the Bonin Isles. All the individuals in the Indo-
Chinese countries are subject to a trijfling variation, having the ear-coverts red or
rust coloured instead of w'hite. The birds found in the Cis-Himalayan range are
said to be paler coloured than those farther south.

In India proper I have found this bird more numerous to the south than to the
north of the Ganges. It is off the alluvium in the dry, stony jungles between
Midnapoor and Chota Nagpoor, that the Jungle fowl are met mth in the greatest
numbers. In favourable situations, such as the narrow strips of cultivated land
in the woods, I have, after the crops have been reaped, seen as many as twenty or
thirty together gleaning about in the stubble ; and where the country is thinly
inhabited they will, in twos and threes, advance pretty boldly into the open. They
are at all times excessively timid and war}-. "When approached in open spots, far
from covert, they take Aviug as readily as partridges, springing with a loud flutter,
and flying steadily and strongly to the jungle, with rapid beats and alternate
sailings of their wings. They alight generally within the edge of the covert, and
then run so long and swiftly as to render it quite hopeless to follow them. There
is no bird more difiicult to approach, or even to see, when in the jungle. The
cocks may be heard of a morning or evening crowing all round, but the utmost
precaution will not, in most cases, enable the sportsman to creep -uithin shot or
sight of the bird. The hen, too, announces the important fact of having laid an
egg with the same vociferation as in the domestic state, but is silent ere the stealthiest
footstep can approach her hiding-place, and, gliding vatli stealthy feet under the
dense foliage, is soon far away in the deep recesses of the jungle. To a stranger it
is not a little curious to hear the familiar sounds of our farm-yards issuing from
the depths of the wild forest. The crowing of the cocks, the cackling of the hens,
the chirruping of the chickens, are precisely the same as we have been accustomed
to hear since the earliest dawiiings of our intelligence, and, associated as the
homely sounds are with civilization and domestication, they aj^pear out of place in
the solitude of the jungle !

Owing to its secluded life, the breeding habits of this bird are very little known.
A question has arisen amongst naturalists as to whether the cock in its natural
state is monogamous or polygamous. I am inclined to think the latter, from
seeing always so many hens to one male bird, and this in every season
of the year. The information I have gathered from birdcatchers, who are
in the jungles during the twelve months, certainly confirms the above conjecture.
The period for incubation varies according to locality, but is generally at the begin-
ning of the rains — i. c, June. I have seen eggs, however, in March, and Jerdon
says the hen breeds as early as in January and as late as July. She selects for
this purpose some secret thicket in the most retired and dense part of the jungle,

z 2

260 THE POULTRY BOOK.

scraping together a few leaves on the gi-ound by way of nest. She remains as part
of the cock's seraglio until some seven or ten or a dozen eggs have been deposited
in the above spot, to which she stealthily repairs every day, and finally quits her
party and retires alone and unseen to perform the duties of incubation. The
thicks are hatched, as usual, in about twenty days, and follow the mother soon
after they have emerged from the eggshell ; and she leads them about, teaching
them how to find their own sustenance, till they are big enough to shift for them-
selves, by which time the young cocks, finding that they cannot in honour come
within a few yards of each other without a battle, separate, each one taking a num-
ber of hens with him. These particulars I have gathered from native informants ;
but I can add from ray own experience that either the season of incubation is
uncertain, or that the hens lay in the cold weather with no more ulterior views
than the domestic birds, for both in February and in March I have heard them
emit that peculiar caclde, " Tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-takauJc / " by which, every one knows,
a hen in a farm-yard proclaims to the good housewife a fresh acquisition to her
larder.

The flesh of the Jungle fowl, under favourable circumstances, is the most de-
licious of all game, but that of the old cock is beyond human powers of mastication.
A young bird hung till moderately high can hardly be distinguished in flavour
from the pheasant. The pugnacity of the male is as great in its wild state as in
domestication, and affords ready faciUties for its death or capture. The Burmans
and Talaings pin down a tame cock or tether him by the leg in some spot
frequented by wild poultry, when his cries soon attract a knight errant of the
tribe either within range of a gun, or the grasp of snares thickly set round the
decoy.

As may be supposed, the Burmese and Arakanese, gamblers from childhood,
are well versed in the mysteries of cock-fighting. They do not clip the birds, as
tho promoters and followers of this amusement in England do, but give them the
full benefit of their plumes, and arm them usually with but one ** steel," a tre-
mendous weapon, in shape and size like a large penknife, and which generally
proves fatal in a very few rounds. The gi-eat mass of the poultry in Burma and
Arakan is of the Game breed, descended from Gallua ferrufi'meus, but having
acc^uired in process of time yellow legs and great increase of size.

Though the voice of the Jungle fowl has no pretensions to melody, it possesses
great variety of intonation and expression. The crow of the male is too well
known to require description. The cry is a challenge to combat, doubtless, but
at the same time is regularly periodical, the inclination to "crow" coming upon
the bird apparently eveiy three hours — that is at the commencement of every
fresh watch, a division of time descended from remotest antiquity. When the
cock has discovered some food, which he considers might be acceptable to the
members of his harem, he calls them to the spot with a deep, soft clucking,
similar to that which the hen employs to feed her young, picks up and lays down
the morsels before them, and while they are greedily feeding, struts about with

THE POULTRY BOOK.

261

great j^ride and an utter disregard of his own gastronomic requirements. Indeed,
•were it not for a mouthful now and then taken on the sly, it is difficult to conceive
how the cock manages to sustain his portly body. On rare occasions intense
hunger seem to overcome the poor fellow's sense of his devoirs to the fair sex,
and I have at such moments, to my great amusement, detected him in the act
of furtively swallowing a choice bit, or bolting it in the face of dame Partlet, to
her astonishment, just as she had been invited to partake of it herself. When
danger threatens, especially in the shape of a hawk or kite in the air, the cock
utters a long, low croak, an unmistakable warning to "look out," on which the
whole community of hens and young birds scamper under cover, while the chief
remains ready to fight all comers. These birds roost always on some eminence
in a wild state, on trees in the jungle ; and before all the party has settled to sleep
the male occasionally gives a low, prolonged cooing whistle, to which a hen or
two sometimes respond. As morning dawns they leap silently to the ground,
and remain feeding about, and at or near six o'clock the cock mounts some eleva-
tion, and begins to crow at intervals for a quarter of an hour or so, after clapping
his wings together two or three times back to back.

This bird must be sought in all jungly country which is partly cultivated ; and
where paddy fields extend in long strips into the forest, two sportsmen walking
one on each side just ^^ithin the cover, with a line of beaters between them, can
enjoy very pretty shooting. The fowls rise from the stubble and fly into the wood,
passing over head, and the sport resembles pheasant-shooting in England, the
flight and size of the birds being pretty similar. When the fields have been
cleared of the fowls, the shooting may be continued with success in the woods if
they be pretty open, and the sportsman furnished with spaniels ; which cause
the birds to tree, from whence very pretty snap-shots may be obtained, as they
will often rest on a high branch till the sportsman has arrived underneath before
taking wing again. Both cocks and hens make a desperate cackling and flutter
when thus roused up by dogs, and I know of no shooting which requu-es greater
nerve and steadiness. If there are no dogs the birds will not tree, but run
slyly and silently along and are seen no more, unless you be mounted on an
elephant, when it is easy enough to pot them, should you be so minded, as they
skulk under the brushwood. The wild poultry are not subject to migrations,
even to the extent to which pea-fowl shift their quarters ; but in the hot
season and the rains they retire deeper into the woods, the cultivated tracts no
longer affording food, while the sylvan recesses provide seclusion and shelter for
breeding.

It may be asked, Wliat are the processes by which all our various breeds have
been derived from this one species ? The explanation is not difficult. All animals,
even those in a wild state, are subject to variation ; differently coloured and formed
individuals of every species are occasionally observed. These variations occur
much more frequently amongst animals in a state of domestication ; and mankind,
from the remotest ages, have observed that such changes are hereditary ; hence,.

*26*2 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

when liny variety has been noticed which it has been thought desirable to
perpetuate, the progeny have been preserved. This process of artificial selection
has l>cen carried on for generation after generation : where great size has been
required, the largest specimens have been selected for brood stock, and our
Cochins and Brahmas have been the result. On the other hand, when smallness
of size has been aimed at, the best specimens have been selected, and our bantam
breeds have been thus produced.

Colour, form, and even character, have been varied in the same manner.
Amongst the old cockfighters, a game cock that would not fight was killed and eaten,
and the race was perpetuated by those birds having the highest strength, agility,
and courage. In the same manner variations of habit were rendered permanent.
Eggs were required in larger numbers than chickens, and our new sitting varieties
were the result of the care shown in the selection of breeding stock from those
fowls that were the best layers and showed the least inclination to sit.

The varieties that were produced with so much care, require the same attention
for their continued perpetuation ; without it, all our valuable domestic animals
would degenerate into a comparatively w'orthless collection of mongrels, destitute of
the good qualities that distinguished so many of those varieties that are now
characterized as pure breeds.

liiB^iii-:. M:' .'iiLiiUiiiiflil Jliiiii

CHAPTEE XXV.

THE TURKEY.

^PHE origin of tlie Turkey of our farm yards is, like that of many other of our
-■- domestic animals, a matter of very considerable uncertainty. If there is one
fact more clearly ascertained respecting the Turkey than another, it is that it is
certainly not descended from the common wild American species, as is generally
stated by the compilers of the greater number of our works on poultry.

The different wild species of the genus Melcagris, known to naturalists, are only
three in number : — the Wild American Turkey, common to Canada and the
United States, M. Americana; the Mexican species, M. Mexicana ; and the
Ocellated Turkey of Honduras, j\L Ocellata ; and in addition, we have the tame
bird, M. Gallopavo.

As the wild American species is so generally regarded as the origin of the
domestic breed, it is desirable to describe it somewhat in detail ; we therefore quote
the following from the report of the American Department of Agriculture for 1864,
in which Mr. Elliot states : —

" When full grown, the male will measure four feet in length and nearly five feet
in the stretch of its wings. The naked skin of the head and neck is blue, with the
wattles red, as are also the legs. The feathers of the neck and body generally are
a coppery bronze, changing in some lights to a greenish or purplish shade, and
margined with an opaque line of velvet black. The back and rump are also black,
and tipped with a light chestnut. Near the end is a band of black, broadest on
the outer feathers, and narrowing as it approaches the central ones. Between the
bars on the feathers is a confused sprinkling of black. Neither upon the tail nor
its coverts is there any white, and this is one of the means by which the wild bird
can always be distinguished from the domesticated. From the centre of the breast
hangs a long, coarse, hairy tuft, sometimes not found in the other sex. The
female differs principally from the male in being smaller in size, less brilliant in
colouring, and in the absence of the spur, and the fleshy process at the base of the
bill."

A well-known sportsman and traveller. Captain Flack, writing in the Field under
the signature of " The Eanger," gives the following graphic account of the habits
of this species : —

A A

266 ^HE POULTRY BOOK.

" Tbo best Game bird of Amcrioa, aud, iit tbe same time, the largest and tbe
wildest, is tbe wild Turkey {Meleagrls Americana). Tbere are four distinct species
of turkeys kuoAMi. Tbe first is tbe American bird, once abundant tbrougbout tbe
Atlantic States, but now rarely found east of tbe jMississippi, except in tbe
Soutbern States. In Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, aud Louisiana, tbere are yet
a great many left, and probably tbey will find security in tbe tangled forests and
canebrakes of tbose states, for many years to come ; but west of tbe IMississippi,
in Arkansas aud Texas, tbey are, except bere and tbere, as plentiful as tbey
ever were. Tbe second is tbe Mexican, 21. Mexlcana ; it is found upon tbe
bif^b table lands of Mexico, and tbrougbout tbe Rocky Mountain district. It is
reported to diftcr materially from tbe first in many points ; but as I bave never
Bcen tbe bird, I can personally give no opinion. Tbe tbird — tbe Ocellated Turkey,
M. OccUata, of Central America — bas tbe plumage of bis neck, breast, and body
almost as gaudy as a peacock's tail : its fine metallic tints flasb witb green, witb
pui-ple, and gold in tbe sunsbiue. Tbe fourtb and last is tbe tame species M.
Gallopavo ; and most likely tins — as is supposed to be tbe case witb nearly all
our domesticated animals — bas been tame for ages. Doubtless tbe original of
domestic cattle, sbeep, borses, camels, pigs, fowls, ducks, and, in all probability,
turkeys, bave existed tame as long as domestic man ; and if, as bas been stated,
tbe Spaniards found a tame breed of turkeys possessed by tbe inbabitants botb in
Mexico and tbe West Indian Islands, it would go far to prove tbat tbe domestic
turkey is a distinct species ; for tbougb tbousands of wild turkeys bave been
batcbed under barn-door fowls, tbey bave invariably strayed ofi" tbe following
spring to tbeir wild kindred in tbe forests, witb wbom tbey bave remained, and all
attempts to retain tbe wild turkey as a barn-yard fowl bave completely failed.

" Tbe wild turkey cock is never seen fairly but in tbe forest. Tbe war-borse,
described by Job, and tbe sorriest back on Hampstead-beatb, wlieu bis Sunday -
troubles are over, would present scarcely a greater contrast tban does tbe wild bird
to tbe tame ; notbing alive sbows more points of bealtb and purity of blood tban
does tbis fine bird. * His clean game bead is fully four feet from tbe ground, and
bis brigbt bazel eyes are full of intelligence and suspicion, so difierent from tbe
dull expression of tbe tame bird. His great breadtb of slioulder, deep cbest, and
clean, firm step, must strike tbe most superficial observer. Tbe general tints of
tbe ' gobbler ' — for be is a far bandsomer bird tban tbe ben, aud generally twice
tbe latter's size — are pui-ple, and a deep, ricb brown, witb various sbades of gold
and violet colours gleaming upon bis close-lying plumage, as tbe sunligbt plays
upon tbeir surface. Tbe bead and neck, wbere bare of featbers, are of a darker
blue tban in tbe tame variety, wbilst tbe tuft, resembling borse bair, wbicb bangs
from tbe breast, often measures, in full-grown males, nearly a foot. I bave one
by me wbicb measures eleven incbes ; tbe turkey upon wbicb it grew, and Avliicb
I killed, weigbed tbirty pounds. I bave beard of otbcrs weigbing greater weigbts
tban tbis, and some are even stated to bave reacbed forty pounds ; but I bave
never seen tbcm, tbougb I do not dispute tbat sucb bave been killed.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 267

"If the weather is mild and warm towards the end of February, the forests
just before day and at daybreak, are filled with the gobblings of the cocks, and the
responsive duckings of the hens ; and this continues through March and April.
By the close of the latter month the clucking has almost entirely ceased, as the
hens are upon their nests, which they keep carefully concealed from the gobblers.
These latter, at this time,'worn out with their amorous duties and battles with their
rivals, are nearly mute; and now, having nothing to fight about, and being weak
and thin, wander about by themselves through the summer, too worthless for
powder and shot. So poor are they, that they have given rise to an Indian
proverb, ' As poor as a turkey in summer.'

" The hen generally makes her nest some two or three hundred yards from the
edge of the forest in the prairie, and never very far from water, to which, being a
thirsty bird, she makes about three visits a day — in the morning, at noon, and in
the evening. Prairie sloughs, which run out some distance from the main timber
into the prairies, and which have some little timber upon them, are favourite nest-
ing places, as she can steal from the forest, under the shelter of the straggling
timber, undetected by the gobblers, gain her nest on the prairie, and sit in peace;
as the gobblers at this time, poverty-stricken and ashanied of themselves, seek the
thickest parts of the woods to hide in, and rarely then venture into the open.
But, poor or fat, whenever the cock finds a nest he breaks it up, and he never
neglects to break the skulls of all the young chicks he comes across.

** The chicks when hatched are very small, and covered Avith a more hairy
covering than the down which young tame turkeys have. If the season be a dry
one they thrive very fast, as insect food is abundant ; but whenever it is a wet
season the young ones * fare but middling,' as they are particularly tender, and
are easily killed by damp and chilly weather. Upon the dryness of the season,
therefore, the turkey-hunter builds his hopes of the plentifulness of his game.

"By October the young birds have become nearly full-grown, and able to take
care of themselves; the hens have recovered the flesh which they had lost by sit-
ting, whilst leading their young in pursuit of the myriads of grasshoppers which
swarm on a southern prairie during the summer ; and the gobblers having picked up
their good condition by feeding upon wild grapes, blackberries, mulberries, nuts,
grubs, and the thousand-and-one treasures scattered in the forest, and so, all feeling
strong and fat, they gradually join their forces and form ' gangs,' as the back-
woodsmen call them, often consisting of a hundred individuals or more in each
gang. From this ' gathering of the clans,' October is named the ' Turkey
month' by the Indians.

" At this season the turkeys wander over a great extent of country in search
of 'mast,' remaining in one place only so long as the acorns, pecan nuts, and
other food remains plentiful; and when that is exhausted they move on in
search of more, rarely rising unless they have a river to cross, or are flushed by a
hunter's dog, or by wolves, foxes, wild cats, kc. When the river to be crossed is
a very wide one, such as the Mississippi, they often spend a day or two upon its

A A 2

268 THE POULTRY BOOK.

nuks, as though considering the difficulties of the attempt. During this time
the males strut backwards and forwards, their ' fans ' expanded, their wings
sweeping the ground, and their throats rolling out gobl)lo after gol)l)le in quick
succession, as though trying to inspire the hens and young birds with courage
for the undertaking. Finally, when the courage of all has been wound up to the
proper pitch, the whole flock flies up into the tops of the highest trees, where they
sit a short time longer, stretching their necks out towards the bank they desire to
gain, as though estimating the distance to be crossed, as well as gathering breath
for the prolonged flight. At last, seemingly at a given signal, all talcc wing ; but
in their progress across there is always a descent, and few except the strongest
ever land much beyond the bank, the younger and feebler often falling into the
water, — not always to j)erisli, for they can swim a little ; but many frequently
gain the bank, exhausted and bedraggled, only to fiill a prey to some wolves or wild
cats, who, warned by the two or three days gobbling on the opposite bank, are on
the look-out for * wrecks.' Very often the backwoods-squatter also profits by the
flight, for, having heard the noise, he prej^arcs to secure a few to lard down in a
barrel for future consumption at his wigwam. Judging, from former flights, wdiere
the ' gang ' Avill make his side of the stream, ho lies concealed, and when the
flight docs take place, he takes advantage of the birds' necessities, and secures ' a
right smart chance of 'em.'

" From October to February the turkeys remain in larger or smaller companies
together, when, as before stated, the preparations for breeding commence.

" The wild turkey, as an object of pursuit, is the shj-est and most wary of all
game ; even Avhere they arc plentiful and rarely hunted, the person who pursues
them must have some knowledge of the bird and its habits to hope for success ;
where they are scarce and have been much hunted, they become inconceivably wild
and suspicious, arid only the veteran hunter then can kill them ; young half or
three-quarters grown birds are more easily killed."

In addition to those killed by the gun, a great many turkeys are caught in traps
of various kinds. A common one is made of young trees four or five inches in
diameter. Two are laid on the ground parallel to each other, and at a distance of
about ten feet apart. Two others arc then laid across the ends of these, and at
right angles to them. This is continued until the trap is about four feet high.
The top is covered with similar j^ieces of wood, and heavy logs are laid on top of
these, to render the whole structure steady. A trench is then made under one
side of the trap, about eighteen inches in width and depth. The trench opens
into the trap slantingly, and pretty abruptly. It gradually rises u-ntil it obtains
the level of the surrounding ground. Over the portion of the trench that is
within the pen a lot of sticks are placed, so as to make a kind of bridge a foot
in breadth. A quantity of Indian corn is then placed in the trap, as well as in
the trench. A few grains are dropped every step or so for a considerable distance
from the trap. A flock of turkeys coming up, follow this train of corn, and
searching for the grains of corn, are gradually led into the trench, where they find

THE POULTRY BOOK.

269

a good quantity, and from that into the trap. Here they find still more, and they
■fall to work like a parcel of gluttons and gorge themselves.

When they are full they raise up their heads, and, seeing into what kind of
a place they have been led, try to make their egress. They endeavour to force
their way out of the side and top of the pen, hut never for a moment think of
looking downwards, or trying to escape by the passage through which they entered.
They therefore remain there until the owner of the trap arrives and secures his
booty.

Professor Spencer Baird, one of the highest scientific authorities on ornithological
subjects, in his great work on the birds of North America, states distinctly that
" the wild turkey of Eastern North America differs in several points, both in
structure and manners, from the domesticated birds : the latter possess a large
dewlap, extending from the base of the lower jaw to the large caruncles on the
lower part of the neck.

" The domestic turkey, even those showing the closest resemblance to the wild
l)irds, may always be distinguished by a whitish tip to the tail, and by the tail
coverts being edged witli whitish, which is never seen in the wild bird.

" Again, the wild turkey is stated never to have been so domesticated as to
breed in confinement, notwithstanding the repeated efforts made to accomplish
this result ; again, the difference of the colour of the flesh in the two birds is
considerable, that of the wild bird being much darker.

'' On the whole, it is exceedingly probable that the two breeds are specifically
distinct."

Professor Baird supports the following hypothesis : — '' That, in addition to
the three well-known species of Meleagris, namely M. Ocellata, from Central
America ; M. Americana, the wild American species ; and M. Mexicana, the
Mexican species, there originally existed a distinct breed, the original of our
domesticated breed ; that this was indigenous to the West India Islands, and was
transplanted as tamed to Mexico, and from thence taken to Europe in 1520 ; and
that ultimately the wild original was exterminated by the natives, and no longer
exists in the wild state. This hypothesis will explain the fact of our nowhere
meeting with any wild turkeys of the present day, closely resembling the domestic
breed."

This conclusion appears, at least, to possess a high degree of probability ; never-
theless, some of our distinguished naturalists have entertained a different opinion.
Thus, Mr. Gould, in a . communication made to the Zoological Society in 185G,
respecting the existence of the Mexican species, which had not previously been
described, states : —

" In the lapse of time the origin of several of the animals which man has
subjected to his dominion, and which are of the greatest service to his necessities,
or his pleasures, has become involved in obscurity. As instances, we may point
among quadrupeds to the camel, the horse, and the dog ; and among birds, to the
various poultry birds, water-fowls, and pigeons, all of which were derived from

270 THE POULTRY BOOK.

the Old World. The productions of the New World have not yielded such ready
obedience to his sway, since only one of its birds has been domesticated, the Turkey ;
but a like fiite, if I mistake not, has attended the oripfin of this acquisition, which,
although the breed has not been known to us more than 300 years, is equally
wrapped in obscurity. * So involved,' says Mr. Martin, ' is the early history of
the Turkey, and so ignorant the writers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
appear to have been about it, that they have regarded it as a bird known to the
ancients, namely the Guinea fowl or Pintado, a mistake which was not cleared
up until the middle of the eighteenth century.'

" The appellation of Turkey, which the bird bears in our country, arose, according
to Willoughby, from a supposition that it came originally from the country so
called. Mexico was first discovered by Grijalva in 1518. Oviedo speaks of the
Turkey as a kind of peacock abounding in New Spain, which had already, in 1526,
been transported in a domestic state to the islands and the Spanish Main, where
it was kept by the Christian colonists. It is reported to have been introduced into
England in 1524, and is enumerated as among the dainties of the table in 1541.
In 1573, it had become the customary Christmas fare of the farmer,

" Every author who has written on the subject, since the days of Linnajus, has
considered it to be derived from the well-known wild Turkey of North America ;
but on account of the great differences which are met with among our domestic
Turkeys, and the circumstance of the wild Turkeys recently imported from North
America not readily associating or pairing with them, I have for some years past
entertained a contrary opinion.

" In Canada and the United States the Turkey is partially migi'atory, visiting
those countries, during the summer, for the purpose of breeding; and although
some writers state that it is a native of Mexico, I can hardly think it likely that it
ranges very far south in the latter country, for from the southern boundary of Canada
to Mexico is nearly 2,000 miles, and it is unlikely, I think, that a bird of the cold
regions of Canada should also be indigenous to the hotter country of Mexico,
whence, and not from North America, the Turkey was originally introduced into
Europe by the Spaniards, early in the sixteenth century.

" Believing the ^Mexican to be distinct from the North American species, it
becomes necessary that one of them should receive a new name ; and a question
then arises to which of the two should it be given. My opinion is, that it will be
better to call the present one Mexicana, after the country of which it is a native.

" For size, this new Turkey exceeds that of the largest specimens of the North
American species ; but it has shorter legs, a considerably larger and more broadly
expanded tail, conspicuously toned with brown and black, and terminated with
white; the tail coverts are very profusely developed, largely tipped with white, and
bounded, posteriorly, with a narrow line of black, their basal portions being rich
metallic bronze.

** The-Bamc arrangement of colouring also prevails on the feathers of the lower
art of the flanks ; and on the under tail coverts, Avhere it is particularly fine.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 271

The centre of the back is black, witli green, purplish, and red reflections ; the back
of the neck, upper part of the back and shoulders, are in some light bronzy, in
others the colour of lire ; the greater wing coverts are uniform bronzy brown,
forming a conspicuous band across the wing ; all the primaries are crossed by
mottled bars of blackish brown and white, freckled with brown ; all the under
surface is fiery copper, intensely brilliant in certain lights, and becoming darker
towards the flanks.

" Total length 4 feet 4 inches ; bill 2|- inches, wing 21f inches, tail 16 inches,
and, when spread, about 24 inches across ; tarsi 6f inches.

" In the report of an expedition down the Tuni and Colorado Rivers by Captain
L. Sitgreaves, lately published in America, the following passage occurs in refer-
ence to Wild Turkeys : —

" * They are also found in New Mexico, in the neighbourhood of the copper-
mines. I am told by our officers that those found there are of enormous size.
Mr. Lerouse, our guide, informed me that^ the Turkeys of the Gila River were
different from those found east of the Rio Grande, and that they have much white
about them.'

" These are doubtless identical with the bird under consideration."

Having given the opinions of these two eminent ornithologists in their own
words, it may be expected that we should state which opinion we regard as the
more probable. We think the balance of probability is in favour of that proposed by
Professor Spencer Baird, and are therefore inclined to favour the hypothesis Avhich
regards the original of our domestic Turkey as no longer existing in a wild state.

The remaining wild species, the Honduras or Ocellated Turkey, is a native of
Guatemala, the province of Peten and Yucatan. The extraordinary brilliancy of
its plumage renders it almost equal in beauty of colouring to the Impeyan pheasant,
which scarcely surpasses it in the metallic lustre of the feathers. In size it is nearly
equal to the common Turkey. At the base of the upper mandible of the bill is a
long fleshy caruncle, capable of contraction and dilatation as the bird is excited or
tranquil. The head and part of the neck are naked, and of similar livid colour, but
without those caruncles or fleshy tubercles on the lower part which are so charac-
teristic of the common species. On the breast, the tuft of coarse hair that forms so
characteristic a feature in the common Turkey is absent.

The feathers of the upper part of the body are mostly of a brilliant bronzed green,
terminated by tvv'o bands ; the first black, and that next the tip of a golden bronze
colour. Lower down the back the colours become more vivid, and are tinted with
emerald green, rich blue, or red, according as the light falls upon them. On the
tail the bars or bands become broader, and even more brilliant, making each feather
appear as if eyed or ocellated; and from the arrangement of the tail coverts
there appear four rows of these brilliant metalHc eyes. The upper wing coverts
are a rich bright chestnut, which strongly contrasts with the white of the feathers
of the lower part of the wing.

The entire plumage may be described as far more brilliant, varied, and beautiful

OTO

THE POULTRY BOOK.

tbau that of any other Turkey. The general appearance of the bird JitVers widely
from that of the domestic species, as is evident from the subjoined very accurate
engraving from the pencil of ^Mr. "Wood.

HONDURAS TLRKKV. MKLEAGItIb OCEh.'.Ai'A.

V\^e need hardly state that this lovely species, which, could it but be naturalized,
vould be so gi-eat an ornament to our poultry yards, has no claim to be considered
as the origin of our domestic species; and we can only fall back upon the
hypotheses of Tvlr. Gould or Professor Baird.

Having thus fully discussed the vexed question of the origin of the Turkey, we
now come to the management of the animal as a domestic fowl. Of all the
authors who have written on this bird, Mr. Trotter, who, some few years since,
published an essay in the Journal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society, is by far the
most sensible and practical writer that has come under our notice. The inform-
ation he imparts is evidently the result of his own experience, and we have
much pleasure in quoting his remarks on the subject, which are as follows : —

** There is a great difference of opinion respecting the age when turkeys are in
their prime, and how long they continue profitable. I consider the cock to be at
his prime at three years, and the hen at two years old ; whether they should be
continued. to be bred from after these ages depends on the discretion of the owner.
Some cocks are famous for being the sires of a healthy offspring, and so are some

:-f::

w 'ina as :e Tc

THE POULTRY BOOK. 273

hens for being good sitters and nurses. To dispose of such, before symptoms of
declining constitution are displayed in the health and number of the chicks, would
display a want of judgment.

" One fecundation is sufficient to render fertile all the eggs which are of one
laying. This has been strongly denied by some ; but the fact is undoubted, for
in this district many people keep hens only, and have to send them to some neigh-
bour's cock : the hen is sent once only, yet it is known that nothing more is
generally required to ensure the fertility of all the eggs of that laying.

" The number of hens running to one cock should not exceed fifteen, and the
majority of breeders allow even a smaller number.

" Some hen-turkeys lay every day ; others lay two days in succession, and miss
the third ; while others lay only every other da3\

" The turkey-cock, in a state of nature, is ever seeking to destroy the eggs of
the hen ; and she, to elude him, seeks some secluded place in Avhicli to make her
nest. In a domestic state, they in a great measure still retain the same pro-
pensities; it is therefore necessary to examine the hens every morning during the
laying season, and keep in those that have to lay that day. If the hens be
allowed to seek nests for themselves, the eggs are very frequently destroyed by
magpies, rats, weasels, &c., or are lost.

" The number of eggs laid by the turkey at one time varies from twelve to
twenty — most generally sixteen or seventeen ;. a number quite sufficient to be
securely covered.

" The eggs should be taken from the nest every day as soon as convenient,
and placed in a vessel containing bran, or some other bad conductor of heat. I
have not tried crushed charcoal, but should think it would answer very well.

'* The desire a turkey displays to sit is known by her remaining on the nest.
It is not desirable that she should have the eggs immediately given to her ; it is
best to test her constancy for two or three days ; at the end of which, should she
prove true, they must be given to her — care being taken to have the eggs, if they
be not all her own, as near as possible of the same age. To accomplish this, the
eggs should have the date on which they were laid marked on them with a pencil.

" The management should be such as to prevent other hens from laying in
the nests occupied by those sitting : but as * accidents occur in the best regulated
families,' the eggs with which the turkey or other fowl is set should be marked to
distinguish them from those which may afterwards be laid. This is best accom-
plished by surrounding them with a ring of ink marked with a pen. This method
of marking is preferable to writing on one end, as it enables the owner to distin-
guish at a glance the egg which has been added since the commencement of the
sitting.

" Some people recommend the sitting of two turkeys at the same time, so as to
be able to give both broods to one hen, that the other may again be at liberty to
commence laying, and of course a second brood is got much sooner.

" So closely does the turkey-hen sit during the time of incubation, that very

27-1 THE POULTRY HOOK.

frequently she Las to be forced oif the nest. This must be daily attended to ;
otherwise, from want of food, she will get much reduced. I need not insist on
the necessity of abundant feeding. The turkey is rather an absent bird, and so
much does she enjoy herself when from her nest, that she often forgets to return
to it in due time. The poultry-keeper must see to this, and never allow her to
remain off more than twenty minutes, unless the weather be very fine, when she
may have the indulgence of a few extra minutes. I do nut admit the desirability
of any further interference. No one save the person in charge should bo allowed
to come near the hen whilst she is sitting.

" Many writers on poultry have stated that the turkey-chick leaves the shell on
the thirty-first day of incubation. This does not agree with my experience, as I
have not found thirty-one days necessary. On referring to my note book I find
that one of my turkeys had twelve eggs given to her on Monday, May 7, 1849.
On Sunday morning, June 3, eleven fine strong chicks were found beneath her; the
weather during the time was very warm, which would, of course, have the effect of
bringing the chicks out a little sooner. Nevertheless, I cannot agree with those
who state that the time of incubation of the turkey is thirty-one days : instances
of such a long time must be very rare indeed, and I should look on them as omens
of bad success. The number of eggs laid by the turkey I have named was few ;
but I must state that she was of a second brood, hatched the previous year, and
consequently was very young. This fact proves the fallacy of the assertion that
the females of a second b^ood should not be allowed to sit.

"Should some of the turkey-chicks be slower in freeing themselves- from the
shell than others, they should be left undisturbed under the hen, when they will do
much better than if they or the chicks already hatched are removed. I wish to
point out the impropriety of interference ; as the result will, in almost every
instance, be in favour of allo^^dng nature to have her sway. Many recommend-
the removal of the chicks from the nest as they come out — I highly disapprove of
the plan ; however, some people are so anxious to know the issue, that no argu-
ment is sufiicient to induce them to ' let well be well : ' such, therefore, may
remove the chicks and put them in some warm place, as the mother, from being so
much disturbed, is apt, at this critical juncture, to trample them to death.

** The turkey-chicks should not have food forced on them, at least not in the
manner some do, by forcing them to swallow it. A drop of milk or water is of
great service to them, and should be given by dipping the finger into the liquid
and then putting the drop on to the beak; this is better than dipping the beak into
the milk or water, as it prevents the chicks from getting wet — a thing to be
scrupulously avoided.

" The turkey-chick is much more stupid than that of the fowl : the latter soon
pecks with facility. On this account it is very recommeudable to have two or three
of them in every brood of the former ; so that they, by force of example, learn to
peck much sooner. This is accomplished by placing two or three fowl's eggs
beneath the turkey at the end of the seventh day of incubation. The food I

THE POULTRY BOOK. 275

have found answer best consists of equal portions of oatmeal and the crumbs of
white bread, mixed with a little boiling water, a light-boiled egg, and a con-
siderable quantity of the leaves of the dandelion chopped small. This mixture
should be given very frequently, in small quantities, on a clean floor. The reason
why I have recommended the leaves of the dandelion before parsley, nettles, &c.,
is conclusive. A person I had in my service (with abilities and acquirements
far beyond her sphere), had observed that turkeys, when running about, always
devoured with avidity the leaves of this plant ; and she accordingly determined to
try the experiment of mixing it with the food for the turkey-chicks ; and such was
her success, that during the whole time (five years) s}ie was with us she never lost
one chick ; and, moreover, when they were disposed of, they were not only equal
but superior to all others in the market. She was most assiduous in her duties,
never allowing them to be exposed to a single drop of rain if it were possible to
prevent it, until she was pretty certain they were old enough to bear it. About
twice a week she gave them buttermilk to drink (always giving it them in very
shallow vessels) ; at other times she gave them water. She also fed them partly on
curds, than which nothing can be better: they should be made fresh every day. She
gradually discontinued the use of oatmeal and the crumbs, by substituting for
them, at first, a small quantity of barley meal, and increasing it until the chicks
were eight or nine weeks old, at which age the oatmeal was left off. When a
week old, the chopped eggs were discontinued. A boiled potato, moderately
warm, should occasionally be given.

" Undoubtedly the greatest obstacle to the profitable rearing of turkeys in our
climate is dampness. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to have the house
in which they are kept thoroughly dry — never allow them to go out when it rains,
or when there is any dew. These rules must be strictly enforced until the chicks
are nine or ten weeks old, at which age their backs will be found sufficiently well
covered with feathers to withstand a shower of rain : still at this age they should
not be too much exposed. Intense sunshine should all this time be guarded
against.

" Some turkey cocks trample the chicks to death, while others are proud of
their offspring ; it is therefore necessary to watch the movements of the cock when
first introduced to his family; and should a want of paternal affection be
displayed, he must be punished, as he justly deserves, with confinement or
banishment. I have waited until I have known the opposite propensities
displayed by different turkey cocks in a state of domestication, before I have
taken into consideration the situation of the hatching nests. Should the turkey
cock not be ill-disposed, then the nests may be made in the turkey-house, while he
is allowed to roost in it as usual ; but should his character not be of the best sort,
then he must be either excluded from the house, or the nests must be made in
some other situation. With regard to the arrangement of the house appropriated
to the turkeys, so much depends on the general construction of the farm buildings,
that it is very difficult to give an opinion suitable to all circumstances. Should

2(b THE POULTRY BOOK.

the turkey-house not be perfectly free from dampness, tlioii it A\ill be best to have
the nests in that apartment of the fowl-house occupied by the breeding fowls ; but
should the turkey-house be nil that can be desired, then I would either advise the
exclusion of the cock, or the dividing of the house into two parts, similar to the
fowl-house. I must here repeat my conviction of the necessity of having the
hatching nests in the apartment in which arc the laying nests.

" Turkeys should be so fed as to be ever ready for the spit. This is my practice,
and I always procure the best prices in the market — not for them only, but for
all sorts of poultry ; it would be useless to say more. However, I should remark
that many people, after harvest, turn the turkeys into the adjoining stubble fields,
where they pick up a great deal which would be wasted. From the position of our
farm-buildings we have not been able to do this, and therefore cannot give a
decided opinion on the practice."

Having given these practical directions on the management of turkeys, as fol-
lowed in England, from the i)en of so good an authority, we wish, in contrast to the
English method of rearing and feeding, to insert the following, on the continental
methods, from an account communicated to the Imperial Society of Acclimatisation
by M. Le Docteur Sacc, who writes : —

" For the hatching, I use willow baskets, the bottoms of which are covered with
straw, moss, or heath, on which I lay a bed of hay carefully crushed, so that the
nest shall not be too deep, which exposes the eggs to the risk of being broken by
rolling against each other, and hinders the bird from warming them equally.
Alongside of the baskets, within reach of the hatchers, are two troughs, the one full
of oats, the other of water ; and every twenty-four hours the turkey is lifted off her
eggs that she may roll in the dust to get rid of the vermin. In five or six minutes
the indefatigable sitter returns to her eggs, which, according to the surrounding
temperature, are hatched from the 27th to the 30th day. I have always seen'
them hatched in the course of the 28th, because I kept my hatchers in a very
warm and dry room. This hatching place is in general much the best in our
temperate and humid regions ; but when the summer is scorching it dries the eggs
too much, and causes the chicks to remain glued to the shell ; an inconvenience to
be obviated by slightly sprinkling the eggs with water whenever the turkey leaves
the nest. The hatching place should be sheltered from draughts, from noise, and
direct and powerful light.

" As soon as the chicks appear, the fowls arc no longer touched; but, twenty-
four hours after, I place alongside of the nest some handfuls of very fine hay, on
which I set the mother, losing no time in giving her her chicks, which one after
the other are slipped under her.

"During the first eight days the little ones are fed on eggs boiled hard and
minced ; during the second, I add to this bread-crumbs chopped with nettles,
parsley, and onions. During the third week I keep back the eggs, and only con-
tinue the bread and the vegetables ; then instead of the bread I give moistened
meal, boiled peas, and above all, millet, of which young turkeys are very fond.

THE POrLTRY BOOK.

277

'•' Vvlieu the birds are sickly tliey are easily cured by making tbem swallow a
peppercorn, their bills being carefully opened to avoid hurting them.

" Some authors advise the letting out of these birds when the weather is fine;
but when following this advice, I have lost so many that I have given it up
altogether. I have since left them in their garrets till they had put forth the red,
which occurs in from six weeks to two months, taldng care to give them as much
air as possible ; and from that time I have not lost one. During the crisis of
putting forth the red— that is, the red protuberances of the head and neck — I
again give the little turkeys stimulating food, consisting of bread minced with
onions and nettles or parsley. When this is past, the turkeys are as robust as
previously they were delicate, and stand all weather ; now is the time to let them
out to the open country, where they feed themselves on all sorts of herbs and
insects, of which they are so fond that in Switzerland they are made to follow the
plough for the purpose of destroying the turued-up larv?e of cockchafers.

"In order to fatten them, I have only to shut them up in a court for two or
three weeks, feeding them on meal soaked in water, boiled potatoes, and maize,
avoiding oleaginous seeds, because these communicate their oily flavour to the flesh
of the birds."

To these directions of Mr. Trotter and Dr. Sacc, we would only add a strong
recommendation to our readers to employ that admirable ombination of egg and
milk, recommended by Mr. Douglas in the chapter on Coloured Dorkings (page 88).
Animal food is required by young turkeys that are prevented from ranging, and
there is no form in which it can be given at all approaching in nutritive value and
easy digestibility to the custard prepared as directed. We speak from personal
experience, and can positively affirm that it is the most successful artificial food
ever devised for young gallinaceous birds, deprived of a free range and natural
insect food.

The varieties of the Turkey are— the Xorfolk or Black, and the Cambridge, the
colours of wL'.!i Tf-y very much, the prevailing hues being grey or bronze, the
latter varying from a light copper-colour to a very dark tint, which is generally
preferred.

Many of these dark birds are exhibited as American or cross-bred American
turkeys, under the idea that they are the pure or half-bred wild North American
species ; but, as we have pre^•iously demonstrated, this statement has no foundation
in fact.

The White are very elegant, and though the most tender of all to rear, are
not so in anything like the same degree as the white peafowl. It is well known
that most birds, wild as well as tame, occasionally produce perfectly vrhite
individuals of more delicate constitution than their parents. There can be no
doubt that the selection and pairing of such is the wav in which the breed of '
white turkeys has been established and kept up. However, with all care, they will
now and then ''cry back," and produce speckled or pied birds; and so show a
tendency to return to their normal plumage. It is remarkable that in specimens

27S THE POULTRY BOOK.

which are snow-white, the tuft on the breast remaius black, looking in the hens
like a tail of ermine, and showing as a great ornament. The head and xjaruncles
on the neck of the male are, when excited, of the same blue-white and red hues
as seen in the darker bird. Thus the creature, with small portions of black,
blue, and scarlet, relieving his snowy and trembling flakes of plumage, is
truly beautiful; and some keep them in spite of the disadvantages attending
them.

One advantage [they possess over the darker breeds is, that their fluff or the
soft-plumed feathers of the thighs are valued by the plumasiers, and realize a
fair price in the ornamental feather market.

The weight of the first class turkeys exhibited for competition at the principal
shows, may be estimated from one example. At the Birmingham poultry show,
held in December, 18G5, the weight of the first prize pair of old birds was
47 lb. ; those which received the second prize weighed 46 lb. ; and those taking
the third prize, 45 lb. Of the young turkeys the first prize pair weighed 40 lb.,
the second 3G lb., and the third 35^ lb. All these birds were of the Cambridge
variety j the superior size of the birds of this breed renders them almost always
successful, when they come into competition wdth the black or white varieties.

In the show-pen the chief points looked for in turkeys are size and symmetry ;
crooked backs, breasts, or legs, or deformity in any part, being held as disqualifi-
cations. The birds in the same pen must match in colour, which should be
rich and bright, showing the high condition and vigorous health necessary to success
in competing for prizes at an exhibition.

CHAPTEK XXVI. .

THE PEAFOWL.

THE Peafowls, whicli are all natives of India, China, Java, and the Philijjpiues,
form a very well marked group of birds, known to ornithologists as constituting
the genus Pavo. These fowls are distinguished from the other gallinaceous birds
by having the head ornamented with an erect crest of feathers of a peculiar struc-
ture. The space around the eye is naked ; the true tail of moderate length, com-
prised of eighteen feathers ; the feathers of the back and upper tail coverts are of
great length, and beautifully ocellated. The tarsi or shanks are long and spurred
in the male.

It is usually stated that but two species are known, — the common peacock, Pavo
cristatiis, and the Javan species, Pavo muticus. But Dr. Sclater has recently
described, under the name of the black- winged peafowl, Pavo nigripenms, a
third which seems perfectly distinct from the two former. The common Peafowl,
Pavo cristatiis, has been known from the earliest periods ; we are informed that
the navy of Solomon brought to him every three years peacocks from Tarshish,
1 Kings X. 22. PeafoAvls were known to the Greeks, and largely bred by the
Romans. The bird in its wild state is a native of the peninsula of India, the
Himalayan mountains, up to a height of several thousand feet, the jungles in
the salt range of the Punjaub, and the island of Ceylon. Jerdou, in his admi-
rable work, thus describes it : —

" Male witb the head, neck, and breast rich purple, with gold and green reflec-
tions ; back green, the feathers scale-like, with coppery edges ; the wings with the
inner coverts, including the shoulder, white, striated with black ; the middle coverts
deep blue ; the primaries and tail chesnut ; abdomen and vent black ; the train chiefly
green, beautifully ocellated ; the thigh coverts yellowish gi-ey ; head with a crest of
about twenty-four feathers, only webbed at the tip, and gi-een with blue and gold
reflections. Bill horny brown ; orbits naked whitish ; the irides of dark brown ;
legs horny brown. Length to the end of the true tail, 3|- to 4 feet ; wing 18 inches ;
tail 24 ; the long train sometimes measures 4^ feet, and even more.

" The female or Peahen is chesnut bro^RTi, the upper plumage light hair-brown,
with faint wavings, increased on the upper tail-coverts ; quills brown ; some of the
wing -coverts mottled dusky and whitish ; tail deep brown with whitish tips ; chin

280 THE POULTRY ROOK.

aud throat white ; breast as the neck; abdomen white, uilh (he lower parts iind
uudcr tail-coverts brown.

" Lenn-th 38 to 40 inches; wing 10 ; tail 11. The crest is shorter and duller
in its tint than in the male.

" The Peafowl is too well known to require a more ample description. It
inhabits the whole of India Proper, being replaced in Assam and the countries to
the East by another species. It frequents forests, and jungly jilaces, more
especially delighting in hilly and mountainous districts ; and, in the more open
and level country, wooded ravines and river banks are its never-failing resort. It
comes forth to the open glades and fields to feed in the morning and evening,
retiring to the jimgles for shelter during the heat of the day, and roosting at night
on high trees. It ascends the Neilgherry and other mountain regions in Southern
India, to 6,000 feet or so of elevation, but it does not ascend the Himalayas, at all
events in Sikim, beyond 2,000 feet. In many parts of the country it is almost
domesticated, entering villages and roosting on the huts ; and it is venerated by the
natives in many districts. Many Hindoo temples have large flocks of them ;
indeed, shooting it is forbidden in some Hindoo states. The Peafowl breeds,
according to the locality, from April till October, generally in Southern India
towards the close of the rains, laying from 4 to 8 or 0 eggs in some sequestered
spot. The Peacock during the courting season raises his tail vertically, and with
it of course the lengthened train, spreading it out and strutting about to captivate
the hen birds ; and he has the power of clattering the feathers in a most curious
manner.

" It is a beautiful sight to come suddenly on twenty or thirty Peafowl, the males
displaying their gorgeous trains, and strutting about in all the pomp of pride
before the gratified females. The train of course increases in length for many
years at each successive moult, but it appears to be shed very irregularly.

*' Though it cannot be said to be a favourite game with sportsmen in India,
few can resist a shot at a fine peacock whirring past when hunting for small
game : yet pea-chicks are well worth a morning's shikar for the table, and a
plump young peahen, if kept for two or three days, is really excellent. An old
peacock is only fit to make soup of. A bird merely winged will often escape by
the fleetness of its running. They generally roost on particular trees, and by
going early or late to this place, they can readily be shot.

" Peafowl are easily caught in snares, common hair-nooses, aud are generally
brought in alive, for sale in numbers, in those districts where they abound. In
confinement they will destroy snakes and other reptiles, and in their wild state
feed much on various insects and grubs, also on flower buds and young shoots, as
well as on grain."

The naturalist who published a series of admiral)le articles on the Game birds
of India in The Field, under the nom- de-plum c of " Ornithognomon," thus
graphically described the habits of these birds in their wild state : —

*' In the months of December and January the temperature in the forests of

THE POULTRY BOOK. 281

Central India, especially in the valleys, is very low, the cold, from sudden evapora-
tion, being intense at sunrise. The peafowl in the forests may be observed at such
times still roosting, long after the sun has risen above the horizon. As the mist
rises off the valleys, and gathering into little clouds, goes rolling up the hill-sides
till lost in the ethereal blue, the peafowl descend from their perches on some
huge seemul or saul tree, and threading their way in silence through the under-
wood, emerge into the fields, and make sad havoc with the chunna, oorid (both
vetches), wheat, or rice. When sated they retire into the neighbouring thin
jungle, and there preen themselves, and dry their bedev^^ed plumage in the sun.
The cock stands on a mound, or a fallen trunk, and sends forth his well-knovai cry,
' pehauH — pehau?z,' which is soon answered from other parts of the forest. The
hens ramble about, or lie down dusting their plumage ; and so they pass the early
hours while the air is still cool, and hundreds of little buxls are flitting and
chirruping about the scarlet blossoms of the ' polas ' or the ' seemul.' As the
sun rises and the dewy sparkle on the foliage dries up, the air becomes hot and
still, the feathered songsters vanish into shady nooks, and our friends the peafowl
depart silently into the coolest depths of the forest, to some little sandy stream
canopied by verdant boughs, or to thick beds of reeds and grass, or dense thorny
brakes overshadoAved by mossy rocks, where, though the sun blaze over the open
country, the green shades are cool, and the silence of repose unbroken, though the
shrill cry of the cicada may be heard ringing faintly through the wood. There
are spots in these saul forests which, for luxurious coolness during the sultriest
weather, rival the most elaborately devised recesses of the Alhambra, or the tink-
ling fountains and rose bowers of Isphahan — the paradise of the old Persian — and
the wilder denizens of the woods show no small discernment in selecting them.
Many a delightful dreamy hour I have passed in some such delicious spot, watch-
ing the little crystal streamlet at my feet, lazily scanning the endless variety of
unknown plants, flowers, ferns, fungi, and mosses scattered around, or following
the movements of some honeysucker, as the tiny feathered jewel, emboldened by
the silence, displayed his brilliant plumage scarce a yard from my admiring eyes.
In such lovely retreats one might cheat the hot hours of noon, and rob them of
their discomfort ; but, alas ! these are the spots where lurks malaria, and, more-
over, where one may be very apt to intrude on the privacy of some misanthropic
tiger ! The fact that where peafowl abound tigers are very likely to be met with is
well known to Indian sportsmen, and is confidently believed by the natives
themselves.

" These birds cease to congregate soon after the crops are off the ground. The
pairing season is in the early part of the hot weather. The peacock has then
assumed his full train, that is, the longest or last rows of his upper tail coverts,
which he displays of a morning, strutting about before his wives. These strange
gestures, which the natives gravely denominate the peacock's nautcJi, or dance, are
very similar to those of a turkey cock, and accompanied by an occasional odd
shiver of the quills, produced apparently by a convulsive jerk of the abdomen.

B B

282 THE POULTRY BOOK.

These are all blandishments, we are told, to allure the female, and doubtless have
a most fascinating efl'oct.

** The hen lays in Central India during June and July. The eggs, amounting
sometimes to eight or ten, are laid on the bare ground, generally under a thicket,
in the deepest and most secluded part of the jungle ; they arc of a dull brownish
white, about 2f inches in length, and 2| in breadth. The chicks run about as
soon as hatched. They are at first covered with down, and in about a week l)egin
to assume their first feathers, which are of a dull dark brown above and paler
below, in both sexes, the sides of the head whitish, with a dark band through the
eye. The cock remains for a year or eighteen months of the same colour as the
hen, and does not assume the long tail coverts till the third year ; these fall off
when moulting in the rains, and the new coverts remain short till about November
or December, when the last rows elongate rapidly.

"Peafowl, as may be seen amongst those reared with our poultry, are omni-
vorous— insects, worms, rej)tiles, flesh, fish, are as readily devoured as grain. In
a farmyard they are mischievous in lulling and devouring chickens, and, though
reared from the egg in confinement, they rarely become thoroughly domesticated,
but ramble farther and farther as they grow. They are vicious birds, and show
their tameness by attacldug infirm persons and children."

The Burman or Javan Peacock, Paro mutlcus, which is often erroneously termed
the Japan Peacock, is a native of the Burmese and Malay countries, as far north-
wards as Aracan and Sumatra, and is abundant all over Java. *' It is," writes
Ornithognomon, '' a finer and larger species than the preceding. The dimensions
of a cock bird killed by me in the Tenasserim provinces, were as follows — Entire
length from bill to the tip of the longest upper tail covert, 7 ft, 3 in. ; the coverts
exceeded the tail itself by 3 ft. 3 in. ; wing, 1 ft. ^l in. ; spread of the wings, 5 ft.
9in. ; bill, If in, ; tarsus, Sin. ; middle toe, 3in.

" The neck is more bulky than in the Bengal or common peacock, and the
plumage on it laminated, or scale-like. In other respects, the form resembles that
of the common species, except in the crest, Avhich is long and narrow, standing
vertically on the upper part of the occiput, and composed of narrow feathers,
scantily webbed basally, and ending in oblong blades. Each of the long flowing
upper tail coverts ends in an occllum, or eye, coloured similarly to those in the
train of the ordinary peacock ;• but the longest or last of these coverts have the
terminal portion emarginate, or crescent-shaped, as if the occllum had been cut
out. The lateral or outermost of these coverts arc more thicldy webbed and
curved inwards, so as to bend over the adjoining ones ; they terminate in points,
without ocelli.

" It would occupy too much space to describe with accuracy the colours of this
splendid bird. It differs from the common peacock chiefly in the following
particulars. The bare skin of the face is a livid smalt blue from the bill round the
eye ; but below and behind this the skin is orpiment yellow, with a patch of black
hairs over the ear. The crest, the feathered part of the head, and the entire neck

THE POULTRY BOOK. 283

are glossy bottle-green, eacli feather based steel blue. As these increase in size
towards the lower part of the neck, they assume marginally more and more a
coppery golden hue, T\dth their centres and extreme edges lovely resplendent blue-
green. The breast rich blue-green, the feathers scale-like, and margined with gold
and copper; rest of the lower parts dark blue-green, dulled with blackish ; entire
back a rich coppery brown colour, with darker shades and transverse line, and bars
of green and whitish brown. Towards the upper tail coverts these marks grow
more defined and regular, till the coverts themselves become altogether rich green,
blazing in lights with gold and copper, and regularly barred with whity brown ;
the tail is deep olivaceous brown, indistinctly barred paler ; scapulars, as back '; all
the wing coverts velvety sepia, but everjnvhere glowing with rich green and
Prussian blue ; tertial and secondary quills black, with a shine of blue ; primaries
ruddy buff colour.

*' In the breeding dress, the upper tail coverts are replaced by feathers similar
to those in the train of the common peacock, but there is more of the bronze tinge
in these plumes of the Burman bird.

"^ The female differs from the cock bird much as in the Bengal species.

"The green or Burman peacock inhabits the countries along the eastern margin
of the Bay of Bengal, Arakan, Burma, Tenasserim, Siam, and so on towards the
south, throughout Malayana to Java, &c. The northerly and southerly limits of
its habitat I do not know. As Jerdon does not include it in his birds of India, it
is j)robable that it does not extend into Chittagong.

" The habits of the Pavo inutlcus are so similar to those of its congener as
scarcely to admit of separate description ; but I should say it was a still more strictly
sylvan or forest-haunting bird. Cultivation does not appear to entice it far from its
leafy fastnesses, as it does with the Bengal species ; and it is in consequence more
secluded, wilder, and difficult of approach, besides being far less numerous. I have
never seen more than three or four of the Burman peafowl together, whereas the
Bengal species unite in flocks of 30, 40, or 50. It haunts the thickest jungle,
whether on level ground or on the sides of small hills, and is frequently found in
the masses of elephant grass which so commonly skirt the smaller brackish creeks
and nullas of Arakan. A specimen with a full train is seldom seen, except in the
beginning of the rains, which is the season of courtship. About August they
moult, drop their long ocellated tail coverts, and assume the simpler green-barred
ones. The train appears again in the succeeding March or April ; but the moulting
of this bird appears to be irregular, and I have seen cock birds with fine flowing
trains in January and February. The hen incubates in the rains, but at uncertain
periods ; the young just hatched have been brought to me at Monlmein at difierent
times, from August till January. The eggs cannot be distinguished from those
of the Bengal bird.

" The Burmese and Talamgs, who never keep or tame wild animals, do not attempt
to domesticate the peacock, but will now and then bring them into Moulmein for
sale. The chicks resemble those of the Bengal species, and are difficult to rear.

284 THE POULTRY EOOK.

They either fly ofl' as soon as fully Hedged, or pine away if kept shut up. Occasion-
ally one will attach itself to the compound or poultry-yard for a year or two, hut
the bird is not a pleasant pet. If rendered at all familiar, it becomes impudent
and ^•icious ; attacking elderly gentlemen or ladies suddenly and treacherously by
the rear, flying at and severely bufteting and pecking children, lapdogs, &c., and
sometimes wantonly destroying young poultry. The cry or call of the Burman
peacock is somewhat harsher than that of the Bengal species."

Hybrids between these two species are not rare in India.

Since the time of Linnaeus only these two species have been generally recognized,
but at a meeting of the Zoological Society, Dr. Sclater called attention to a third
distinct si)ecies, in some respects intermediate between the other two, and which,
though long since brought into Europe, and often bred in our menageries, seems
in some mysterious manner to have escaped the notice of naturalists, and to have
been left unprovided with a specific name.

This bird is the black-shouldered peacock of " Latham's General History," vol.
viii. p. 11-1, where its differences from the true Pavo cristatus are accurately pointed
out. In the black-winged peacock the metallic gi-een of the back, which forms the
centre of the train, when extended, is of a more golden hue than in the common
species Paio cr hiatus. The whole of the secondaries, scapulars, and wing-coverts
are black, with narrow edges of green, which become bluish towards the carpal
joint ; in this particular it resembles the Javan peacock, and is very distinct from
the Pavo cristatus, or common species, in which all these feathers are cream
coloured crossed with black markings. Again, tlie thighs of the black-winged
peacock are black, as in the Javan species, whereas in the common breed they are
always of a pale drab.

The female of the black- winged species is of a much lighter colouring
than the (Common peahen, being almost entirely of a jiale cream colour, mottled
■with dark colouring above, and is readily recognizable at first sight. In this
respect the black-winged is not intermediate between the two other species, since
the female of the Javan is much more like the male.

Dr. Sclater asks Avhat is the black-vriuged peacock : is it a domestic
variety, a hjbrid, or a wild species ? He concludes that it is not a domestic
variety, because the differences are constant and descend to the progeny, and are
not of the kind induced by domestication. Temminck considered the black-
shouldered as the true wild species, and our common breed a variety of it ; but
there are many facts against this view. The common wild species of Hindostan
is undoubtedly the common Pavo cristatus, and the black-winged is unknown
in that country. It cannot be a hybrid, because the hybrids bred between the
Javan and the common species have very different characters altogether. More-
over, the birds are perfectly fertile, and their characters fixed. If, therefore, it is
not a variety or a hybrid, it must be a distinct species, and probably occuj)ies a
distinct geographical position. Dr. Sclater is inclined to regard it as a distinct
species, and proposes fur it the name of Pavo Nujripennis : at the same time

LEIUineN, VHOS

P IE il r. © C ]Ko

THE POULTRY BOOK. 285

he expresses liis doubt by asking, " Can the bird be the Malayan form of
the common species?"

In a domestic state we are more intimately acquainted with the habits of the
common species than with those of the Javan and black-winged birds.

Kemarkable changes and variations have been produced and perpetuated, by the
influence of domestication, on the colour of the plumage of the Peacock. Thus
pied and purely white varieties are by no means uncommon — with some persons
they are favourites — but they certainly are wanting in the gorgeous beauty of the
natural birds.

In a state of nature the Peacock is polygamous, and in domestication one- cock
may be mated with three or four hens. The Peahen makes her nest on the
ground, laying usually five or six eggs before sitting. The period of incubation is
thirty days. In wet weather the chicks are tender, and should be reared with as
much care as pheasants or turkeys. The best food for them is custard, ants' eggs,
meal worms, oatmeal and milk, etc. As they progress, they may be fed on small
wheat, barley, or any grain.

Mr. Hewitt has kindly furnished the following notes on the habits of these birds
in a domestic state : — " The habits of these birds are naturally wild and unsociable,
v/hilst their love of an unlimited range makes them difficult of restraint. If they
are removed to fresh j)remises, a very considerable time usually elapses before they
appear reconciled to their new home.

" This, in my opinion, arises in a great degree from the extended range that is
generally allotted to them ; as in several instances within my knowledge, peafowls
have been domesticated so completely, as to become quite as sociable as any other
variety of poultry. In all such cases, however, they were hatched by a common
hen.

" A friend of mine has a rather extensive flock of that beautiful species the
Javan Peafowl, the domesticity of which is worth mentioning. They breed very
freely, and prove equally hardy to rear as the common kind. At breakfast-time
each day, they invariably attend at the glass-doors of the breakfast-room ; here
they patiently await any remnants from the morning meal their proprietor thinks
well to apportion them. If no notice is taken of them, they will trumpet, and
beat the glass with their bills, to attract the attention of the inmates.

" I once possessed a male of the common species. It had been reared by a
Sebright Bantam hen from an egg found in a field of mowing-grass, at the time
of cutting. He had no companions but Sebrights, many of which were of great
value ; yet I never knew even a solitary instance of his injuring one of them.

"During the number of years this bird was in my possession, even the small
Sebright chickens were perfectly safe with him, when they too were only a few
days old ; but I believe this peculiarity arose from the fact of his never having
ever seen a female of his own species.

" If Peafowls are indifferently attended to, their propensity to stroll away is

286 THE POULTRY BOOK,

greater tlian tliat of auy poultry with which I am acquainted, except aquatic
birds.

*' At moultiug-time their determiuatiou to preserve the most rigid seclusion is
a peculiarity that I have not seen noticed by any previous writer. At such times
they will hide themselves anywhere, and appear to suffer constitutionally more
than other descriptions of poultry. After the wonderfully rapid reproduction of
the principal train feathers and general plumage, their friendliness returns.

"In general Peafowls are very troublesome among young poultry of every other
kind, and cause considerable loss by then* obstinate persecution of them, especially
during the first few days of their existence.

"Peafowls arc positive gourmands; they rarely refuse anything at all eatable,
and are consequently very destructive in gardens. If the weather be not windy,
the tops of the highest of buildings are their favourite sunning places, and they
will reach them with a degree of ease that few parties would credit. As to their
value on the table, I can confidently recommend young peafowls as most excellent.

" Their flesh very closely resembles that of the pheasant, and when in good
condition, they certainly carry a far more abundant supply, in proportion to
the weight of bone, than many other table-birds. If the soil is not a per-
fectly dry one, the young poults are very prone to cramp and bronchitis;
but, on the contrary, if the surface is not retentive of moisture, the chicks grow
very rapidly and are reared freely, requiring but little care after the first week
or ten days."

A very experienced amateur of Peafowls thus describes their habits and manage-
ment : —

" The peahen will return to the same nest year after year if she is not
disturbed. I have one ten or twelve years old, who has often done so ; and the old
lady is every year the happy mother of healthy chicks. Some of the peahens are
accustomed to lay under a laurel or other evergreen, and others prefer an open
meadow — spite of rain or scorching sun. In the latter case I always direct the
mowers to leave a square patch of long grass ; for I have known instances of the
hen forsaking her eggs if disturbed. They are fond mothers, and never cast off
then- young till the follo-^ing spring. It is worse than waste of time to put
peafowl eggs under a common hen for hatching. Peachicks cling to the mothers
until February. Nature would not prolong this maternal fondness unless it were
essential for the well-doing of the chicks. Like other poultry, they would begin
to take care of themselves if they were not later in coming to .maturity. They are
years longer than many other birds in attaining their mature plumage and growth.
The young peafowl is at three years old only as a cockerel of one year with other
poultry. Hens which turn off their broods after a few months cannot rear
peachicks, which would pme and die for want of the parental care throughout the
wintry months.

" At pairing time a change comes over the whole Peafowl race. The hen beats

THE POI'LTEY BOOK. 287

away lier brood; and peacocks which may have been friends for months are
obHged to own the goyernor-in-chief, who, taking advantage of his high position,
chases each unlucky bird that approaches him. I never, however, saw two pea-
cocks fight.

'^ The hen, when leaving her nest during incubation, utters a loud, shrill,
peculiar scream, which cannot be mistaken. It is well, then, to have in readiness
a pan of water and a ball of barley-meal. After she has eaten a little she will
suddenly run back to her eggs. I have bred a great many ; and although mine
have libei-ty to range over many acres, they never avail themselves of it, ' but
delight to be near home, and to come to the accustomed window early every
morning to be fed. At evening they again assemble ; and, after their evening
meal, each goes to his tree, and stays, in all weathers, until it is time to take "uing
and descend in the morning. The peahen must have her nest in a place vrhich
is secret and safe from the molestation of the cock ; she sits twenty-eight days."

THE GUISHA FOWL.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE GUINEA FOWL,

THE Guinea fowls, of which there are eight distinct species at present known
to naturalists, are all natives of the African continent, or of the adjacent
Island of Madagascar. They constitute the genus Numida, of which the West
African wild species, X Melear/ris, is generally regarded as the origin of our
domestic breed. This bird is found wild in AVestern Africa, extending from the
Gambia southwards, through Ashantee to the Gaboon ; it is also said to exist in the
Cape de Verd Islands. Naturalists, however, incline to the belief that the East
African, or, as it is generally termed, the Abyssinian Guinea fowl, N. pt'doryncha,
found in Kordossan, Abyssinia, and Sennaar, is more likely to be the one to which
we are indebted for this addition to our comparatively meagre stock of domesticated
animals. As the Guinea fowl was well known to the Romans, and bore a high
value at the public and private feasts at the time when the luxury of the empire
was at its greatest height, this idea is exceedingly probable. The Romans held
comparatively little intercourse with South "Western Africa, but were so situated as
to receive birds from the eastern part of the continent through Egypt, with which
country they had constant intercourse.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 289

Of tlie habits of these two species iu their wild state on the African continent,
but little is known ; but the Guinea-fowl was introduced into the warm and genial
climate of Jamaica, which closely resembles its own, nearly 200 years since ; there
it soon became wild, and was described as wild game 150 years ago. We may
therefore avail ourselves of Mr. Gosse's description of its habits in that island, as
being nearly identical with those of the birds in their native habitats.

" The Guinea-fowl," writes the author of the Birds of Jamaica, " makes itself
too familiar to the settlers by its depredations in the provision grounds,

" In the cooler months of the year, they come in numerous coveys from the
v;oods, and scattering themselves in the grounds at ^arly dawn, scratch up tlie
yams and cocoes. A large hole is dug by their vigorous feet in a very short time,
and the tubers exposed, which are then pecked away, so as to be almost destroyed,
and quite spoiled.

" A little later, when the planting 'season- begins, they do still greater damage
by digging up and devouring the seed-yams and cocoe-heads, thus frustrating the
hopes of the husbandman in the bud. The corn is no sooner put into the ground
than it is scratched out ; and the peas are not only dug up by them, but shelled
in the pod.

" The sweet potato, however, as I am informed, escapes their ravages, being
invariably rejected by them. To protect the growing provisions, some of the
negro peasants have recourse to scarecrows, and others endeavour to capture the
birds by a common rat-gin set in their way. It must, however, be quite concealed,
or it may as well be at home ; it is therefore sunk in the ground, and lightly
covered with earth and leaves,

" A springe is useless, unless the cord be blackened and discoloured, so as to
resemble the dry trailing stem of some creeper, for they are birds of extreme
caution and suspicion. It is hence extremely difficult to shoot them, their fears
being readily alarmed, and their fleetness soon carrying them beyond the reach of
pursuit. But the aid of a dog, even a common cur, greatly diminishes the
difficulty. Pursuit by an animal whose speed exceeds their own, seems to paralyze
them ; they instantly betake themselves to a tree, whence they may be shot down
with facility, as their whole senses appear to be concentrated on one ol)ject — the
barking cur beneath, regarding whom Math attentive ejen and outstretched neck,
they dare not quit their position of defence. Flight cannot be protracted by them,
nor is it trusted to as a means of escape, save to the extent of gaining the eleva-
tion of a tree ; the body is too heavy, the wings too short and hollow, and the
sternal apparatus too weak, for flight to be any other than a painful and laborious
performance.

"The Guinea-fowl is sometimes caught by the following stratagem.: — A small
quantity of corn is steeped for a night in proof rum, and is then placed in a
shallow vessel, with a little fresh rum, and the water expressed from a bitter
cassava, grated : this is deposited within an enclosed ground, to which the
depredators resort. A small quantity of the grated cassava is then strewn over it,

c c

290 THE POULTRY BOOK.

au(l it is left. The fowls eat the medicated food eagerly, and are soon found
reeling about intoxicated, unable to escape, and content with thrusting llieir bead
into a corner. Frequently a large part of the flock are found dead from this cause.

" Though savour}', and in high request for the table, the Guinea-fowl sometimes
acquires au iusuflerably rauk odour, from feeding on the fetid Pctueria alUacca,
and is then uneatable.

" The eggs are deposited in the midst of a dense tussock of grass, to the
amount of a dozen or more. It is said that occasionally the number is greatly
higher, and that they are laid stratum super stratum, with leaves between. If
this is true, probably more than one hen participates in the maternity. The
wild bird's eq,g measures 1-j-q by 1\ of an inch, and weighs six drachms one
scruple."

Martin gives the following veiy correct account of their habits : —

" The common Guinea-fowl, the Galllna di Numidia of the Italians, Poule de
Gu'inec and Peintade of the French, Pintado of the Spanish, and PerlhitJni of the
Germans, frequents the open glades and borders of forests, the banks of rivers,
and other locaHties where grain, seeds, berries, insects, &c., ofler an abundant
supply of food. It is gregarious in its habits, associating in considerable flocks,
which wander about during the day, and collect together on the aj)proach of
evening. They roost in clusters on the branches of trees or large bushes, ever
and anon uttering their harsh grating cry, till they settle fairly for the night.
The Guinea-fowl does not trust much to its wings as a means of escape from
danger ; indeed, it is not without some difficulty that these birds can be forced to
take to flight, and then they wing their way only to a short distance, when they
alight, and trust to their swiftness of foot. They run with very great celerity, arc
shy and wary, and seek refuge amongst the dense underwood, threading the mazes
of their covert with wonderful addi-ess. The female incubates in some concealed
spot on the ground.

" It appears likely that the ancient Greeks and Romans were well acquainted wdth
the Guinea-fowl, yet it is not easy to trace out its history. In fact, strange as it
may seem that a bird noticed by Aristotle, Clytus, Pliny, Yarro, and Columella,
should not, ages since, have pervaded Europe, it was not until after we had received
the turkey, that the Guinea-fowl became naturalized in Western Europe. Its
name does not occur amongst the list of birds appointed to be served up at the
famous feast of Archbishop Ne^-ille, in the reign of Edward the Fourth. It does
not appear in the Duke of Northumberland's Household Book (1512), nor is it
alluded to in the Household Book of Heni*y the Eighth. Hence we must pardon
Belon and Aldrovandus for considering the turkey as the Meleagris of the ancients,
as it seems that they did not know the Guinea-fowl. From ancient times, through
the middle ages, and to a comparatively recent period, all trace of this bird is lost.
This bird is, indeed, so common in America and several of the West India islands,
that some have thought it to be indigenous there ; but in an old work {Observ. sur
lc8 Cotes de VAsie) we are informed that, in the year 1508, or about that time,

THE POLLTRY BOOK. 291

numbers of tliese birds were carried into America by the vessels which traded in
slaves ; but that the Spaniards, instead of attempting to tame them or render
them domestic, turned them at large into the wild savannahs, where they have
increased in such numbers that they appear to be native. They are seen in
vast flocks, and are called by the Spaniards and French maroon inntades —
maroon, or more properly, in modern French, marron, meaning fugitive or
emancipated.

" The Guinea-fowl is kept in India, but, according to Colonel Sykes, is to be
seen only in a domestic state, and is bred almost exclusively by European
gentlemen. It thrives, he adds, as well as in his native country.

" In England, the Gruinea-fowl is less generally kept than the turkey, nor does it
appear to abound in France. In the colder latitudes of Europe this bird is very
rare, and is seldom, if ever, to be seen in Sweden, Norway, or Northern Russia.
It is not noticed by Linnreus in his Fauna Suecica, though he was well acquainted
with the species.

" Like all the gallinaceous birds, the Guinea-fowl is esteemed for its flesh and its
eggs, which, though smaller than those of the common fowl, are very excellent and
numerous, the hen commencing to lay in the month of May, and continuing
during the entire summer. After the pheasant season, young birds of the year are,
on the table, by no means unworthy substitutes for that highly-prized game.
Such birds are acceptable in the London market, and fetch a fair price. The
Guinea-foAvl is of a wild, shy, rambling disposition ; and domesticated as it is, it
pertinaciously retains its original habits, and is impatient of restraint. It loves to
wander along hedgerows, over meadows, through clover or cornfields, and amidst
copses and shrubberies ; hence these birds require careful watching, for the hens
will lay in secret places, and will sometimes absent themselves entirely from the
farmyard until they return with a young brood around them. So ingeniously will
they conceal themselves and their nest, so cautiously leave it and return to it, as
to elude the searching glance of boys well used to bird-nesting ; but it may always
be found from the watchful presence of the cock while the hen is laying. There is
one disadvantage in this, the bird will sit at a late period, and bring forth her brood
when the season begins to be too cold for the tender chickens. The best plan is,
to contrive that the hens shall lay in a quiet, secluded place, and to give about
twenty of the earliest eggs to a common hen ready to receive them, who will
perform the duties of incubation with steadiness. In this way a brood in May or
June may be easily obtained. The young must receive the same treatment as
those of the turkey, and equal care. They require a mixture of boiled vegetables,
with custard, curds, farinaceous food, as grits, barleymeal, &c. ; they should be
induced to eat as often and as much as they will. In a short time they begin to
search for insects and their larva) ; and with a little addition to such fare as this,
and what vegetable matters they pick up, -will keep themselves in good condition,
without cramming or over-feeding. For a week or two before being killed
for the table, they should have a liberal allowance of grain and meal.

c c 2

292

THE POULTRY BOOK.

'•' The period of incubation is t\Yeuty-six to twenty-eight days. Though they arc
not unprofitable birds, as they arc capable of procuring almost entirely their o^Yn
linng, they are rejected by many on account both of their wandering habits, which
give trouble, and their disagreeable voice, resembling the noise of a Mheel turning
on an ungi-eased axletree. The males, when pugnacious, though spurloss, are
capable of inilicting considerable injury on other poultry with their stout hard
beaks.

*' Like their wild progenitors, domestic Guinea-fowls prefer roosting in the open
nir to entering a fowl-house ; they generally choose the lower branches of some
tree, or those of large thick bushes, and there congregate together in close array ;
before "oinpf to roost they utter frequent calls to each other, and when one mounts
the others follow in rotation ; they retire early, before the common fowl or the
peafowl.

" The Guinea-fowl is not so large a bird as it appears, its loose full plumage
making it seem larger than it is — it does not, when plucked, weigh more than a
common fowl. The male and the female very much resemble each other; the
male, however, has the casque higher, and the wattles are of a bluish red ; the
wattles in the female are smaller, and red."

A very practical and experienced correspondent «tates : —

" On visiting some of the large poultry-yards of this country, I have been struck
at the general absence of Guinea-fowls. Their noise, difficulty in rearing the
voung, an instinctive desire to prowl away for nidification, coupled ^nth a tendency,
as is supposed, to scratch and destroy garden produce, appear to bo the chief
obstacles to their being favourites in England. I kept and re^ared hundreds of
these beautiful birds in India for several years. Admitting, which I do, that their
clamour is most annoj'ing, especially when any strange animal approaches, or the
hens are deprived of their mates, I do not assent to their being so mischievous or
destitute of profit as many arc disposed to do. The chief difficulty in rearing
them in England appears to proceed from our humid climate ; wet in any way,
whether from the dewy grass or rain from clouds, causing the legs to become
cramped or paralytic, which often terminates fatally. I conceive this might be
obviated by the construction of a temporary outhouse, with its floor covered with
di-y gravel, and roof thoroughly waterproof ; but the golden rule to preserve the
young, is to feed them frequently during the day at interv^als of two or three hours.
Owing to the rapid growth of their feathers, their strength is severely taxed ; and,
unless a continual supply of food be administered, they will die of atrophy and
starvation.

" Guinea-fowls may do occasional harm to gardens, but ample compensation is
made in the destruction of those insects which cause much greater injury. I have
often inspected their crops, and found them to be fall of insects, the most noxious
known to gardeners. These birds in India generally commence laying after the
monsoon, although they will do so at all seasons; and to secure the hens from the
mongoose, as well as their eggs from snakes, or being damaged by the sun's heat.

(E IT a B IE -a u' © ^y E) e»

THE POULTRY BOOK. 293

I had tlie whole flock shut up about 10 a.m. till 5 p.m., when numbers of eggs,
• would be found scattered about the floor of the room. It was observed that, as
ducks laid their eggs at early morn, so tiie Guinea-fowls deposited theirs, as a rule,
towards evening. Whether the same process obtains here, I do not know ; ducks,
I believe, do lay at an early hour. It appears to me that, during this season of
laying, and in order to obtain a good supply of eggs, the plan of confining the
birds to the poultry-house daily might meet with equal success here, the great
fecundity amply repaying for the little trouble the owners had taken.

" Guinea-fowls, by a little coaxing and regular feeding with the other poultry,
may be rendered almost as tame as the latter, and to perch at night with them in
the same house. Although its instinct leads it to roost on high trees, my birds
were obliged to be secured in this way, or they would readily have fallen a prey to
the wild cat of India. The male bird can be distinguished from the hen by its
larger size and shrill noise, quite unlike that of the latter, which alone cries
' Come back ! come back ! ' He, also, whilst feeding, or in company Avith others,
often assumes a peculiar, restless, pugnacious attitude ; not so the hen. Served
up with good bread sauce and gravy during the spring of the year, the gallina is
quite equal, if not superior, to the pheasant for the table." — J. C.

These writers so nearly exhaust the practical part of our subject, that but little
more remains to be said respecting the treatment of Guinea-fowls. Those who
Vv'isli to commence keeping these birds will do well to procure sittings of eggs from
one, or still better, from two diflerent stocks, so as to lessen the chance of close
interbreeding, and to hatch them under common hens ; by so doing they will
establish a flock with far less trouble than by buying mature birds, whose restless,
roving disposition renders it difficult to attach to a nev/ locality.

The eggs are most advantageously hatched under some small variety of fowl,
such as the Game or Game Bantam. The chicks when first hatched are exceed-
ingly elegant, being covered with striped down, which is set off by the red colour of
the legs and beaks, and they are rendered still more attractive by their extreme
activity. In rearing young Guinea-fowls, great care should be taken to feed them
at very brief intervals of time, as they suffer much from even a short deprivation of
food. No diet will be found more advantageous than the egg and milk prepared in
in the form of custard, as recommended in the chapter on coloured Dorkings (page
88). This should form a part of every meal for the first month, along with oatmeal
mixed with milk and grits : and as the youug broods grow up, small tail wheat,
boiled vegetables, and potato may be added to their dieting. If a few nests of
ants' eggs can be obtained, they will be found superior to other food.

Complaints are often made respecting the large number of unprolific eggs that
are laid by the Guinea-hens. This sometimes arises from the want of a due
proportion of cocks and hens. In a wild state it is most probable that these birds
pair, inasmuch as in the case of all animals that arc gregarious, living in flocks
consisting of one male to several females, the males are furnished with offensive

294 THE POULTRY BOOK.

weapons, such as spurs or horns, with wliich the stronger attack and destroy or
drive away the weaker ; but the Guinc^owl, like the partridge, is destitute of
Bpurs, and therefore probably is naturally monogamous.

But whatever may be their habits when roaming wild in the tropical forests of
Africa or in the Islands of the "West Indies, in the artificial state of domestication
their instincts and habits are greatly changed, and the experience of the best
breeders tends to show that two hens to one cock is a more advantageous and
profitable arrangement than keeping the two sexes in equal numbers.

The cocks may be readily distinguished from the hens by their shrill cry, which
is quite unlike the constantly- reiterated '* come back," *' come back," of the hens,
and also by a diflerence in the position of the wattles, which in the males are attached
to the lower mandible in such a manner as to show the flat side or face forward ; and,
moreover, they are larger than those of the females.

Domestication has not effected any very marked changes in the size or general
structure of these birds ; some few alterations in colour, however, make their appear-
ance from time to time, and have been propagated by careful breeding. In some
varieties, the white spots on the feathers are almost entirely absent ; in others, the
position of the two colours is reversed, the spots being dark, and the general ground
colour white. A third variety is perfectly white in the plumage ; and a fourth,
which may be produced by crossing the white and dark breeds, is pied more or
less regularly with white and dark.

Cross bred birds between the Guinea-fowl and common fowl are rare ; when pro-
duced they are time hybrids, being perfectly sterile, and incapable of rei)roduction
amongst themselves, or with either of the species from which they were derived.
It is a singular proof of the proneness of the older naturalists to tlieorize rather than
to observe, that no less a celebrated writer than Pallas erroneously attributed the
singular formation of the skulls of the crested Polish fowls to a cross between the -
common hen and the Guinea-fowl. It is needless to say, such a theory has not
the slightest foundation in fact, being disproved by the absolute sterility of the
hybrid between the two species, and also by anatomical research ; the casque or
helmet of the Guinea-fowl is a mere bony growth, whereas the tuber on the head
of the Polish fowl is part of the cavity of the skull, and contains a large portion
of the brain.

There is one point connected with the Guinea-fowl that still claims our notice,
namely, the efforts that have been made to naturalize it as a wild bird in this
country. In the South of England, in warm, dry localities. Guinea-fowls can be
acclimatised with the gi-eatest ease, by merely removing the eggs from the nest of
a jjheasant and substituting those of the Guinea-fowl, when the eggs will be duly
hatched out, and the young Guinea-fowl follow the foster-parent. Reared in this
manner, they become very wild and shy, partaking of all the characters of true
fcrai nature. If left undisturbed during the following season they pair, and breed
with freedom, provided the locality be suitable ; but wherever they have been thus

THE POULTKY BOOK. 295

introduced into this country, it has heeu found necessary subsequently to extirpate
the entire race, as by their continued persecution they drive away the pheasants
and other feathered game from the covers in which they are reared. The experiment
has also been tried of introducing them into some of the more barren moors in
Ireland ; but, as might have been expected, the young birds were found to be so
extremely impatient of cold and dampness, that it was not attended with success.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

DL'CKS,

TT7ITH regard to the origin of the numerous varieties of our domesticated ducks,
a similar amount of rash assertion and ignorant assumption prevails as
in the eases of the supposed origin of the other species of domestic poultry.

Naturalists who have paid the greatest degree of attention to the origin and
variation of our domestic animals, have no douht on the subject, referring all
the varieties, even those most abnormal in form and colour, to the common "Wild
duck or Mallard. Mr. Darwin, whose researches into the variation of species
have been carried on with great labour through a long series of years, has favoured
us with his opinion on the subject. He states : — "With respect to the origin of
the domestic duck, I have considered the case well, and am convinced that all the
breeds, including the Black Labrador and Penguin ducks, are the descendants
of the common Wild duck."

Such being the case, it is desirable to investigate to some extent the natural
history and habits of the wild original, and this is more especially necessaiy, as the
plumage of the so-called Kouen duck must accord precisely with that of the
wild bird.

For these two reasons, we have quoted from the most practical and exact of all
the writers on British Ornithology, the much-lamented Macgillivray, the following
admirable account of the general characters, habits, and plumage of the wild
birds. In the fifth volume of his most valuable treatise on British Birds, Mac-
gillivray writes : —

I fl

THE POULTRY BOOK. 297

" The common Wild tliick, or Mallard, if not the most elegantly formed, is
certainly one of the most beautifully-coloured species of its family. The plumage
is dense and elastic, on the head and upper neck short and splendent, the feathers
of the forehead stiffish ; of the cheeks and throat short, linear, slightly rounded ;
of the rest of the neck shortish, and very soft ; on its lower anterior part, large,
firm, glossy ; on the rest of the lower parts full and blended ; on the upper parts
firmer. The wings are of moderate length, acute ; the primaries narrow and
tapering, the second quill longest, the first scarcely a quarter of an inch shorter ;
the secondaries a little incurvate, obliquely rounded ; the inner elongated, very
broad, acuminate. The tail is short, much rounded, of sixteen broad, acuminate
feathers, and four medial, incumbent, recurvate, reduplicate.

" The bill is greenish-yellow, darker towards the end, with the unguis deep brown,
the lower mandible reddish-yellow, brown at the end. The iris brown. The feet
reddish-orange, the membranes pale reddish-brown, the claws deep reddish-brown.
The forehead is blackish-green, the head and upper neck vivid deep green, changing to
deep violet. On the middle of the neck is a ring of white, not quite complete behind.
The lower neck and a small part of the breast are very deep chestnut or purplish-
brown. The anterior part of the back is yellowish-brown tinged with grey ; the
scapulars grey, very minutely barred with brown ; the hind part of the back brownish-
black, the rump deep green, as are the four, recurved feathers of the tail, the rest
being brownish-grey, broadly edged with white. The wing coverts are brownish-grey,
as are the primary quills and coverts. The secondary coverts, excepting the inner, are
white in the middle, with a terminal band of velvet black. About ten of the secondary
quills have their outer webs brilliant deep green, changing to purplish-blue, with a
black bar at the end, succeeded by white. The outer edges of the inner secondaries
deep purplish-brown, the rest grey, minutely undulated with darker. The breast,
sides, abdomen, and tibial feathers are greyish-white, very minutely undulated with
dark-grey ; the feathers under the tail black, glossed with blue ; the axillars and
lower wing coverts white. Length to end of tail, 24 inches ; extent of wings, 35 ;
wing from flexure, 11 ; tail, 4^^ ; bill along the ridge, 2-j;^ ; along the edge of lower
mandible, 2^ ; its height at the base, 1 ; greatest breadth, 1 ; tarsus, lyf ; first
toe, -j^; its claw, -pgj second toe, 1-j;^ ; its claw, -j^2 j third toe, 2 ; its claAv, -j^g- ;
fourth toe, ly^ ; its claw, -^.

" The female is considerably smaller, and very differently coloured. The bill is
greenish-grey, darker towards the base ; the plumage of the upper parts dusky-
brown ; the feathers edged with pale reddish-brown ; the throat whitish ; the lower
parts yellowish-grey, faintly streaked and spotted with brown ; the speculum as in
the male ; the middle tail-feathers straight. Length to the end of tail, 20 inches ;
extent of wings, 32.

'' The females renew their plumage annually in autumn, as do the males. But
the latter undergo a singular change in summer, which is thus described by
Mr. Waterton :—

'' ' About the 24th of May the breast and back of the di-ake exhibit the first

298 THE POULTRY BOOK.

appearance o\' a change of colour. In a few daA'S after, this the curled feathers
above the tail drop out, and grey feathers begin to appear amongst the lovely
green plumage which surrounds the eyes. Every succeeding day now brings
marks of rapid change.

" * By the 23rd of June scarcely one green feather is to be seen on the head and
neck of the bird. By the 6th of July every feather of the former brilliant plumage
has disappeared, and the male has received a garb like that of the female, though
of a somewhat darker tint. In the early part of August this new plumage begins
to drop oflf gradually, and by the 10th of October the drake Avill appear again in all
his rich magnificence of dress, than which scarcely anything throughout the whole
wide field of nature can be seen more lovely, or better arranged to charm the eye

of man.

" * I enclosed two male birds in a coop, from the middle of May to the middle of
October, and saw them every day during the whole of their captivity. Perhaps
the moulting in other indi^'iduals may vary a trifle with regard to time. Thus
we may say that once every year, for a very short period, the drake goes, as it
were, into an eclipse, so that, from the early part of the month of July to about
the first week in August, neither in the poultry-yards of civilized man, nor
through the vast expanse of nature's wildest range, can there be found a drake
in that plumage which, at all other seasons of the year, is so remarkably splendid
and diversified.'

" The Mallard, which is one of our truly indigenous ducks, occurs in
variable numbers in all parts of the country, being more abundant in marshy
and thinly-peopled districts than in such as are dry and well cultivated. It is
almost needless to remark that the great improvements in agriculture that have
taken place within the last 50 years, and especially the vast extension of draining,
have banished it from many tracts where it was formerly very plentiful. Still it.
is by no means rare in any large section of the country, and in very many
districts quite common. In winter, it for the most part removes from the higher
grounds to the hollows and level tracts, and in frosty weather betakes itself to
the shores of estuaries, and even of the open sea. In the Cromarty and Beauly
firths, great numbers occur along the shores during the winter and spring, and at
night especially, frequent the muddy parts, where they feed on worms and mollusca.
Around Edinburgh are numerous open ditches and some brooks, to which they
resort at night, from October to April, when they may be started in great numbers
by a person searching their haunts by moonlight.

" A friend of mine has often shot them on such occasions, and I have myself
seen them thus engaged. It being by touch more than by sight that the Mallard
obtains its food : the night appears to be as favourable for this purpose as the day,
and is chiefly used in populous districts, while in the wilder parts it feeds at least
as much as by day. Marsliy places, the margins of lakes, pools, and rivers, as
well as brooks, rills, and ditches, are its principal places of resort at all seasons.
It walks with ease, even runs with considerable speed, swims, and on occasion

THE POULTRY BOOK. 299

dives, altliough not in search of food. Seeds of gramineae and other plants,
fleshy and fibrous roots, worms, mollusca, insects, small reptiles, and fishes, are
the principal objects of its search. In shallow water, it reaches the bottom with
its bill, keeping the hind part of the body erect by a continued motion of the
feet. On the water it sits rather lightly, with the tail considerably inclined
upwards ; when searching under the surface it keeps the tail flat on the water,
and when puddling at the bottom with its hind part up, it directs the tail
backward. The male emits a low and rather soft cry, between a croak and a
murmur, and the female a louder and clearer jabber. Both on being alarmed,
and especially in flying ofi", quack ; but the quack of the female is much louder.
When feeding, they are silent ; but when satiated they often amuse themselves
with various jabberings, swim about, approach each other, move their heads
backward and forward, ' duck ' in the water, throwing it over their backs, shoot
along its surface, half flying, half running, and, in short, are quite playful when
in good humour.

" On being surprised or alarmed, whether on shore or on the water, they spring
up at once ^\ith a bound, rise obliquely to a considerable height, and fly ofl' with
speed, their hard-quilled wings whistling against the air. When in full flight,
their velocity is very great, being probably a hundred miles in the hour. Like
other ducks, they impel themselves by quickly repeated flaps, without sailings or
undulations.

" In March they pair, and soon after disperse and select a breeding-place. The
nest, bulky, and rudely constructed of flags, sedges, grasses, and other plants, is
iflaced on the ground in the midst of a marsh, or among reeds or rushes, some-
times in a meadow, or even among heath, but always near the water. Instances
are recorded of its being built in the fork of a tree, and a duck has been known to
occupy the deserted nest of a crow. The eggs, from five to ten, are pale dull-green,
or greenish- white, two inches and a quarter in length, an inch and nine-twelfths in
breadth. When incubation commences, the male takes his leave, though he keeps
in the neighbourhood, and joining others, undergoes his annual moult.

" The female sits very closely, and, rather than leave her charge, will often allow
a person to approach quite near.

'' One day, while searching in the marsh at the head of Duddingston Loch for
some plants, I was suddenly arrested by observing among my feet some living
creature of considerable size. Perceiving it to be a duck, I instantly, perhaps in-
stinctively, pounced upon it ; but thinldng the eight eggs a sufficient prize, I
threw the poor bird into the air, when she flew off in silence. Frequently in
leaving the nest she covers it rudely with straws and feathers, probably for the
purpose of concealing the eggs. The young are hatched in four weeks, and, being
covered with stiffish down, and quite alert, accompany their mother to the water,
where they swim and dive as expertly as if they had been born in it. The mother
shows the greatest attention to them, protects them from birds, feigns lameness to
withdraw intruders from them, and leading about from place to place, secures for

300

THE POULTRY BOOK.

them a proper supply of food. Sometimes the young l»iiJs arc destroyed by pike,
or fall a prey to rapacious birds. They are extremely active, uiid elude pursuit by
diving and remaining under the water, with nothing but the bill above. I once
came upon a whole brood of half-grown ducklings in a ditch, when in a moment
they all disappeared under the water, and, although I searched everywhere for them,
did not succeed in tracing a single individual.

" When the young are weU grown, and the female replumed, the male commonly
joins the flock, and they continue together. Several flocks often unite, but gene-
rally these birds are not very gregarious. Being highly and justly esteemed as
food, ^Mallard are shot in great numbers, and are plentiful in our markets.
Although they are of a more elegant form, and much more active than the domestic
ducks, the latter often resemble them so closely in colour, as hardly to be distin-
guishable.

" Once, in the Outer Hebrides, when journeying across a moor, I met with a pair
in a small lake overhung by a rock, from which I could easily have shot them, had
I not supposed them to be tame ducks that had strayed to a distance from the
huts, some of which were about half a mile distant. The young obtained from
eggs hatched by domestic fowls generally make their escape.

" This species is found in all the northern and temperate parts of the old con-
tinent, and is equally met with in America as far south as the Gulf of Mexico.

"Alt]iough great numbers resort to the Arctic regions to breed, multitudes
remain in all the temperate districts.

" "\Miether any immigration from the north takes place with us in autumn is
not apparent. During winter the species is found in the most northern parts of
Scotland, as well as in the most southern of England. It is common in
Ireland, where, although great numbers immigrate eveiy winter, the species
breeds throughout the island.

" Mr. Burnett, of Iiemnay, has favoured me with the following note respecting
the ^lallard, as observed in liis neighbourhood : —

" ' It is very plentiful in all our marshes and wet moors. It is to be seen on the
Don, but not often, and only in certain spots, in the winter, particularly in time
of hard frost. It feeds at night only, when it dives, but never so by day. In
spring its principal food is frogs and their spawn, to obtain which it resorts to the
marshes, where these animals most abound, and wherever wild ducks are numerous,
are to be seen the mangled remains of these reptiles. They are also destructive to
corn in the neighbourhood of their haunts, to which in general they are steadily
attached. They breed in the month of April, mostly in marshy spots and bushy
ponds. I have got a nest in a dry spot among furze, far from any water. The
eggs are carefully concealed and covered up when the bird is off" them. The attach-
ment of this 8j)ecies to its young is very great. When a person approaches them,
the parents go up to him, put themselves in his way, flutter on the ground before
him, and run to induce him to follow. On visiting the pond at the north mill of
Kintone last summer, I saw several broods, the parents all acting their parts

THE POULTRY BOOK. 301

m^st admirably to draw me from the spot. The males, howeyer, I have never
seen thus employed.

'' I once observed nine very young ducklings in a moss-pot, and was amused to
see how they kept together, always in the middle of the water. Numbers of the
young, or flappers, are taken, mostly by dogs, in the end of July and in August.
The males do not assume the female j)lumage until well on in June, and have
their own bright dress agaiu by the beginning of November. Wild ducks
occasionally breed with the tame, the crosses showing a disposition to take wing.
The young may be brought up, but are not to be trusted unless with tame ones,
when they will keep at home. The crossed birds thus produced are said to have a
fine flavour, and to be very readily fattened.' "

Mr. St. John, in his "Wild Sports of the Highlands," has a very pleasant
chapter on Wild Ducks, in which he says : —

" I have frequentl}^ caught and brought home young wild ducks. If confined
in a yard or elsewhere for a week or two with tame birds, they strike up a
companionship which keeps them from wandering when set at liberty. Some few
years back I brought home three young wild ducks ; two of them turned out to be
drakes. I sent away my tame drakes, and in consequence, the next season, had a
large family of half-bred and wholly wild ducks, as the tame and wild bred together
quite freely. The wild ducks M'hich have been caught are the tamest of all ;
throwing off all their natural sh3mess, they follow their feeder, and will eat corn out
of the hand of an}^ person Vv'ith whom they are acquainted. The half-bred birds
are sometimes pinioned, as they are inclined to fly away for the purpose of making
their nests at a distance : at other times, they never attempt to leave the field in
front of the house. These birds conceal their eggs with great care, and I have
often been amused at the trouble the poor duck is put to in collecting dead leaves
and straw to cover her eggs, when they are laid in a well-kept flower-bed. I often
have a handful of straw laid on the grass at a convenient distance from the nest,
which the old bird soon carries ofi" and makes use of. The drakes, though they
take no portion of the nesting labours, appear to keep a careful watch near at hand
during the time the duck is sitting. The half-breeds have a peculiarity in
common with the wild duck, which is, that they always pair, each drake taking-
charge of only one duck; not, as is the case with the tame ducks, taking to
himself a dozen wives. The young, too, when first hatched, have a great deal of
the shyness of wild ducks, showing itself in a propensity to run off and hide in
any hole or corner that is handy.

" With regard to the larder, the half- wild ducks are an improvement on both
the tame and wild, being superior to either in delicacy and flavour ; their active
and neat appearance, too, make them a much more ornamental object (as they
walk about in search of worms on the lavrn or field) than a waddling, corpulent,
barnj^ard duck."

The young are at first covered with close stiffish down, of a greyish -yellow
colour, variegated witli dusky on the upper parts. The downy covering continues

302 THE POULTRY HOOK.

for a mouth or more, when the first plumage is gradually perfected. The youug
are exceedingly active, dive expertly, hide themselves when alarmed under banks,
in holes, or among rccds or other rank herbage, and seem to feed more on insects,
slugs, and other small animals, than on vegetable substances.

A curious anecdote of a brood of wild ducks, told by his keeper, is thus related
by Mr. St. John :—

'' He found in some very rough marly ground, which was formerly a peat-moss,
eight young ducks nearly full grown, prisoners, as it were, in one of the old peat-
holes. They had cndently tumbled in some time before, and had managed to
subsist on the insects. Sec, that it contained, or that fell into it. From the
manner in which they had undermined the banks of their watery prison, the
birds must have been in it for some weeks. The sides were perpendicular, but
there were small resting-places under the bank which prevented them being
di'owned. The size of the place they were in was about eight feet square, and in
this small space they had not only grown up, but thrived, being fully as large and
heavy as any other youug ducks of the same age." In from eight to ten weeks
after they are hatched, the youug are able to fly.

The young, when fledged, resemble the female in colouring, and the young male
assumes the full plumage of its sex at the end of its first autumn. Our domestic
ducks are the oftspriug of the wild Mallard, greatly degenerated as to activity and
beauty of form, but improved in bulk, and a susceptibility to fatten. Tame ducks
lose then- native delicacy of feeling, and instead of pauing for life, or at least for
a season, become unprincipled socialists, every drake taking as many wives as he
can get.

In connection with the subject of Wild Ducks, ]\Ir. Edward Hewitt has supplied
us with the following notes on their capture : —

" No doubt many readers of the PorLTRY Book will peruse with considerable
interest two diflerent ways of efi"ecting this puiijose, that I have frequently seen
successfully practised, although I readily acknowledge neither the one means nor
the other that I shall mention betoken much of the spirit of the legitimate sports-
man, but when the extreme difiiculty of getting even a single shot at these wary
birds is considered, perhaps the pot-hunting character of the means pursued will
be overlooked. Be this as it maj', I will Jjricfl}' detail them.

" To ascertain the most favourite haunts of Avild ducks is a matter of but
little difficulty. This proved, the place should be baited for a few successive
days, to encourage them to flock fearlessly and in numbers, and a little corn will
not be ill bestowed. I have known even a single couple unmolested and enjoying
the certainty of finding food joined during one short Aveek by others, until fifteen
or twenty composed the flock.

" The first plan is by short lines, with a common fish-hook attached, the bait a
small piece of the lungs of any animal ; the ' lights ' of a single rabbit will prove
sufficient for twenty baits. As the bait itself Avill cause the hook to float, it is
taken on the water, and then, the line being strong enough, the capture is certain.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 303

It does not do to fasten these lines to the bank, or the birds still at liberty become
so alarmed at the struggles of those that are hooked, that they will leave the spot,
and be shy for long periods afterwards, and it is not a solitary capture or two that
is intended. Previousl}-, to baiting the hooks, a few strong stakes should be driven
into the bottom of the shallow part of the ford, the tops being about a foot or so
below the surface. The lines should be long enough to give a little freedom to the
bird when gulping the bait, and the end opposite the hook is to be attached to a
weight, such as a piece of brick, which is placed on the top of the stake, and the
instant the bird is hooked, and consequently gives the slightest pull, the weight,
being suddenly upset, drags the unfortunate captive under water, to be seen no
more, until removed by the party who placed the temj)tation before it.

** On a long rail supported at the ends by two uprights, I have known a dozen
such weights placed, and seven wild ducks caught during one night only.

" The second plan is singularly effective, and even less troublesome than the
former one to put into operation, as a boat is not required.

" In this case traps, similar to rat-traps, are the means emploj^ed; the shallows
should be previously su^jplied ^nith not only a few ears of corn left swimming about
on the surface, but some dozen heads or so should be attached to stones by pieces
of string, so as to lie pretty close to the bottom, and they should be dropped
in at intervals. After the interval of a few days, the traps, each baited with a
single ear of corn only, firmly tied to the trigger, may be gently lowered to
the bottom of the water, which for this purpose ought to average from fifteen to
eighteen inches deep, and as these birds feed chiefly at nightfall and early dawn,
the preparations for catching them are best completed by midday, and the traps left
to take their own chance until the following morning. The ducks are generally
caught midway along the head, are always quite dead, and mostly are altogether
hidden from view by the water.

"From the peculiar character of their plumage, although apparently much
wetted on their first removal, if hung up half an hour in the free air, they
quickly dry, as the moisture is quite superficial.

"Among the advantages of these plans, the obvious ones are the following: —
They both act without any noise whatever, nor does anything seen by the
uncaught birds lead them to suspect danger. The entrapped ones seem merely to
dive, the remainder still feed closely to them, and as unconcernedl}^ as hereto-
fore ; and, moreover, the birds thus caught will keep good a very long time, having
sustained no bruises whatever."

Having given at length the history of the wild original of our domesticated breeds,
it is now necessary to speak of the different varieties in detail. Of these, the most
important are so-called Rouen or Roan duck, the White Aylesbury, the Call or
Decoy duck, the Labrador, Buenos Ayres or East India duck, the Cayuga duck,
the Penguin duck, the tufted or crested duck, and the hooked-bill duck.

304 THE POULTRY BOOK.

THE ROUEN, OR ROAN DUCK.

The so-called Roueu duck does not require a lengthened description at our hands,
it being simply a variety of the common domesticated Mallard, increased in size by
abundant feeding and the careful selection of breeding stock. The breed obviously
did not come from the locality from whence it takes its most common name, ■svhich is
probably a corruption or mispronunciation of the term Roan duck. In fact, like all
other geographical titles of our varieties of poultry, the word is a misnomer, and
ono which, if the alteration were not liable to lead to still greater confusion, it
would be very desirable to abolish. Writing on this subject, a correspondent,
Mr. E. G. Jones, states, " I have been a breeder of Piouens for some years, and
take much interest in their history, l)ut could never discover that Rouen was
esi^cially famous for this breed of birds. On the contrary, from inquiries made
of poultry fanciers and others who have visited that locality, I have found that
these birds were not reared there as a domestic fowl, nor did they abound in a wild
state in that district.

"As to the application of the term, it is most probable that it is merely a cor-
ruption of the word Roan, or 'Grey duck,' and the animal is not without some
claim to the cognomen.

" As to the origin of the breed, there can be little doubt that it has been bred
from the Mallard, enlarged and improved by care and good feeding, and corresponds
precisely with it in every respect in the details and marking of the plumage.

" The markings found also in the wild species are considered as the criteria of
perfection by poultiy fanciers and judges, in the present day, which proves much
more than any facts I might advance. In support of this latter statement, I may
stat^e that I myself have bred from the ' Mallard drake ' and ' Roueu duck,' and
the produce was true in the marking, and full sized after the third cross."

Mr. Hewitt, writing of the points of merit in these birds, states, " I am confi-
dent that the Rouens are the most profitable of the duck tribe. They arc more
lethargic, and consequently more speedily fed than any others ; they lay great
numbers of large eggs, the average weight of which should be three and a half
ounces, always above three ounces. The colour of the egg is a blue-green, the
shell being considerably thicker than in the eggs of the Aylesbury breed.

" The flesh is of the highest possible flavour, and in first-rate specimens is abun-
dant in qualit}'. I have frequently known young drakes of only nine or ten weeks
old to weigh when killed twelve pounds the pair, and in some instances even more
than this. As regards the consumption of food, I have not found them to require
more than the other varieties. In colour, the plumage should closely approximate
to that of the common wild duck. The eyes, however, are deeply sunk in the head,
and these ducks especially have, even when young, the appearance of old birds,
the abdominal protuberance being, as in the case of the Toulouse geese, developed
at a very early age.

" This enlargement of the lower part of the body in over-fat specimens causes it
to rest upon the ground, not unfrequently to the destruction of the feathers.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 305

" The appearance of over fat birds is certainly ungainly, but the observer cannot
fail to be struck with the size of good specimens of the family. Eoueu ducks are
as hardy as any other kind, and they rarely evince any disposition to wander from
the neighbourhood of the homestead ; so dull and lethargic are they, that they are
liable to be picked up by any pilferer, and even if one bird is taken, the others will
scarcely move away ; they appear to care less for exercise on the water than any
other variety."

In weight, Rouens usually exceed any of the other varieties. At the Birmingham
show of 1866, the weights of the three prize pairs were respectively nineteen,
eighteen and a half, and seventeen and a quarter pounds.

The exact points required in the exhibition-pen are so fully detailed in the
" Standard of Excellence," which is reprinted in the Appendix, that no further
details are necessary.

THE AYLESBURY DUCK.

The characteristics of this valuable variety are soon described. Great size, imma-
culate purity of white plumage, a large broad pale flesh-coloured bill, which should
be free from dark marks or stains, constitute the most strongly-marked features of
the breed. In weight, Aylesburys are generally somewhat inferior to the Rouens.
Of late years, by careful selection of brood stock, great improvements have been
effected in the size of this breed ; formerly, twelve pounds per pair was thought
a good, and sixteen pounds an extreme, weight ; but at the last Birmingham show
the first prize pair weighed eighteen pounds, and the birds had probably lost a
pound during their journey from home.

Aylesburys are, if well fed, prolific layers of fine eggs, the shells of those
laid by the best strains being of a clear white. As sitters, Aylesburys are better
mothers than Rouens, not being so unwieldy in their actions.

Those intended for brood stock should not be fed to the extent that is requisite
in the show-pen, many of the exhibition birds being so fat as to have the
abdominal muscles stretched to such a degree that the birds are " down behind."
The inexperienced breeder should be cautious in purchasing such birds, as they are
generally perfectly useless for stock purposes, the drakes and ducks being alike
sterile.

In order to exhibit these birds in the state of repletion seen at our shows, they
are kept away from water, fed most liberally on boiled meal or grain, and confined
in a dark room, so as to maintain the delicate flesh-colour of the bills.

The feeding of all varieties of ducks is best managed by putting the grain into a
pan of water. In this way it is taken more readily, not any portion is wasted by
being trampled in the mud, and the birds are maintained in better health and in
finer condition by not having to devour the food soiled by the manure of the yard.
As the Aylesburys are the variety most generally selected for the supply of the
London markets, the following extract from an article by Mr. Tegetmeier, on
poultry regarded as agricultural stock, may not be Anthout interest : —

D D

30G THE POULTRY BOOK.

" In suitable localities, no land of poultry me move remunerative than ducks,
whether regarded as egg-producers, or as furnishing young birds for the
markets.

'' The variety that is most remunerative is undoubtedly the large White Aylesbury.
Their great weight, extreme prolificacy, and the rapidity with which the young
ducklings attain a size fit for the table, render them superior to any other breed.
The true Aylesbury are distinguished by their great size. The weight of the three
prize pens (each containing a drake and one duck) at the IBirmiugham Show in
1860 was, the tirst prize pair, eighteen, and the second and third, sixteen and a half
pounds each. If these birds are fed liberally, and kept in a house which is pro-
vided with fresh straw, and cleaned daily, they will lay during the coldest weather,
when the eggs should be placed under hens. For this early hatching of duclding's;
Cochins are particularly advantageous, as they sit well, and cover a large number
of eggs. The ducklings when hatched should be fed most abundantly with slaked
oatmeal, and afterwards with oats thrown into a pan of clean water. Their
appetites are voracious ; but their growth is remarkably rapid, and under this
system of management they are fit for the market in less than two months.
Those birds intended to be lulled should be prevented from swimming ; but those
that are to be retained for stock should have free access to water.

"The profit of rearing young ducks for the London markets is very consider-
able. In some districts near the metropolis the labourers endeavour to get
early clutches of ducklings, and rear them by hand in their cottages, and near
Aylesbury great numbers are raised by persons who follow that occupation exclu-
sively. The prices realized in the market by early ducklings, of necessity varies
with the supply, but I have lmo^^Tl them produce 8s. to 10s. each for several Avecks
together.

" One precaution should be taken in order to obtain all the eggs laid by the old
ducks, namely, to shut them up during the night. It is generally at this time
that they lay ; and by adopting this precaution the whole of their eggs are secured ;
otherwise many are lost, as the ducks, until shortly before becoming broody, are
careless layers, often dropping their eggs in the water, where they sink, and
remain until putrid."

THE BUEXOS AYRES, EAST INDIA, OR LABRADOR DUCK.

If any circumstance were required to show the absurdity of geographical names
for varieties of domestic animals, it would be found in the three titles given to this
pretty little black variety of the Mallard. The bird is certainly not known in
Labrador, nor is it common in the East Indies. The Zoological Society first received
these birds from Buenos Ayres ; but when we bear in mind the fact that sailing
vessels arc continually conveying birds from one port to another, the fact docs not
prove that thoy originated in that locality, nor is the knowledge of the place from
whence they were obtained of any consequence, as they are obviously merely artifi-
cially pei-petuatcd variations which do not exist in a wild state. Mr. Hewitt, who

THE POULTRY BOOK. 307

lias had great experience with water-fowl, has favoured us with the following notes
on the management and characters of the variety : —

" These birds are of exceedingly hardy constitution, and will bear severity of
weather without any injury. They are, however, very prone to attempt to leave
their habitation before a ny extreme change of weather, such as approaching storms
or excessive frost. At these times their restlessness not unfrequently induces them
to take wing, and sometimes, joining flocks of wild fowls, they fall a prey to
persons shooting wild birds at the approach of nightfall. I know many broods of
Buenos Aj-res that, in A\inter-time, frequently absent themselves for many days
together, and ramble to distant extensive waters, but eventually return in
safety to their owners.

** During these excursions they always become very wild, and it is with extreme
difficulty any one can manage to approach them ; yet singularly, when they are per-
mitted to return home again without injury or accident, they seem but little altered
in their dispositions, and will retire to their usual haunts, as though no such freak
had been indulged in. They are naturally somewhat shy at all times, but of course
this trait of character is much modified by the treatment they receive from their
owners. I have even knowTi them fly to feeding-marshes, five or six miles from
their owner's house, early in the morning, and return towards the time the poultry
generally received their evening meal of corn, staying until morning. But much
seems dependent on whether or no there are any wild ducks in the neighbour-
hood to entice them to such wajn-ard practices, for certainly there are now many
instances in which flocks of the Buenos Ayres ducks prove equally attached to the
homestead as any other description of tame ducks.

" The flavour of their flesh is very superior, and assimilates very closely to that
of the Mallard. I have oftentimes Icnown them placed on table as wild duck
without the deception being discovered by considerable numbers of guests, and
who afterwards, on being informed, could scarcely believe they had been thus
imposed upon. Buenos Ayres ducks lay well, and the eggs are of good quality ;
at the commencement of the laying season, the shells of the eggs are of a sooty
hue ; gi-adually however, the eggs assume a more natural colour, until the last
produced are but little different in appearance to those of the common wild
duck. ]3y very long domestication, these birds attain an increased size, and,
although not permitted access to any common ducks, they even then willshow a
tendency to sport triflingly in colour, and even occasionally to mottle a little
with W'hite around the ej-elids, or in scattered feathers here and there along the
breast. Such birds are of course inadmissible in the exhibition-room.

" Their plumage should be v/holly black, glossed all over vath a peculiarly
lustrous though very dark green shade ; the legs are sooty black, as are the beaks
of the females ; those of the drakes assume rather a dark yellowish green colour on
the upper mandible ; the feathers on the head and neck of the males are far more
glossy than those of their mates. The smallest and most neatly built among the
Buenos Ayres are the most admired."

308 THE POULTRY BOOK.

THE CAYUGA, OR LARGE AMERICAN BLACK DUCK.

Under tlie title of the Cayuga, or Big Black iluck, a largo variety is known in
the. United States, which would be a desirable addition to our poultry-yards.
Mr. C. N. Bemeut, a well-known transatlantic writer on poultry subjects, thug
describes it in an article in the "American Country Gentleman : " —

*' This bird derives its name from the lake on which it is supposed to have been
first iliscovered. Of its origin, little is now known ; it was quite common some fifty
years ago in the barn-yards in the vicinity of Boston, Sec. ' In the year 1812,'
says Dr. Bachman, in a note addressed to Mr. Audubon, *I saw in Duchess
county, in the State of New York, at the house of a miller, a fine flock of ducks, to
the number of at least thirty, which, from their peculiar appearance, struck me as
diflerent from any I had before seen among the difterent varieties of the tame
duck. On inquiiT, I was informed that three years before a pair of these ducks
had been captured in the mill-pond. They were kept in the poultry-yard, and it
was said were easily tamed. One joint of the wing was taken off to prevent their
flying away. In the following spring they were sufi'ered to go into the pond, and
they returned daily to the house to be fed. They built their nests on the edge of
the pond, and reared large broods. The family of the miller used them occasionally
as food, and considered them equal in flavour to the common duck, and they
were easily raised. The old males were more beautiful than any I have examined
since, and as yet, domestication has produced no variety in their plumage.*

"'The young of this species,' — the Wild Black duck — says Audubon, 'grow
with remarkable rapidity, and, like the Mallard, of which they seem to be only a
variety, acquire the full beauty of their spring plumage before the season of
reproduction commences. * * * * In the early part of autumn the young
afford delicious eating — in our opinion, very much superior to the famous and more
celebrated canvass-back duck.'

" ' It is admitted,' says another writer, ' that our Cayuga ducks originally sprung
from the "Wild Black duck ; however altered they may now appear in bulk, colour,
or habits, the essential habits remain the same ; no disinclination to breed with
each other is evinced between them, and the offspring are as prolific as their
mutual parents. The general tone of their plumage is closely repeated in all
specimens.'

" Of the origin of the Cayuga duck, I cannot give anything reliable. This
duck has been bred in the country so long, that all trace of the origin is lost.
Tradition says they are descended from a sort of wild ducks that stop in
Cayuga Lake and Seneca River, on their passage North and South, fall and
spring ; yet from hunters I have never been able to obtain or hear of any closely
resembling them, either in weights or feathers. Yet they are called the * Big
Black duck,' ' Cayuga,' or * Lake duck. '

" The Black Cayuga duck in perfection, is black with a white collar on the neck,
or white flecks on the neck and breast — rarely black without Avhite, and as the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 30^

white seems inclined to increase, we nsiially select them nearly or quite black for
breeding. The duck has a faint green tint on the head, neck and T;\dngs. The
drakes usually show more white markings than ducks, and the green tint on head
and neck is more strongly marked. They differ from the East Indian and Buenos
Ayres ducks very materially ; they are much larger, longer in body, and shorter in
leg, better feeders, but are not so intense in colour ; indeed, beside the East
Indian, the Cayuga looks brov>'n.

"When well fed, the duck begins to lay about April, and usually gives an egg
every day until eighty or ninety are laid, when she will make her nest and sit, if
allowed ; if not, will generally lay a litter in September.

"The Cayuga ducks are hardy, of good size, and for the table are superior to
other ducks ; the flesh quite dark and high flavoured. If well fed, they become very
fat ; can be readily made so fat they cannot raise themselves from the ground by.
their wings, a foot wide board keeping my ducks from my little trout-pond. My
flock last year weighed : drakes 9 pounds, ducks 8 pounds, or 17 pounds the pair ;
these are extreme weights, and only to be reached by careful feeding ; 12 to 14
pounds the pair would be a good average. I once had a small flock that averaged
at six months, 16 pounds the pair, but they had been forced to their utmost, and
never gained weight after six mouths. The Cayuga duck is very quiet in its
habits ; they are rarely able to rise from the ground, a fence one foot high will
turn them ; they are not disposed to wander from home ; they commence laying
about the last of March, and lay fifty to ninety eggs, when they wish to sit, which
they do well, but they are careless mothers ; they cross readily T^ith other ducks,
and produce is certain."

If it were considered desirable to establish a breed of large black ducks in this
country, it would hardly be requisite to send across the Atlantic for the variety.
By mating large Buenos Ayi-es drakes with heavy Eouen ducks, such a breed
might readily be produced, and, by careful selection of brood stock for a few gene-
rations, would become firmly established.

CALL DUCKS.

The title of Call ducks is given to two small • varieties of the domestic duck,
that bear the same relation to the full- sized birds that Bantams do to ordinary
fowls. They are kno\Mi as the grey and the white Call ; they both differ from
ordinary breeds in their very small size ; for show birds, the smaller the better. The
shape of the head is also distinct ; they are most esteemed when possessing a full
round forehead, with a broad short bill. In colour, the grey Call should be an exact
counterpart of the Rouen and wdld breeds, not only in plumage but also in legs, feet
and bill. The white Call should be clothed in feathers of pure and unsullied white ;
the bill, however, is not flesh-coloured, as that of the Aylesbury, but a bright
clear unspotted yellow, any other colour being regarded as disqualif3^ing the birds
from success in a severe competition.

Call ducks, as their name implies, are remarkable for their loud and continuous

810

THE POULTRY liOOK.

tIREY CALL DUCKS.

quacking, iu a shrill liigli note, which can he heard a great distance, and which
renders them admirable as decoy ducks to allure the wild species to their
destruction.

As fancy water-fowl on ornamental pieces of water, both varieties are very
attractive.

THE PENGUIN DUCK.

This vei7 extraordinary-looking duck is characterized by an extreme shortness
of the femora, the thigh or upper bones of the legs ; hence their feet are not
brought, as in other ducks, under the middle of the body, at an equal distance
fi'om the head and tail, but are placed much farther behind. In consequence of
this pecuHarity of structure, the duck, in order to bring the centre of gravity
over the point of support, is obliged to assume an erect attitude, like that of the
Penguin, or other diving birds whose feet are placed in the same position.

Beyond this quaint peculiarity, the Penguin duck has no speciality to call for
particular observation, or to distinguish it from the ordinary species, of which it
is evidently only an accidental variation, perpetuated by the care of man. The
colours of the Penguin duck are varied, and the bird breeds freely with any of
the common varieties.

THE HOOKED-BILLED DUCK.

The Hooked-billed duck is another accidental variation which has been propagated
by man. It is characterized by the bill being turned downwards, instead of being
straight, as in the other varieties. In Holland this variety was formerly not
unfrcquent, and was frequently delineated by the old Dutch masters. In colour
and size, the Hooked-billed ducks varied very considerably.

THE POULTKY BOOK. 311

THE TUFTED, OR CRESTED DUCK.

This is another variation which has been perpetuated and even increased hy
the care and selection exercised by man.

It is characterized by a large tuft of feathers on the top of the skull, very
like that of a Polish hen. In some cases this globular crest attains a large size,
and renders the birds very remarkable objects. In the skulls of some specimens
that we have examined after death, we have noticed a deficiency of the bones
of the forehead, their place being supplied by a cartilaginous thickening of the
membranes under the base of the crest.

THE FARM-YARD DUCK

Calls for no sj^ecial description at our hands. In size, early maturity, and
aptitude to fatten, the mongrel races that are found in too many localities are
far inferior to the Aylesbury or Rouen breeds, whether regarded as profitable
for the table or market, or \iewed as ornamental and elegant water-fowl.

Before concludiiig this long list of the varieties of the domesticated duck, we
may call attention to another variation that not uufrequently. occurs, namely, the
absence of the web or membrane between the toes ; this also is hereditary,
but it is not generally perpetuated by the owners, as the ducks have not the
power of swimming with vigour. We mention it merel}^ to notice a very common
error concerning its production, namely, that the birds so varied are the result of
a union between the common fowl and the duck : it should be needless to insist
on the absurdity of such a belief, which has no foundation whatever in fact.

SEBASTOPOI, OEi;SK,

CHAPTER XXIX.

GEESE.

THE origin of the domestic goose is generally referred Ly naturalists to the
well known wild species the Grey-lag goose, the Anser ferns. Mr. Yarrell,
in his "History of British Birds," writing of the Grey-lag, states, — "This
species is considered to be the origin from whence our valuable domestic race is
derived ; to show the aptitude of the wild bird to this purpose I may mention
that the Zoological Society possessed a wild Grey-lag gander that had never
associated with other species of wild geese kept on the same water with him,
but that paired with a domestic goose, selected from exhibiting in her plumage
the marks which belong to, and distinguish, the tnic Grey-lag. The goose laid a
sitting of eggs, the offspring from which were prolific." At the exhibition of

'1' 0 -0 IL (D •■!! 3 2 E- *X :E S IS.

THE POULTKY LOOK. 313

domestic poultry and water-fowl held in the Gardens of the Zoological Society,
Kegent's Park, at the end of May, 1845, there was a fine specimen of Grey-lag
goose sent from India by Mr. Blyth to Mr. Bartlett, who exhibited the bird. In
the next coop was a fine pair of domestic geese : it was most obvious that these
domestic geese were derived from the Grey-lag goose. The pinky flesh colour of
the beak and the white nail ; the distribution of the markings of the plumage
generally ; the large blue grey space on the anterior portion of the wing ; the
flesh colour of both the legs and feet, and the voice, were alike in both. The
half-bred geese, previously referred to as bred by the Society, were also exactly
similar.

"The Candidus Anser of Lucretius, which, by its cackling, excited the attention
of the guard and saved the Roman Capitol, was perhaps of the same race as those
v/e possess at the present time, as it is very likely that after the Romans had
established themselves in this country, they would introduce many of their own
domesticated animals."

Mr. Yarrell goes on to say that he is unable to answer the question as to the
origin of a white goose from a grey species ; but this is really no argument against
the theory which regards the Grey-lag as the origin of our tame birds, inasmuch
as all animals vary in colour by domestication, and there is no difficulty in
perpetuating any colour that may have been thus produced by careful and
discriminating selection of breeding stock.

As those naturalists who have paid the greatest amount of attention to this-
group of animals regard the Grey-lag as the origin of our domestic breeds, it
is desirable that we should enter into a consideration of the habits of the wild
original. Writing of the Grey-lag (Anseffenis), Macgillivray states : —

" Whatever may have been the case formerly, when it was said to be very
abundant, and permanently resident in England, this species is not now of
common occurrence in any part of Britain, and does not remain to breed with us.
In Ireland it is of occasional but rare occurrence in winter. Not being able
to distinguish it, at a distance, from the Bean, and Short-billed or Pink-footed
geese, I can say nothing respecting its peculiar habits, and, for the same
reason, even those which are common to it and them, cannot be spoken of
with certainty. However, this much may be said : — It makes its appeai-ance in
various parts of the country towards the beginning of winter, and departs in the
end of April. It resorts, not to marshy places only, but to open pastures and
cultivated fields ; its food consisting of the root-stems of aquatic grasses, young
corn, clover, and other green herbage. Being very shy and vigilant, it is not easily
shot ; and when feeding in the fields, on the alarm being given by one individual,
they all erect their necks, run forward, and, uttering their loud grating cries, spring
into the air. Their flight is rather heavy and sedate ; when they are proceeding to
a distance, performed at a great height, the birds on such occasions advancing in a
line, or in two lines forming an acute angle. The flesh of this species is savoury,

E E

311 THE POULTRY BOOK.

banng a higher flavour than that of tho tamo goose ; but it is not as ofteu scon in
our markets as the Bean goose.

By the older ^Titers, this si^ccies was confounded with the Bean goose and the
Pink-footed goose. The thi-ec arc so very similar in plumage, that, until one has
compared specimens of them, it is not easy to determine them separately. The
present may, however, he known hy its much larger bill, which is flesh-coloured,
with its unguis whitisli.

" The common domestic goose appears to be the civilized oftspriug of the Grey
goose, to which, in l)ulk and proportion, it bears the same relations as other tame
animals do to their protot37ies : as a short-horned ox to a Devonshire ox, or a
domestic drake to a mallard."

The Grey-lag goose is widely distributed over the globe. Even in Northern India
it is a common winter species. Jerdon, in his admirable work, thus describes the
family and the species under notice : —

" The fiimily of Anserinae, the true geese, have a large heavy bodj', with
a tolerably long neck and a small head. The wings are long and powerful.
They live in flocks, breeding for the most part in the polar regions, and
migrating in winter to more genial climes ; when fl3dng, they maintain regular
long lines, and emit loud clanging calls. In consequence of the forward
position of the legs, they walk well on land. They feed entirely on vegetables,
grazing on grass and young corn, their stout short bills bciug well suited
to biting off" the shoots ; and they spend the heat of the day on sand-banks
in rivers or the centre of large lakes. They make large nests of gi-ass, &c.,
on the ground in marshy places, and lay several whitish eggs. The first down of
the nestlings is mottled.

" The common wild goose, or Grey-lag goose of England, is a common winter
visitant to the north of India, extending its migrations to Central India, but is
rarely seen farther south. It is sometimes met with in small parties of froni
four to twenty ; occasionally in vast flocks, which feed on young corn, grass, &c.,
and during the heat of the day rest on some sand-bank in the large rivers, or in
the middle of a tank. This goose is a very wary bird, approached with difficulty
when feeding, but may be occasionally stalked when feeding on the bank of a
river or tank : I have often killed it from a boat. The flesh is excellent. In the
wild state, it breeds in Northern Europe and Asia, making a large nest among
the rushes, and laying from eight to twelve whitish eggs.

" The Chinese or Knobbed goose, the Anser cygnoides, was considered by Cuvier
to belong to the swans, but is strictly a goose with sixteen cervical vertebras. It
is domesticated in China, and breeds readily with the common goose. Blyth con-
siders the common goose of India to be a hybrid between this and Ansei- cinereus."

The allied species of the genus Anser, namely the Bean, the Pink-footed and
tho ^^1lite-fronted geese, though frequently stated to be in part the progenitors of
our domestic variety, do not appear to cross readily with the common species.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 315

or Grey-lag. Writing of the A)iser jphcenicopus, or Pink-footed goose, Mr.
Yarrell states that —

" Little is known of the particular habits of this species in a ^-ild state, but
Temminck mentions that three specimens, kept in a domestic state, with others of
the Grey, the Bean, and the White-fronted species, did not associate with either of
them, but kept by themselves. The same habit has been observed of this species
in two instances in this country.

" The Zoological Society have had a male for several years, which has never
associated with any of those of the various other species with which it has been
confined.

" The Ornithological Society had a female, which, during the summer of 1840,
would not associate ■^dth any of the various species kept with her in St. James's
Park, yet she laid eight eggs, and began to sit ; from which, of course, there were
no proceeds."

Leaving the question of the origin of the domestic goose, we now come to the
consideration of the different domesticated varieties of this bird. The most marked
are the large white goose, generally termed the Embden goose ; the large grey
goose, or Toulouse ; the common mottled grey and white, or saddle-back goose ;
and lastly, the curled-feathered, or Sebastopol goose.

The common grey or white goose has no distinguishing features to call for
special notice ; it is inferior in size and capability of early maturity to the improved
breeds, such as the Embden or Toulouse. Piespecting the relative advantages of
these two breeds, it is difficult to speak positively, — each have their admirers and
advocates. Mr. Hewitt writes : —

" In geese I must claim pre-eminence for the Embden or white variety. I have
traced the best specimens of this kind through several owners, and found that the
originals (in these instances) came from Holland. One of their great advantages
is this, that all the feathers being perfectly white, their value, where many are
kept, is far greater in the market than is ever the case with coloured or mixed
feathers. In weight, too, these birds have an advantage even over the Toulouse. In
instituting comparisons between the white and coloured geese, I have noticed that
the pendent abdominal pouch of the Toulouse tells sadly against it when dressed,
and would undoubtedly be prejudicial to its sale, in accordance with the current
opinion of such an appendage being indicative of advanced age ; though, in the
Toulouse, it is as apparent in the living gull of six months old, as it would be in
the Embden variety at thrice as many years. The quality of the flesh is about equal
in flavour in either land ; but the Embden is the earliest layer, and frequently
rears two broods in one season, the young ones proving as hardy as any with which
I am acquainted. The Embden goose has prominent blue eyes, is remarkably
strong in the neck, and the feathers, from near the shoulder to the head, are far
more curled than is seen in other birds.

*' All white aquatic poultry are considered to dress, id est, 'pluck' of a clearer
and better appearance, than the parti-coloured or dark-feathered birds, more

E E 2

316

THE POULTRY BOOK.

especially whilst yonng. This arises from the patches where the dark feathers
grew, showing even after heing carefully pluckeil, more particularly if the plumage
at the time they are killed haj^peus to he immature. Although when roasted no
diflerence is perceptible, yet a clcar-skinncd bird always commands the most ready
sale at the poulterer's."

In weight, these two celebrated varieties run veiy close together. The diligent
and careful attention that has been paid of late years to the improvement of poultry,
has resulted in a great increase in the size and weight of geese. At the last March
show, 186G, the heaviest pair exhibited were the old Grey geese, the first prize
pair of wliich weighed 69^ lbs ; the first prize old white geese being 57|- lbs. A
few years since, the rearing of a pair of geese, of any age or variety, that would
weigh over half a hundred- weight, would have been regarded as a feat of impossible
attainment ; this limit has now been surpassed, and we have no more to believe
that the Jie jylus ultra has been reached.

The first prize young birds of the year, at the same show, weighed between
42 lbs. and 43 lbs., in both the white and grey classes.

Among the most singular variations of plumage occurring in the domestic geese,
may be mentioned that found in the so-called Sebastopol geese, figured at the
commencement of this chapter. These geese were first exhibited by Mr. Harvey
D. Bayly, in 1860, and were delineated and described in the Illustrated London
Xcws, of Sept. 8. The following was the account that was published respecting
them on their first introduction : —

" Amongst the geese there were two curious specimens from Sebastopol, exhi-
bited by Mr. T. H. D. Bayly. These birds are somewhat smaller than those of
this country at a mature size, but they are of the purest white and the most
perfect form, whilst the more conspicuous portion of their plumage is of a
curly nature, affording a very striking contrast to the feathers of the ordinary
English goose. The feathers on the back are curved and frilled upwards ; the
secondary feathers of the wings are elongated and twisted, also the tail coverts.
These geese were sent to Mr. Bayly by John Harvey, Esq., who had been cruising
in the Black Sea. Their weight is 11 lbs. each. They are of precisely the same
habits as our English geese."

The great peculiarity in these geese consists in the extreme elongation of the
feathers of the back (scapulars and tail coverts). The shafts of these long feathers
split down their entire length, and then become twisted, so as to give rise to the
peculiar curled appearance shown in the wood-cut. Since their first introduction
these geese have propagated very freely, and are now constantly to be seen in
the various poultry shows. As combining the ornamental and the useful, these
quaint birds have few superiors.

The different varieties of geese must not be passed over without allusion to a
very distinct species — the Chinese, also known as the Hong-kong, Knob-fronted,
and occasionally as Spanish geese. These birds are so distinct in their form
and habits, that Cuvier arranged them with the swans, and gave the species the

THE POULTRY BOOK. 317

scientific name of Cygnus anseroidcs. Though now usually regarded as true
geese, their close alliance to the swans is indicated by the specific name of Anser
cygnoides. Of these birds two distinct varieties are known, one is pure white,
Avitli bright-yellow bills and feet. The coloured variety, which is more common, is
remarkable for the modest arrangement of colour in the plumage, and is strongly
characterized by a dark stripe down the back of the neck, a peculiarity which, in a
lesser degree, characterizes the hybrids between it and the common species. As
layers, Chinese geese are greatly superior to the common species, usually laying
more than thirty eggs before wanting to sit : they commence in the very cold
weather, and lay two, and sometimes even three, batches of eggs in the year. They
are good grazers, but obtain a larger proportion of their food from streams than
the common birds.

Nevertheless, they have their drawbacks : they are often accused of keeping up
an incessant screaming clang, which is said to be continued throughout the night.
That their voice has a disagreeable metallic resonance, is perfectly true, but it is
uttered so seldom as to be quite unobjectionable. It is never to be heard during
the night, and seldom in the day, except when they are frightened, or come home
hungry. In the first case, it may be regarded as advantageous, as it may be
regarded as a cry for assistance, or a warning that the owner's property is in
danger ; and in the second, their mouths are soon closed by a handful of oats or
barley.

They are very domesticated, keeping near home, and returning constantly in the
afternoon ; but if they are not shut up a little before dark, they are apt to take to
the river or any adjacent water, and, spite of all coaxing and remonstrance, persist
in spending the night out of doors. This propensity is (in a place where they may
meet with more admirers than their owner) somewhat of an objection ; but it is the
only fault that can be alleged against them. As table birds, they are of very
superior quality.

They breed freely with the common goose, and what is very remarkable, the
hybrids so produced are perfectly fertile if mated with either the Chinese or
common geese ; but there is some doubt Avhether they are fertile, inter sc, that is,
if mated with each other, so as to perpetuate the true cross. The experiment has
been tried with birds of the same brood, but the only way in which it can be
satisfactorily performed, is by pairing two half-bred birds not related.

The plan of feeding that it is best to adopt with these and other aquatic birds
having an extensive range, is as follows : — In the morning early they should be let
out, when they immediately proceed to the river or the water, and feed for un
hour or two, they then come out, dress their feathers, and graze, afterwards they
return to the river, and wander about until the afternoon, when they return, and
should be rewarded for their attachment to home by a little corn. At dusk
they should be shut up, about two handfuls of oats or barley being allowed to
each bird. This is best placed in a large pan of v.ater, in the house where they
are enclosed.

31^ THE POULTRY BOOK.

One great advantage of the Chinese geese, over common brcecls, is the early
period at which they lay, often commencing in January or Fehruary. In this case,
four or five of their eggs may at once be placed under a Cochin or Dorking hen,
and the owner will be rewarded with young geese fit for the table at a period when
his neighbours are looking forward for the hatching of their goslings.

"\\ ith regard to the profitable management of geese as farming stock, the most
sensible and practical directions that we have met with are those published by
Mr. Trotter in his essay in the "Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society." These
remarks we gladly transcribe.

" The management of geese is attended with less trouble than any other poultry
(of course we mean in situations adapted for them) ; their food is of the very
coarsest kind ; I hesitate not, therefore, to affirm, that the profit arising from them
is immense.

" We must, in the first place, attempt to set aside the prejudice which both
ancient and modern writers have displayed against those which are parti-coloured.
In the neighbourhood surrounding us large numbers are reared every year; we
therefore have many opportunities of judging of the various qualities of the
different colours to warrant us to come to conclusions without following in the path
of compilers. I would as soon breed from a parti-coloured goose as from one all of
the same colour. We had a gi-ey and white goose which, for successive seasons,
had two broods ; the first never falling short of twelve (a number not one goose in
twenty produces), and generally five, six, or seven, the second brood.

" Geese are kept not for the production of eggs for sale, but for the purpose
of hatching; the number of geese to one gander should not, therefore, exceed
four. It i§ said, and strongly insisted on, if the goose be not in water when
receiving proofs of the attachment of her male companion, that the eggs Avill not
be fertile. We cannot speak to this, never having tried the experiment of
keeping them from the water; however, it is received as a fact, and some go so
far as to drive the goose to the water with her mate as soon as she leaves the
nest.

" The goose commences to lay in February, or March, and continues until she
has from eight to fourteen eggs. Some writers assert that, by removing the
eggs from the nest as fast as they are laid, she may be induced to lay as far as
fifty, if highly fed. This appears to me very marvellous, for I never succeed in
getting more than twelve or thirteen from one goose. The eggs are removed as
soon as the goose leaves the nest ; and I think it impossible for geese to be better
fed than ours.

" The approach of the laying season is known by the goose picking up and
throwing al)Out her straws or small sticks, or by picking lime off walls. As
soon as this is observed, a nest should be provided for her in the same house in
which she has to sit. Every morning she must be examined ; when she has to
lay she must be kept in, and, if possible, compelled to lay in the nest provided
for her : having once laid in it, she will seldom seek any other.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 319

" Wlieu the goose is inclined to liatcli she remains on the nest. During the
first two or three clays she seldom sits steadily ; the eggs should not therefore be
given to her until the third day. The time of incubation is about twenty-nine
days. With geese, as with all poultry, during the time they are sitting the less
they are interfered with the better. "WTien the goose leaves her nest, care must
be taken to supply a sufficient quantity of food and water, and that she does not
remain too long from her eggs — say fifteen minutes.

" Goslings, being much hardier than the young of any other poultry, do not
require so much caution in assisting such as make slow progress out of the
shell.

" If the weather be fine, the goslings should be turned out into a sheltered
situation the first day after being hatched ; however, at this season the weather is
not always so charming, and I may mention that we had a brood that came out a
few years ago during a time when the ground was thickly covered with snow.
The snow remained on the ground a fortnight, during which time it was essential
to keep the goslings in the house. Grass being an indispensable part of the
food of goslings, we were necessitated to procure for them pieces of turf. For the
first few days goslings should have porridge, potatoes boiled, and given when
moderately warm, bread-crumbs, or curds ; and should not have liberty to swim
in water ; this restriction should be gradually dispensed with. When seven or
eight days old no further care is necessary (unless in bad weather), beyond giving
them food.

" I cannot agree with those who say that ' the rankest, coarsest grasses
constitute the goose's delicacy.' Turn geese into a pasture of various qualities
of grass, and they will soon show to which they give preference. I am not
assuming, but write from having observed that they are fondest of the sweetest
grasses. I have also observed them ' w^aggling ' through long grass, and drawing
the heads of the grass through their bills, in order to procure the seed. The
manner they turn their heads to one side to do this is very amusing. How coarse
soever grass may be, geese will eat it, but to keep them well they must have an
alloAvance once a day of something more substantial. A mixture of boiled
potatoes will answer the purpose ; but by comparing the prices of these with
the prices of oats, and by taking the nutritious properties of both into considera-
tion, we shall find that the latter are, at present prices (1850), considerably
cheaper.

"It is the custom in some parts to take a portion of the feathers off the geese
two or three times a year — a custom I strongly condemn : for, no later than last
3'ear, a party of whom I purchased a flock took advantage before delivering
them of robbing them of a great part of their feathers ; the consequence of
which was the loss of the most of them. I admit a small quantity may be
taken off with little or no injury; but then so few people can be trusted to
do the work, that it is undoubtedly the best policy to let the feathers hang as
they grow."

320 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

"Wc nifty supplement this judicious advice by the following, which Mr. Austin
Williams, of Reading, formerly a very successful exhibitor of geese, has forwarded
to us on their incubation, and on the management of the goslings : — " The period
of incubation," writes Mr. Williams, "is about thirty days; but should the goose
not sit close, it may extend one or two days over that period. I have generally
found geese leave their home when sitting once a day, until within a day or so
of hatching, when they are seldom disposed to quit their charge. At such times
they should always be fed. It is certainly desirable that the sitting goose should
have easy access to water, for a bath not only keeps her in health, Ijut materially
assists the process of hatching. For the last few days, I make a rule of placing
food and water by the side of the old bird.

'• As soon as the goslings become dry after hatching, I give them each a pellet
of barley-meal, with milk to drink, since I think that they are thus strengthened.
I then place the old goose with her goslings under a coop on a grass plat, the latter
having sufficient room to pass between the bars, and pick the herbage, a privilege
which they almost immediately avail themselves of. Barley-meal mixed to a
crumbling consistency with water, and bruised oats, form their food until they gain
strength, when the oats are given whole. My reason for giving them soft food is,
that the gosling derives greater benefit from its being more easy of digestion.
Some of my largest white goslings, hatched in the spring, will weigh in August
from 131bs. to 161bs. each."

In one point, geese diflfer widely from any other species of domesticated poultry,
namely, in their extreme longevity. On this subject Mr. Hewitt writes : —

" Perhaps there is scarcely any description of poultry that can boast of the
extraordinary age of the goose, combined with continued productiveness. In
poultry-breeding, we continually find, in other instances, that age brings with it
decreased powers of production, and, at length, such birds cease breeding alto-
gether. I could mention several instances of geese attaining twenty, or five-
and-twenty years of age, and still, year by year, both laying and sitting as
abundantly and as early as in former seasons. This remark, however, applies
especially to birds which have during the whole period enjoyed free and
unlimited range. I am aware of the existence of an old goose that has
attained an age of nearly forty years, and that has never failed during that period
to raise one or two good broods annually. She does not show any apparent mark
of extreme old age, grazing freely as heretofore, and being very attentive to her
offspring.

" Ganders, on the other hand, as far as my knowledge extends, never maintain
their productiveness ; and, generally speaking, they become, at the age of a few
years only, perfect pests to all the weaker inhabitants of the farm, are easily
irritated, especially if they have been teased, and really dangerous to young
children, from the extreme violence and unexpected nature of their attacks. For
these reasons, they are very rarely retained sufficiently long to prove the length
of time they would continue of utility to their owners ; but I am informedby

THE POULTRY BOOK. 321

many of my country acquaintances, it is not by any means adyisable to retain
them for many seasons, as the offspring prove less hardy and far more degenerate,
than where the old gander has been exchanged for a younger bird. My con-
victions tend therefore to the belief that aged geese are undoubtedly the best
mothers, sitting more closely ; and that afterwards they tend their goslings more
efficiently than the younger and less experienced of their species ; and, as a
general rule also, the goslings when hatched are finer than those produced from
the one-year old female^ and also, whilst growing, feather with greater rapidity."

CHAPTER XXX.
THE DISEASES OF POULTRY.

BY THE EDITOR.

I\ a work like the present, not intended for the professional reader, it will be
found more convenient for the purpose of reference, to arrange the diseases of
poultry under the headings of the organs that are affected, than in any more
strictly scientific order. In accordance, therefore, with this plan, they will be
treated of in the following sections : —

1. Diseases of the Brain and Nervous System ; 2, Diseases of the Digestive
Organs ; 3. Diseases of the Lungs and Air Passages ; 4. Diseases of the Egg
Organs; 5. Diseases of the Limbs; G. Diseases of the Skin ; 7. Fractures of the
Bones.

DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM.
APOPLEXY.

Symjnoms. — The symptoms of apoplexy are plain and decisive, — a fowl,
apparently in the most robust health, falls down suddenly, and is found cither dead
or without sensation, or the power of motion. These symptoms are occasioned by
the rupture of a vessel of the brain, and the consequent effusion of blood, -which,
by its pressure, produces the evil.

Causes. — Apoplexy is almost invariably caused by a full habit of body ; it is
therefore frequent in overfed birds, and is most common among laying hens, which
are sometimes found dead on the nest, — the expulsive efforts required in laying
being the immediate cause of the attack. Unnatural and over-stimulating food, as
greaves, hemp, and a large proportion of pea or bean meal, greatly predisposes to
the disease.

Treatment. — In this disease much maybe done in the way of prevention, —
little towards cure in an actual attack ; the only hope consists in an instant and
copious bleeding by opening a vein with a shai-p-pointed penknife, or, still better, a
lancet. The largest of the veins seen on the under side of the wing should be
selected, and opened in a longitudinal direction, not cut across ; and so long as the
thumb is pressed on the vein, at any point between the opening and the body, the
blood will be found to flow freely. If the bird recovers, it should be kept quiet,
and fed on light food for some time after the operation.

THE POULTRY BOOK. 323

VERTIGO.

Symptoms. — Fowls affected with this disease may be observed to run round in a
circle, or to flutter about with but partial control over their muscular actions.

Causes. — The affection is one evidently caused by an undue determination of
blood to the head, and is dependent on a full-blooded state of the system, usually
the result of over-feeding.

Treatment. — I have always found that holding the head under a stream of
cold water for a short time immediately arrests the disease ; and a dose of any
aperient, such as calomel, jalap, or castor oil, removes the tendency to the
complaint.

PARALYSIS.

Symptoms. — An inability to move some of the limbs. In fowls, the legs usually
are affected, and are totally destitute of the power of motion. Care must be
taken not to confound this disease with leg- weakness, which will be described under
the head of Diseases of the Limbs, and which requires a totally different mode of
treatment.

Causes. — Paralysis usually depends on some affection of the spinal cord, and
is another result of over- stimulating diet.

Treatment. — Nothing can be done by way of cure ; the cases may be regarded
as hopeless, or nearly so.

DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.
CROP-BOUND.

Symptoms. — The crop or membranous dilatation of the gullet, whose office it is
to receive the food as it is swallowed, and to retain it until sufficiently softened by
maceration, is sometimes so overcharged, that it is unable to expel its contents
into the stomach. From the emptiness of the latter organ the bird feels hungry,
and by continuing to eat adds to the mischief, until at last, by the contraction of
the crop and the swelling of the grain, a hardened mass is formed, weighing in
some cases nearly a pound, and, by the enormous protuberance it causes, giving
evident indications of its presence. Sometimes the disease is occasioned by a single
object being swallowed, whose size is too large to permit it to pass into the
stomach. In this case it serves as a nucleus for other matters, and a mass is
formed around it. I have now lying before me a piece of bone, one and a half
inch long by three-quarters of an inch broad, which was embedded in a mass of
horse-hair, oat-husk, and other vegetable fibres, the whole forming an egg-shaped
solid, two and a half inches in the long, and one and a quarter inch in the
short, diameter. This caused the death of the Dorking in whose crop it was
found.

Treatment. — The treatment of this disorder is very simple. With a sharp pen-
knife an incision must be made through the skin and upper part of the crop ; the
hardened mass loosened by some blunt-pointed instrument, and removed. If it has

324 THK POULTRY BOOK.

rcmaiucd mauy days, aud is very oftousive, the crop may then be washed out by
pouring iu some Nvarm water. The incision, if small, may be left ; but if large,
a stitch or two is advisable. The bird should be fed on soft food for a day or two,
and will rapidly recover.

INFLAMMATION OF THE FORE STOMACH, OR PROVENTRICULUS.

Sifmjitoms. — "When a fowl mopes and refuses to eat, without any apparent cause,
or selects only soft food, rejecting corn or grain, and, gradually pining, becomes
excessively thin, inflammation of the fore stomach may be suspected.

Causes. — Over-stimulating food, such as an excess of animal diet, greaves,
spiced poultry meal, &c., necessarily make a greater call upon the digestive
organs than more simple and wholesome diet. The stomach (or proventriculus of
comparative anatomists), which is situated between the crop and the gizzard, secretes
the gastric juice, in which the food is macerated previous to its passing on into the
latter organ, to be ground by the triturating action of its powerful muscles. The
amount of gastric juice must therefore be in proportion to the digestibility of the
food ; and hence, under the use of unnatural food, the organ is overworked, and
stimulated to such an extent as to become inflamed. The secretion of gastric
juice then ceases ; the food is not digested, and consequently distends the stomach
to an enormous degree ; so that, although not naturally larger than half the
finger, I have seen it four or five times the size of the gizzard.

Treatment. — The prevention of this disease, by the use of wholesome and
natural diet, is easy : the cure in advanced cases very uncertain. The only
treatment to be relied on would be the immediate employment of a plain dietary,
consisting of cooked soft food, so as to make the least possible call on the
digestive organs ; and if to this regimen an occasional grain of calomel, at
intervals of several days, be added, all is done that can be likely to benefit the
patient.

DIARRHCEA.

Symptoms. — The symptoms of diarrhoea, or looseness, are so evident as to
render description unnecessary.

Causes. — A too scanty supply of grain, which necessitates an excess of green
food, or an unwholesome dietary of any description, are the usual causes of this
complaint.

Treatment. — The treatment is simple : five grains of powdered chalk, the same
quantity of rhubarb, and three of cayenne pepper, may be administered ; and if
the relaxation is not speedily checked, a grain of opium, and one of powdered
ipecacuanha, may be given every four or six hours.

DISEASES OF THE LUNGS AND AIR-PASSAGES.

CATARRH.

Symptoms. — The symptoms of a cold, or catarrh, iu fowls, are identical
with those so familiar in the human subject — namely, a watery or adhesive

THE POULTRY BOOK. 325

discharge from the nostrils, and a slight swelling of the eyelids; in worse
eases the face is swollen at the sides, and the disease appears to pass on into
true roup.

Causes. — The cause is exposure to cold and dampness, such as a long con-
tinuance of cold wet weather, or sleeping in roosting-places open to the north or
east.

Treatment. — In simple cases, removal to a dry warm situation, and a supply of
food rather more nutritious and stimulating than usual, soon effect a cure. I
have found a little mashed hoiled potato, well dusted with common pepper, very
advantageous. In severe cases, the disease so closely resembles roup, that it may
be treated in the same manner.

BRONCHITIS.

Symptoms. — If the cold, to use a popular mode of expression, settles on the
lungs, instead of affecting the head, the symptoms are somewhat different ; there
is rattling in the throat, from tlie accumulation of mucus, which the fowl coughs
up and expectorates at intervals.

Treatment. — Removal to a drier habitation is sufficient in almost all cases to
effect a cure.

ROUP.

Symptoms. — The symptoms of roup are at first identical with those of a severe
catarrh ; the discharge from the nostril, however, soon loses its transparent
character, becoming more or less opaque, and of a very peculiar and offensive
odour ; froth appears in the inner corner of the eye ; the lids swell ; and in severe
cases the eye-ball is entirely concealed ; the nostrils are closed by the discharge
drying around them, and the eyelids are agglutinated together; the diseased
secretion accumulates within to a great extent, consequently the sides of the face
swell to an extreme degree, and the bird, unable to see or feed itself, sufters from
great depression, and sinks rapidly.

Roup is essentially a disease of the lining membrane of the nasal cavities.
This being inflamed, becomes swollen, and secretes the discharge before mentioned.
These two circumstances combined tend to close up the small external aperture of
the nostrils : as fowls habitually breathe through the nose, the mouth being kept
closed, it follows that there is even in the early stages some difficulty of breathing,
and a distension of the loose skin below the under-jaw may be often noticed. The
frothy matter appearing at the corner of the eye results from the same cause ; the
air, stopped in its passage through the nose, passes up the tear duct, leading from
the eye to the nose, and produces the appearance of bubbles in the corner of the
eye. In very severe cases the cavity of the nose becomes filled with the diseased
secretion, which cannot escape, owing to the small size and closure of the nostril,
and then the face swells considerably.

With respect to the communication of this disease, my experiments prove that

326 THE POULTKY BOOK.

it is exceedingly contagious. It is, I am inclined to think, frequently communicated
by fowls drinking out of the same vessel, as the discharge from the nostrils of
the sick bird contaminates the water as it drinks.

Treatment. — Warm dry lodging, and stimulating nutritious food, arc the first
essentials to recovery; in addition, the frequent removal of the dried discharge
from around the eyes and nose, by warm bathing, must not be omitted. In the
way of internal medicine, I find that nearly equal numbers recover under various
modes of treatment. I have tried the following remedies — namely, iodine in
tincture, mercurial ointment, and nitrate of silver, all applied externally to the
sides of the face, without any advantage. Internally I have given calomel,
sulphur, citrate of iron, calomel and opium, cayenne pepper, and sulphate of
copper, without any very well-marked or decided improvement. The direct
application of some remedial agent to the diseased membrane, promises the best
result ; but here we are met by the difficulty as to the application, for the nostrils
are closed up, and it is nearly impracticable to pass anything through them. A
very small bent tube can, however, be readily passed into the cavity of the nose
through the slit in the roof of the mouth ; and I have tried the effect of injecting
a few drops of a dilute solution (10 grains to the ounce of Avater) of sulphate of
copper, with very favourable results. The injecting tube is readily passed into
each nostril, if inserted into the anterior part of the slit seen in the roof of the
mouth, and directed outwards at right angles to the slit.

In very severe chronic cases, when there has been much swelling of the face, I
have opened the side of the face, and removed the diseased secretion in a solid
form.

In general I should say, kill a roupy fowl at once, unless it is valuable, as the
risk of its contaminating the whole yard is great. At all events, let it be instantly
removed from the run.

GAPES.

Symjytoms and Causes. — The name is sufficiently expressive as to the symptoms
of this disease, which is occasioned by the occurrence of a parasite {Sclerostoma
syncjamus) in the trachea or windpipe.

This disease is so important, as causing the destruction of a large number of
chickens, pheasants, and other gallinaceous birds, that I have much pleasure in
inserting the folloAWng abstract of a valuable communication made by Dr. Spencer
Cobbold, to the Linnjean Society, on its history and treatment. Dr. Cobbold
writes : —

" This parasite has been found and recorded as occurring in the trachea of the
following birds, namely, the turkey, domestic cock, pheasant, partridge, common
duck, lapwing, black stork, magpie, hooded crow, gi*een woodpecker, starling, and
Bwift. I do not doubt that this list might be very much extended if ornithologists
would favour us mth their experience in the matter. In view of adding something
to our knowledge of its structure, and, more particularly, in the hope of directing

THE POULTRY BOOK. 327

general atteution to the mode of checking its ravages, I have ventured to make it
the subject of a special communication.

** My attention was recentl}^ directed to a small, diseased, almost featherless
chicken, which I at once recognized as suffering from the gapes. The bird
belonged to a brood consisting of eleven individuals, all of which were between six
and seven weeks old. The ten healthy birds had individually attained a consider-
able size, an average example weighing 9|- ounces ; but the infested chicken had
only acquired a weight of 4 ounces, in consequence of the deteriorating influences
of impeded respiration. The strange habits of the chicken were also in keeping
vnth. its physical peculiarities. It held itself entirely aloof from the other members
of the brood ; and, as if to make up for its defective assimilating powers, tried to
add to its substance by greedily devouring everjihing which came in its way, thus
consuming fully two or three times as much as any other member of the brood.
The only interruption to its constant eating during the day arose from the act
of gaping, which took place at irregular intervals, sometimes as often as once
every minute. The extension of the neck, and consequent elongation of the
trachea, seems to have the efiect of separating or unfolding the knot of enclosed
parasites — sufficiently, at least, to allow of a certain degree of expiration and
inspiration.

" Having obtained possession of the fowl, I operated upon it in the follo^\ing
manner : A very small portion of carded wool having been dipped in chloroform and
placed in front of the bird's nostrils, it was soon rendered perfectly insensible.
The skin of the neck was then divided, and the trachea slit up to the extent of
about a quarter of an inch ; and, introducing one prong of a pair of common dissect-
ing forceps, I removed seven Sclerostomata. Six of these parasites were united in
pairs, the odd worm being a female from which the mate had in all likelihood been
rudely torn during the withdrawal of the forceps ; and, if so, it escaped my
observation. After I had closed the external wound in the skin with a single
thread, the bird was permitted to wake out of its artificial sleep ; and, not"v\dth-
standing that it had parted with a drop or two of blood, it soon recovered its legs,
and ran about the table as vigorously as ever. Moreover, as if this were not
enough to satisfy me as to its almost instantaneous cure, in a very few minutes
afterwards it demolished the contents of a saucer partly filled with bread previously
steeped in milk. An occasional gape was caused by an accumulation of frothy
mucus within the injured trachea ; but this obstruction the bird soon got rid of by
a few shakes of the head, attended vdih sneezing. The only subsequent incon-
venience to the bird arose from emphysematous distention of the cellular tissue of
the head and neck. This was on tvro or three occasions relieved by a slight
puncture of the extremely thin integument, the emphysema ceasing to form after
the external wound had healed. This chicken was well fed, and rapidly attained
the size of an ordinary full-grown pullet. I have since caused it to be
killed ; and on dissecting the neck, although there was no scar externally,
a distinct cicatrix indicates the site of the operation on the trachea — the divided

328

THE rOl'LTRY BOOK.

cartilagiuous rings, six in number, being united only by a thin layer of connective
tissue.

KXPLASATION OF WOOD-CUT.

Fife'.!. Sclei-ottoma sungaiini.s, Taa.\e and female. Natural
size.

Fig. 2. Upper part of the same, showing more especially
the six-lobed circular lip of the female, and the mode oi
iiniou. Enlarged.

Fig. ?: Lower end of the body of the female, with its
mncrouate caudal appendage. Enlarged.

Fig. 4. Lower end of the body of the m.ile, showing the
c\ip-shaped bursa, hard rays, lateral muscles, digestive
tube, and ro\ind tail. Jfagnified 30 diameters.

Fig. 5. M.iture egg. Magnified 220 diameters.

Fig. G. ICgg, with contained embiyo. JIfignified 22fi
diameters.

" Reverting now to the worms extracted from the trachea, I observe, in the first
place, that the females have an average length of fths of an inch, the males
scarcely exceeding ^th of an inch. In both sexes the bodies are tolerably uniform
in breadth throughout ; and that of the female measures l-35th, whilst the
transverse diameter of the male is only from 1-GOtli to l-50th of an inch. The
heads are relatively even more disproportionate. In the fresh state the mouth
of the female was seen to be furnished with six prominent chitinous lips
(fig. 2).

" In both sexes the surface of the body is quite smooth, but the female displays
a series of spirally-arranged lines, which at first sight convey the idea of a natural
tv.-isting of the body ; this, however, is more apparent than real, being likewise
more marked in some individuals than in others. The body of the female,
towards the tail, exhibits a decided tendency to fold upon itself; and in one
example this feature was very significant (fig. 3). The lower part of the body
preser^'es a tolerably uniform thickness almost to the extremity, where it is sud-
denly constricted to form a short narrow mucronate pointed tail, scarcely visible to
the naked eye. Employing a pocket-lens, it is easy to observe through the trans-
parent integument the spacious digestive canal, surrounded on all sides by sinuous

THE POULTEY BOOK. 329

folding-s of the ovarinm, tuija, and uterus — tlie vagina terminating laterally at a
point corresponding ■v\'ith the line of the upper fourth of the body. Here the male
is usually found rigidly affixed by means of a strong membranous sucker, which
proceeds from the lower end of its body. This cup-shaped appendage is formed
out of a folded extension of the sldn which thus envelopes the centrally enclosed
and rounded tail (fig. 4). The eggs of Sclerostoma syngamns are comparatively
large, measuring, longitudinally, as much as the l-2o0th of an inch (fig. 5).
Many of the ova contain fully-formed embryos ; and in the centre of the lower
third of the body of one of them I distinctly perceived an undulating canal,
probably constituting the as yet imperfectly formed intestinal tube. By whatever
mode the young make their exit from the shell, it is manifest that prior to their
expulsion they are sufficiently developed to undertake an active migration. Their
next habitation may occur within the body of certain insect larvae or even small
land mollusks ; but I think it more likely that they either enter the substance of
vegetable matters or bury themselves in the soil at a short distance from the
surface."

Treatment. — The plan formerly adopted, of giving remedies internally to
remove the worms, is not a good one, as the medicine has to be absorbed, pass
into the blood, and act powerfully upon the body of the fowl before its purpose
can be accomplished : its direct application to the worms is therefore preferable.
This is readily secured by stripping the vane from a small quill feather, except
half an inch at its extremity ; this should then be dipped in spirits of turpentine ;
and the chicken being securely held by an assistant, the feather so prepared is
passed neatly down through the small opening of the windpipe, which is readily
seen at the base of the tongue.

The turpentine at once kills the parasites, and its application excites a fit of
coughing, during which they are expelled : this mode of application requires some
manual dexterity, and at times the irritation proves fatal. I have therefore suggested
the shutting up of the chicken in a box, with some shavings dipped in spirits of
turpentine, when the vapour arising from the extended surface produces in most
cases an equally beneficial result.

In very urgent cases, the opening of the windpipe, as adopted by Dr. Cobbold,
may be advantageously had recourse to ; but this method is evidently only necessary
when the disease has so far advanced that immediate suffocation becomes in-
evitable ; or it may be resorted to when other methods have failed. In the most
far-gone cases, instant relief will follow this operation, since the trachea may with
certainty be cleared of all obstructions.

As Dr. Cobbold observes, the most essential thing in view of putting a check
upon the future prevalence of the disease, is the total destruction of the parasites
after their removal If the worms be merely killed and thrown away (say upon
the ground), it is scarcely likely that the mature eggs will have sustained any
injury. Decomposition having set in, the young embryos will sooner or later

F F

330 THE POULTRY BOOK.

escape, migrate in the soil or elsewhere, niul nltimatelj' find their way into the
air-passages of certain Linls in the same manner as their parents did hefore
them.

The ^Yorms, after removal, ought to he burnt, and the dead bodies of any chickens,
young partridges, or other birds infested with these jtarasitcs, should be treated in
the same manner, if we wish to prevent the spread of the disease.

PIP.

Symjytom^i. — The occurrence of a dry horny scale upon the tongue is generally
regarded as characteristic of this disease, which, however, is by some confounded
with gapes. The dry scaly tongue is, however, only a symptom caused by some
other disease, which forces the fowl (which habitually breathes through the nostrils)
to respire through the mouth ; in this case the constant current of air dries the
tongue, which becomes hard at the point, and assumes a very horny character.
Thus, in any inflammatory affection of the windpipe, in gapes, catarrh, or roup,
when the nostrils fire closed by the discharge, the pip, as it is termed, makes its
appearance. It should be regarded, however, as a symptom only, and not as the
disease itself.

Treatment. — The treatment varies with the cause ; if the scale of hardened
membrane is loose, it should be removed. The absurd plan of nipping off the
end of the tongue in chickens is still practised in some parts of the country : it
is almost needless to say that it is alike useless and barbarous.

CONSUMPTION.

Symptoms. — Consumption, which is caused by the presence of scrofulous
tubercles in the lungs, may almost always be induced in chickens by confining
them in cold dark unhealthy places : I have also found tubercles in the liver and
other organs of the body. The symptoms of consumption are not strongly marked
in the early stages ; in the more advanced state there is wasting, cough, and
expectoration of matter.

Treatment. — It is fortunate that consumption can always be prevented by
wholesome, abundant diet, and good housing, for in advanced stages it is quite
incurable ; where it is suspected to be commencing, cod-liver oil may be given,
mixed with barley-meal ; but as the disease is hereditary, a fowl so preserved
would be worse than useless as a stock bird.

DISEASES OF THE EGG ORGANS.

The egg organs in the fowl consist of the ovary, situated on the fore part of the
left kidney, and the oviduct, or egg-passage, leading from it to the outlet. The
ovary in its inactive state consists of minute vesicles, the germs of future eggs.
In its active condition these enlarge in regular succession, until each has attained
the size of the natural yolk, when it is seized by the open funnel-shaped extremity

THE POULTRY BOOK. 331

of the egg-passage, and as it passes along has successively secreted around it the
white, with its twisted^cords, which serve to maintain the yolk in a proper position
in the shell ; the membranes lining the shell ; and, lastly, the shell itself ; the
white being necessarily formed at the upper part, the membrane at the middle
section, and the shell at the lower part of the oviduct or egg-passage.

The ovary is not often subject to disease, except in old hens past laying, in which
it sometimes degenerates ; and it not unfrequently happens that the hen so affected
is healthy in all other respects, and is only known to be diseased by her not laying,
and frequent crowing : sometimes, as in the case of barren hen pheasants, she
assumes the plumage of the male bird.

INFLAMMATION AND PROTRUSION OF THE EGG-PASSAGE. — SOFT EGGS.

Symptoms. — The symptoms of this complaint vary with the part of the oviduct
affected. As the disorder occurs in laying hens, we are enabled to trace the seat
of the complaint by the state of the extruded egg. If the lower part is unduly
excited, the egg is expelled before the shell has been secreted, and a soft- skinned
egg results. If the inflammation extends to the middle portion, the membrane
is either misshapen or incomplete ; and if tho whole tube is inflamed, the yolks
are dropped without any covering whatever.

The laying of soft eggs arises from several causes ; and if all cases are treated
alike, such an empirical method will certainly not be follovv'ed by success. The
shell of the egg consists almost entirely of carbonate of lime, the same material
which, in a different form, produces chalk, marble, limestone, and the shells
of such animals as oysters, &c. The requisite quantity required for the
formation of the eggshell must be obtained in or with the food, otherwise soft
eggs result. When unshelled eggs arise from a deficiency of calcareous matter,
the remedy is evident ; a quantity of old mortarr ubbish, or oyster-shells heated
to redness and then broken up, readily supply the material required.

Another cause of soft eggs is the excitement of the fowl from being driven
about, or being worried in any manner. Heavy fowls, such as Creve Coeurs or
Dorkings, &c., that are not so active as the smaller varieties of poultry, suffer much
from being driven, frequently laying soft eggs afterwards. The remedy in this
case is sufficiently simple, being merely rest.

Inflammation of the oviduct, or egg-passage, is a third cause, and in this case
the eggs produced are usually irregular in form, or very imperfect. When the
inflammation is very severe, the yolks may be expelled, as they are received from
the ovary, without any white or membrane ; at other times the white may be
expelled with the yolks, or the eggs may be imperfectly or irregularly enclosed
in membrane. The treatment of inflammation of the egg-passage is sufficiently
simple. The object is to lower the inflammatory action ; and this is best done
by the use of a remedy which I proposed some years since, namely, one grain
of calomel and one-twelfth of a grain of tartar emetic, given in barley-meal.

332 THE rOULTRY BOOK.

After its administration the hen generally ceases to lay for two or three Jays, and
then resumes iu a healthy manner ; hut if necessary, a second dose may he
given.

It is almost needless to say that inflammation of the egg-passage is shown hy
general feverishness ; the feathers (especially those over the back) arc pufl'ed out,
and the hen mopes about, and strains to discharge the contents of the passage. I
believe this inflammation to be often produced by over-stimulating or unwholesome
food. I once gave my Dorkings some greaves, and the result was that every one
laid soft eggs ; and the disorder ceased, without the use of medicine, on a
return to natural food.

Protnision of the lower end of the egg-passage not unfrequently occurs in
hens that are laying. It is sometimes caused by a disparity of size between
the egg and the passage, and at other times seems connected with a general
relaxation of the system. When protrusion occurs, the plan recommended is
immediately to check the laying by the medicine above mentioned, and put the bird
on a diet which contains no egg-forming materials, such as rice and potatoes ; and
after a few days the parts usually regain their natural position. If, however,
another egg is formed, it usually happens that the eiforts to expel it so much
increase the mischief that the bird dies.

The disease is not unfrequently the precursor of apoplexy; if a soft egg, as
frequently happens, is broken iu the passage, the collapsed membrane, from its
irregular form, is not readily expelled, and the eflbrts to get rid of it lead to
the ruptui-e of a vessel iu the brain ; at other times, the canal being closed,
additional yolks accumulate above, causing a tumour, which is eventually fatal, and
■which is rapidly enlarged by the continued secretion of the oviduct. I have
seen tumours upwards of a pound in weight produced in this manner.

DISEASES OF THE LBIBS.
LEG-WEAKNESS.

Symjitoms. — This disease usually ocem's in young birds, and more frequently
iu cockerels than pullets. The bird afiected is, more or less, unable to support
itself, and sinks down on the hocks after standing for a short time, or in bad
cases is even unable to rise on the feet. In other respects the health is good,
the appetite being at first, before the bird is injured by want of exercise, very
good, and the comb red.

Causes. — The cause of this troublesome complaint, which frequently attacks
the finest and heaviest birds, is, merely a rapid increase of weight, which is out
of proportion to the muscular development ; it consequently is often present in
the weightiest birds, and in cockerels more frequently than in pullets ; it is
rarer in old birds, and is most common iu the heaviest varieties, Cochins being
more especially subject to it.

Constitutional weakness may, of course, produce it without any rapid growth.

THE POULTRY BOOK.

333

Treatment.— Juocal applications are perfectly useless ; but tlie most rapid
improvement follows from tlie administration of from three to eight grains of
citrate of iron daily, and a due supply of nutritious food, care being taken
to select such substances as are flesh-producing, and not fattening — wheat,
barley, and a due supply of ^Yorms, or, in default, a little chopped meat, being
preferable to rice or Indian corn.

RHEUMATISM AND CRAMP.

Si/nqytoms.— These diseases, though differing in their nature, arise so constantly
from the same cause, and are so readily removed by the same treatment, that
I have placed them together. A disinclination and inability to move the limbs,
evidently not arising from mere weakness, or a permanently cramped condition
of the toes, are sufficiently characteristic.

Causes.— Both disorders are caused by exposure to cold and wet, and the
tendency to them may be much counteracted by preventing the fowls, during
their earliest chickenhood, from running among wet grass early in the morning.

Treatment.— Good food, and a warm dry habitation, are generally effectual.
When chickens are hatched at such times as January and February, it must
not be expected that any treatment can counteract perfectly the unnatural
circumstances under which they are placed. If exposed, they suffer from cold ;
and if confined in close rooms, the want of fresh air, natural green and insect
food, produce unfortunate results.

Eheumatism is not uufrequently followed by inflammation of the heart, a
disease which in the fowl is seldom suspected until so far advanced as to be
necessarily fatal.

GOUT.

Symptoms.— Svcelhiig of the feet, attended with a great degree of heat.

Treatment. — ^Ye have seen several cases of this disease in Cochins, and
have been successful in some cases in removing it by employing calomel, one
grain at night, and three drops of wine of colchicum twice a day, care being
taken as to warmth, diet, &c.

BUMBLE FOOT.

Symptoms.— Bovkmgs are more especially subject to this disease. It com-
mences by a small wart-like body on the ball of the foot. This enlarges, and
at last ulcerates, producing so much mischief that the bird becomes lame and
useless.

Causes.— The cause seems to be some shght injury from pressure on sharp
stones; this sets up a low inflammatory action on the thick skin of the foot,
which is followed l)y the formation of the swelling. The disease does not
originate in the tendons, nor even in the dense fiiscial covering, but in the cutis.

Treatment.— Fvom the low state of vitality in the feet of birds, and the

834

THE rOL'LTRY BOOK.

iuability to rest them when clisensed, thero is little hope of successful trcatmeut
in ftdvancca eases. In early cases we have removed the corn-like tumours, and
cauterized the part with nitrate of silver with success ; but the adoption of low
broad perches, which prevent the bird coming with violence to the rrround
on its descent, is the best remedy, inasmuch as prevention is in all cases better
than cure.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN.

BALDNESS AND WHITE COMB.

Si/ni})foms. — White comb is a hard and scurfy condition of that orf^au, to
which the fowls kept in the confined stable-yards of large towns, and other
unhealthy localities, or fed on bad food, are liable ; in advanced cases the feathers
fall off, leaving the head perfectly bare.

Causes. — Unnatural food, the want of fresh vegetables, and overcrowding in
dark habitations, are the causes of these complaints.

Treatment. — A return to natural diet is indispensable to success ; and if to
this important requisite is added the administration of a five-grain Plummer's
pill every other night for a week, immediate benefit will result. At the same
time, it must be borne in mind, that the plumage will often not reappear until
next moulting time.

LICE.

The symptoms and causes of these pests require no particular consideration.
After trj-ing many substances, we are convinced that the employment of flowers
of brimstone, thoroughly dusted into the roots of the feathers, and spread
over the entire skin, is, if used twice or thrice, at intervals of a few days, a
certain remedy.

FRACTURES OF THE BONES.

Fractures of the bones of the body are less Hkely to occur in birds than in other
animals, inasmuch as the framework is more completely united together, and is
protected from injury by the feathers.

In cases where fracture of the nbs or other bones may be suspected, there would
be gi-eat difticulty in determining the nature of the injury, and I do not think
anything more could be done than keeping the bird quiet until recovery.

In cases of broken wings, the quill feathers would prevent any recourse being
had to the ordinary method of bandaging. The plan I have pursued is, to tie,
carefully, the ends of some of the quills together in their natural position, with the
wing closed ; this prevents motion of the broken ends of the bones ; and by keeping
the bird in an empty place, where there are no perches for it to attempt to fly upon,
every chance of recoveiy is afforded.

Fracture of the fleshy part of the leg would be less manageable, and I can hardly
recommend any bandaging that would be readily appHed. The most common

THE POrLTRY BOOK. 335

fracture iu foAvls is that of tlie tarsus, or scaly part of the leg. This is usually-
treated by ^Yrapping a slip of rag round the injured limb, and tying it with thread
— a very imperfect plan, as motion of the broken bones is not prevented, and
which is therefore frequently unsuccessful in its results. I always employ a modifi-
cation of what is known to surgeons as a gum splint. The white of an egg is well
beaten up with a fork, and spread upon a strip of thick, soft brown paper, as wide
as can be smoothly wi-apped around the broken limb. The fowl is held by an
assistant, the leg slightly stretched, so as to bring the ends of the bones in a
straight line, the moistened paper wrapped smoothly round several times, and
secured by two or three turns of thread ; and, lastly, to prevent the parts being-
moved before the paper has become dry and stiff, a thin splint of wood, such as is
used for lighting pipes, bound with thread on each side : the wood may be removed
the following day, as it then adds to the weight. The stiff paper forms a bandage
which prevents all motion, and so places the limb in the best possible condition
for union to take place.

APP

THE

STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN EXHIBITION BIRDS.

Reprinted from the Original Work, by permission of " The Poultry Club,"
■with the addition of French Breeds, &c.

The points of excellence in the various breeds, as laid down by the compilers of "' The Standai-d
of Excellence," have been so generally agreed upon by the exhibitors and judges, that it has been
thought most desirable to reproduce that work in the present volume. The Editor and Publisher
of The Poultry Book have to acknowledge the great obligation they are under to the
Members and Stewards of the Club for the permission which has been accorded to them. Whilst
thej'- are most happy to aid in extending a knowledge of this most useful compilation, they
cannot but feel that the value of The Poultry Book to all exhibitors and breeders has been
greatly enhanced by the republication of the " Standard " in its pages.

COCHINS.

GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCK.

Comb — Single, fine, rather small, perfectly straight and
upright, with well-defined serrations, and quite free
from side-sprigs.

Bealc — Curved, stout at the ba.se and tapering to the
point.

ffcftrf— Small for the size of the bird and carried rather
forward.

Eye — Very bright and clear.

Deaf -ear — Large and x:)endeut.

Wattles — Large, well rounded on the lower edge.

Ncch — Hackle very full and abundant, the lower jDart
reaching well on to the back, so as to produce a
gradual slant from near the head to the middle of the
back.

Bach — Broad, with a gentle rise from the middle to the
tail ; saddle feathers very abundant.

Wings — Very small ; the primaries doubled well under
the secondaries, so as to be quite o^^t of sight when
the wing is closed.

Tail — Very small; the curved feathers numerous,
broad, glossy, and soft ; the whole tail forming a
small hunch, carried rather horizontally than upright.

Bread — Deep, broad, and full.

Thighs — Vei7 large and strong ; plentifully covered
with perfectly soft feathers, which on the lower part
should be curved inward round the hock, so as
nearly to hide the joint from view ; Falcon or Vulture
hocks, that is, those with hard, stiff feathers project-
ing in a straight line beyond tbe joint, are objection-
able, but not a disqualification.

Fluff- — Very abundant and soft, covering the hind parts,
and standing out about the thighs.

Legs — Rather short ; very thick and bony, wide apart,
well feathered on the outside to the toes.

Toes — Straight and strong ; the outer and middle toes
being well feathered.

Carriage— H^oi so upright as other breeds, with a con-
tented, intelligent appearance.

Comh — Single, very small, fine, low in front, erect_ apil
perfectly straight; with small, well-defined serrations.

Beah — Small, curved, and tapering.

Head — Very small, neat, and taper.

Eye — Very bright and clear.

Deaf -ear — Rather large.

Wattles — Small, neatly rounded on the lower edge.

Neck — Short ; carried forward, the lower part very full
and broad ; the feathers reaching well on to the back.

Back — Broad, with abundance of soft feathers rising
from the middle of tlie back to the tail.

Wings — Very small ; primaries doubled well under the
secondaries, so as to be quite out of sight when the
wing is closed ; bow of the wings neatly covered by
the breast feathers, and the points sunk well iuto the
fluflf.

Tail — Very short and small ; carried horizontally, and
almost hidden in soft feathers.

Breast— Broad and full ; carried low.

Thighs — Large ; abundantly covered with soft fluffy
feathers ; curving inward round the hock, so as to
nearly hide the joiut from view ; Vulture or Falcon
hocks are objectionable, but not a disqualification.

Fluff— Yery soft and abundant, covering the hind parts
and standing out about the thighs, giving the bird a
very deep and broad appearance behind.

ic^fs— Short, thick, and bony ; standing wide apart. ;
and well feathered on the outside to the toes.

Toes— Stvong and straight, the outer and middle toes
well feathered.

Carriage — Low, with a coiitented iatelligeat appearance.

BUFF COCHIN?.

COLOUR 01'' COCK.

Comb, Face, Deaf-car, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Head— Rich, clear buif.

Hackle, Back, Wings, and Saddle— Rich, deep, golden
buff : the more uniform and even in coloor the
better ; quite free from mealiness en the wing.

G G

S33

APrENDIi.

Breast, Thi'jhf, ami i^/tt/—rmform clear, deep buff ;

as free from mottling or shading as possible.
Tai/— Riob, dark cbestuut, or bronzy chestnut mixed

with Mack. Dark chestnut preferable.
Xf^a— Drifht yellow ; feathers clear, deep bull".

COLOUR OF HEN.

Comb, Face, Deaf-car, and ira?//<rs— Brilliant red.
P/uma^i— Uniform clear, deep buff throughout ; the

m^re uniformly clear and free from mottling or

-.1 " ' Letter. A clear liackle preferred, but a
nil at the end of the feathers of the neck

1. ,,..;lificiition.

Xf^,_lJright yellow, with feathers same colour as body

feathers.

LEMON COCHINS.

COLODR OF COCK.

Comh, Fare, Deaf-ear, and TTa^/es— Brilliant red.

Head — Lemon, or light orange buff. •

JIacllc, Back, Winyn, and Saddle— "Siich, light orange
buff ; the more uniformly clear aud even in colour
the better, as free as possible from mealy tinge on the
•wings.

Breoit, Thlijlis, and Fiu^— Clear, uniform lemon buff.

Tail — Rich chestnut.

ifj/s— Bright yellow ; feathers lemon buff.

COLOUR OF HEX.

Comh, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.
Plumage — Clear, lemon buff ; uniform and even in

colour throughout, and perfectly free from being

mottle I or shaded in any part.
l^qg — Bright yellow, with feathers same colour as body

feathers.

In Buff and Lemon Cochins the colours may be either
as above, or intermediate betwixt the two ; but the
colours must be even and as free from mottling or shad-
ing as possible. The birds must also match in the pen.

SILYER BUFF COCHINS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Comb, Face, Dcnf-ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Head — Light, .silvery buff.

Haclle — llich, gold colour.

Back, Shoidder Coverts, and TT't n^s— Bright, silvery

buff; the more even and uniform in colour the better.
Saddle — Rich, gold colour.

Breast, Thighs, and Fluff— Cle&r, light silvery buff.
jTa//— Light chestnut; a slight mixture of white not

very objectionable, though not desirable.
Legs— Bright yellow, with silvery buff feathers.

COLOUR OP HE5.

Comh, Fare, Deaf -ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Hackle — Rich, gold colour.

Remainder of the Plumage— C\c?Lr, light, silvery buff;

the more even and uniform in colour the better.
Zef/»— Bright yellow, with feathers same colour as body

feathers.

SILVER CINNAMON COCHINS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Comb, Face, Deaf -ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Head — Pale light cinnamon.

Hackle — Cinnamon, or rich bright cinnamon, slightly

6trij<e<l with white.
Back, .Shoulders, and Wings — Pale buff, or rich bright

cinnamon, mixed with white.
h'addle — Light cinnamon, or rich bright cinnamon,

slightly Ktrii>ed with white.

Breast, Thighs, and Fluff— Va.]e buff.

Tail — Rich liglit cinnamon, or rich bright cinnamon,

mixed with white.
Legs — Bright yellow, with feathers of a pale baff colour.

COLOUR OF nEN.

Comh, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.
Hackle — Rich deep cinnamon or chocolate.
Jicmaindcr of the Plumage — Pale liuff ; the more

uniform and even in colour the better.
Legs — Bright yellow; feathers same colour as body

feathers.

CINNAMON COCHINS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Head, Hackle, Back, Wings, and Saddle — Rich dark
reddish cinnamon ; the more uniform and even in
colour the better.

Breast, Thighs, and Fluff — The colour of wetted cin-
namon.

Tail — Rich bronzy black, the lesser coverts edged with
very dark reddish cinnamon.

Legs — Bright yellow, with feathers colour of the breast
feathers.

COLOUR OF nEN.

Comh, Face, Deaf -car, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Plumage — The colour of wetted cinnamon or deep cho-
colate throughout ; the more uniform in colour and
free from being mottled the better.

Legs — Bright yellow, with feathers same colour as body
feathers.

Value of Points in Buff, Lemon, Silver Baff, Silver Cinnamon
and Cinnamon Cochins.

Size

Colour .

Head and Comb

Carriage of Wings .

Legs . ...

Fluff .

General Symmetry .

Condition

Disqualifications in Buff, Lemon, Silver Buff, Silver Cinnumon
and Cinnamon Cochins.

Birds not matchiug in the pen, or with primary wing
feathers, twisted or turned outside the wing, twisted
combs, crooked backs, birds without feathers on the
legs, or legs of any other colour than yellow.

GROUSE OR PARTRIDGE COCHINS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Comb, Face, Deaf-car, and TFaW^es— Rich brilliant red.

Head — Rich red.

Hackle — Rich bright red, with a rich black stripe down

the middle of each feather.
Back and Shoulder Coverts — Rich dark red.
Wing ^010— Rich dark red.
,, Greater caul Lesser Coverts — Metallic p'eenish

black, forming a wide bar across the wings.
,, Primary Quills — Bay on outside web, dark on

inside web.
,, Secondary Quills — Rich bay on the outside web,
black on the inner web, with a metallic black
end to each feather.
Saddle — Rich bright red, with a black stripe down the
midille of each feather.

APPENDIX.

339

Breast, Vndevpart of Bodi/, and TJtiffJis — Kieli deep

Wack.
Tail — Glossy black (white at the base of the feathers

objectionable, but not a disqiialification).
Legs — Dusky yellow, with black feathers.

GROUSE COCHINS.

COLOUn OF HEN.

Comh, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Biilliaut red.

Head— Bjich brown.

NecJc — Rich reddish gold colonr, with a broad black
strijDe down the naiddle of the feathers.

Remainder of the Plumaye — Rich brown distinctly
pencilled with darker brown ; the pencilling reach-
ing well lip the front of the breast, and following
the outline of the feathers.

Legs — Dusky yellow, with feathers same colour as body
feathers.

PARTRIDGE COCHINS.

COLOUR OF nEJT.

Comh, Face, Deaf-car, and Wattles — Brilliant red.

Neck — Bright gold colour on the edge of the feathers,
with a broad black stripe down the middle.

Remainder of the Plumage — Light brown distinctly
pencilled with dark brown ; the pencilling to reach
well np the front of the breast. The shaft of the
feather.s on the back, shoulder coverts, bow of the
wing, and sides, creamy white.

Legs -Dusky yellow, with brown feathers.

Points hi Grouse and Partridge Cochins.

Size 3

Black Breast, Thighs, Fluff, and Leg \

feathers in the Cock . . • ( <>

Breast of the Hen. Distinctly pencilled I

lip the front ... . )

Colonr of the remaining plumage
Head and Coml) ....
Carriage of Wings ....
Legs ......

Flulf

Symmetry .....
Condition .....

15

Disqualifications in Grouse or Partridge Cochins.

Birds not matching in the pen — cocks with mottled

breasts, hens with pale buff or clay breasts witliout

pencilling, twisted combs, flight feathers turned outside

the wing, crooked backs ; absence of feathers on the legs.

WHITE COCHINS.

COLOUR OF COCK AKD HEST.

Conib, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.
Plumage— tiire white throughout. The cock as fi-ee

from yellow tinge as ijossiblo.
Jjcgs — Bright yellow.

BLACK COCHINS.

COLOUR OF COCK AKD HEN.

Co7nh, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Brilliant red.
Plumage— Teviecily black tlu-oughout. The cock as

free from coppery red or brassy colour as possible.
Zcf/s— Dark, with yellow tinge and black feathei-s.

Points in White or Black Cochins.

Size 3

Colour of Plumage — Purity of white in the
whites, and richness of black in the

blacks 4

Head and Comb . , . . .1
Carriage of Wings . ... 1

Legs ....... 1

Fluff 1

Symmetry ...... 2

Condition . , . . . .2

15

Disqualifications in White or Black Cochins.
Twisted eombs, crooked backs, flight feathers turned
outside the wing. Birds not feathered on the legs,
scales on the legs of the whites either green or willow.

BRAHMAS.
GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCK.

BeaJc — Very strong, taper, and well curved.

Comi — Pea, small, low in front and firm on the head

without falling over to either side, distinctly divided

so as to have the appearance of three small combs

joined together in the lower part and back, the

largest in the middle, each part slightly and evenly

seri'ated.
^eaci— Small and slender.
Eye — Prominent and bright.
Deaf-ear — Lai'ge and jDendent.
Wattles — Small, well rounded on the lower edge.
Neck — Long, neatly curved, slender near the head, the

juncture very distinct, hackle full and abundant,

flowing well over the shoulders.
Breast — Very full, broad, and round ; carried well

forward.
Bade— Short, broad, flat betwixt the shoulders, saddle

feathers very abundant.
Wings — Small ; the primaries doubled well under the

secondaries, the points covered by the saddle feathers.
Tail — Small ; carried very upright, the higher feathers

.S25reading out laterally.
Tail Coverts — Broad, very abundant, soft, and curved

over the tail.
Thighs — Very large and strong ; abundantly covered

with very soft fluffy feathers, curving inward round

the hock so as to hide the joint from view. Vulture

hocks are objectionable, but not a disqualification.
Fluff — Very abundant and soft, covering the hind parts,

and standing out about the thighs, giving the bird a

very broad and deep appearance behind.
Legs — Rather short, strong, and bony ; standing v\-ell

apart, very abundantly feathered down the outside

to the end of the toes.
Toes — Straight and strong ; the outer and middle toe

being abundantly feathered.
Carriage — Very upright and strutting.

/ieaZ;— Strong, curved, and taper.

(Joinh — Pea, very small and low, placed in front of the

head, and having the appearance of three very small

serrated combs j)ressed together, the largest in the

middle.
Head — Small and slender.
Eye — Prominent and bright.
Deaf-car — Large and pendent.
Wattles — Small, rounded on the lower edge.
Necic — Rather short, neatly curved, slender near the

head, the juncture very distinct, full and broad in

G. G 2

340

APPENDIX.

the lower part ; Ibe feathers reaching well on to the

shoulJors.
Breast — Very tleep, round, broad, and prominent,
^(ic.t— Broad and short; the feathers of the neck

reaching to Wtwixt the shoulders, and abundance of

soft, bratd feathers rising to the tail.
Wings — Small ; the \fovr covered by the breast feathers,

the primar'.es doubled well under the secondaries, the

points of the wings clipped well into the abundance

of soft feathers and fluff.
TaiY— Small ; very upright^ almost buried in the soft

rump featheis.
Thitjhi — Strong and well covered with very soft

feathers, curving round the hock so as to hide the

joint from view ; Vulture hocks are objectionable, but
■ not a disqualification.
Fluj}' — Veiy aliund.int and soft, standing out about the

hind part and thighs, giving the bird a very broad

and deep appearance behind.
Lqis — Short, very strong, wide apart, abundantly

feathereil on the out,?ide to the toes.
Toes — Straight and strong, the outer and middle toe

being well feathered.
Carnage — Low in comparison to the cock.

PENCILLED BRAHMAS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

C'jmh, Face, Deaf -ear, and TT'ai^/cs— Bright red.
TZ^arf— White.

ycck, Ilackk — Silvery white, striped with black.
Breast, I'ndcrparl of Body eind Thiylis — Black, slightly

mottled with white.
Bad- and Shoulder Coverts — Silvery white.
Saddle — Silvery white, striped with black.
Wing 5o!c —Silvery white.
,, Greater and Lesser Wing Coirrfs— Metallic green
black, forming a wide well-defined bar across
the wing.
„ Secondaries — White on the outside web, black
on the inside web, large green black spot on
the end of the feather.
,, Priinaries — Narrow edging of white on the out-
side web, black on the inside web.
ra(7— Black.
Tail Corcrls—Uich green black, lesser coverts edged

with white.
Legs — Scales yellow, feathers black, mottled with white.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Rich bright red.

fle-'d — Grey.

.Vecit — Silvery white, striped with black.

Remainder of the Plumage — Dull white, minutely and
distinctly pencilled throughout with dark pencilling,
EG close as almost to cover the ground colour, the
pencilling reaching well up the front of the breast.

Legs — Scales yellow, with a dusky shade.

LIGHT BRAIIiMAS.

COLOUR OF COOK.

Comb, Face, Deaf-car, and Wattles — Rich blight red.

Head— \^h\ie.

Xeck — White, with a distinct black stripe down the

centre of the feather.
Breast, Undcrparl of liodi/, and TJiighs — Wliite,
Back and Shoulder Coverts — White.
Saddle — White, striped with black.
Wing Bow and Coverts — White.

,, Primaries — black.

,, Secondaries — White on outside web, black on in-
side web,
rai7— Black.
Tail Coverts — Glossy green black; lesser coverts silvered

on the edge.

Legs — Scales bright yellow ; feathers white, slightly
mottled with black.

COLOUR OF DEN.

Comb, Face, Dcafear, and Wattles — Bright red.

7/t((rf— White.

j.Yfct — White, distinctly striped down the middle of

each feather with rich black.
Ilreast and Hack — White.

Wing — White, the primaries alone being black.
Tail — Black, the two highest or deck-feathers edged

with white.
Thighs and Fltif— Volute.

Legs — Bright rich yellow ; feathers white, .slightly
mottled with black.

Points in Brahmas.

Size

. 3

Colour

. i

Head and Comb

. 1

Wings. Primaries well tucked

under

secondaries

. 1

Legs, and featherings of ditto .

. 1

Fluff

. 1

Symmeti-y ....

. 2

Condition ....

. 2

Disqualifications.
Birds not matching in the pen, combs not uniform in
the pen, or falling over to one side, crooked backs, legs
not feathered to the toes, or of any other colour except
yellow, or dusky yellow.

MALAYS.
GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCK.

Beak — Veiy strong and curved.

Co7nb — Small, placed q\iite in front of the head, low

and flat, covered over with vei-y small warty inden-
tions,
llead — Long, flat on the top, projecting over the eyes.
£■^6— Bright, sunk beneath a projecting eyebrow, the

eyelids pearled round the edge.
Face — Very naked and skinny, with a harsh cruel

expression.
Wattles— Yery small, mere folds of the naked skin of

the throat.
Throat — Very skinny, and quite destitute of feathers.
Neck — Yery long, slightly cui-ved, rapi<lly slanting from

the head ; the hackle very hard, short, and scanty,

particularly in the lower part.
Back — Yery long, slightly curved, and rapidly slanting

from the .shoulders to the tail, the shoulder coverts

and saddle feathers very short and hard.
Body — Long and round, the feathers on the lower part

very short, giving the bird a cut-out appearance.
Wings — Very i-trong, projecting out prominently from

the body even when closed.
Breast — Very deep.
2'ail — Small, drooiiing, sickle and tail coverts slightly

curved. (The neck, back, and tail forming three

.slight nearly equal curves.)
Thighs — Very long, round, strong and upright, the

feathers very hard, short, and close, the hock joint

being bare.
Legs — Very long, strong, round, straight and clean,

perfectly free from feathers.
Toes — Yery long, straight, strong, and powerful.
Plumage — Very hard, short, close and glossy.
Can'iage — Very upright, and tall.

APPENDIX.

341

THE HEN.

Bcalc — Very strong and curved.

Comh — Very small, low, and flat, placed on the front of

the head, covered over with small wai'ty indentions.
Head —Long, very snaky, and flat on the top.
i?yc— Bright, sunk beneath a projecting eyebrow, eye-
lids jsearled round the edge.
Face — Very naked and skinny, with a cruel expression.
Wattles — Mere folds of the naked skin and throat.
Throat — Quite naked and very skinny.
Necl: — Very long, rajjidly slanting from the head ; neck

feathers very hard, short, and close, particularly in

the lower part.
Bach — Long, rapidly slanting to the tail, shoulder

coverts very short.
Body — Long and round, narrow at the insertion of the

tail.
Breast — Very deep.
lVi)i[/s — Very strong, projecting very prominently from

the body when closed.
Tail — Small, and carried upright.
Thighs — Very long, strong, and upright; feathers very

close and short, the hock joint being nearly naked.
Legs — Very long, clean, straight, round and strong.
Toes — Long, powerful, straight, and strong.
Plumage — Very short, hard, close and glossy.
Carriage — Very upright.

COLOUR OF MALAY COCK.

Bcal: — Yellow.

Comh, Face, and naked sJcin of the Throat — Rich bright

red.
Fijes — Bright fiery red.
Head and Neck — Rich glossy dark red.
Buxh and Shoulder Coverts — Glossy reddish maroon.
Breast — Black, slightly mottled with reddish brown.
Wing Bow — Glossy reddish maroon.

,, Coverts — Rich metallic greenish or bluish black,
forming a wide bar across the wing.
Wing flights — Rich dark red.
Saddle— ^ich. glossy dark red.
Tail — Rich green black.
Tliighs — Rich black, slightly mottled with reddish

brown.
Legs — Bright rich yellow.

COLOUR OP MALAY HEN.

BeaTc — Yellow.

Comb, Face, and Throat — Bright red.

Eyes — Bright fiery red.

Head- — Reddish brown.

Neclc — Rich glossy reddish brown.

Back and Shoulder Coverts— ^ich glossy reddish brown

or cinnamon.
Breast and Thighs — Reddish brown or cinnamon.
Tr/)i^s — Rich glossy reddish brown or cinnamon.
Tail — Rich dark reddish brawn.
Legs — Bright rich yellow.

WHITE MALAYS.
Corah, Face, and naked skin on the Throat — Bright
red.

Beak — Bright rich yellow.

Plumage— F live white tlu-oughout.

Legs — Bright rich yellow, yellowish willow permissible

Height .
Shortness,

Points in Malays.
3

hardness, and closeness of plu-

mage .
Head .
Colour .
Symmetry
Condition

3

1

3
3

2

Disqualifications in Malays.
Birds not matching in the pen ; in the dark birds
legs of any other colour except yellow.

DORKINGS.
GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCE.

Beak — Rather short and stout.

Comb — ^Either single or rose ; if single, erect, straight,

serrated, free from side-sprigs ; if rose-combed, square

in front, straight on the head, without hollow in the

middle, large peak behind, inclining very slightly

upwards.
Head — Neat.
j Wattles — Broad, stout, rounded on the lower edge.
Neck —Very taper and well hackled.
Breast — Very deep, broad and full. Breast-bone long.
Body — Large, deep, compact, and plump, the back,

belly, breast, and behind, almost forming a square.
Back — Very broad.
Wings — Large.
Tail—Veij lai-ge, exjianded, feathers broad and carried

well up.-
Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Long, broad, sound

and well arched.
Thighs — Short, stout, and straight.
Legs — Straight, short, stout, clean, and perfectly free

from feathers, spurred on the inside.
Feet — Five-toed, the extra or supernumerary toe well

develoi^ed, distinctly separated from the others, and

pointing upwards.
Carriage and ApiKarance — Noble, bulky, and grand.

Beah — Rather short.

Comb — If single, to be well developed, and falling over
one side of the face ; if rose, square in front, straight
on the head, peak behind, inclining slightly up-
wards.

Wattles — Broad, rounded on the lower edge.

Head — Neat.

Neck — Short and taper.

Breast — Very deep, broad, and full.

Body — Large, compact, plump, and deep.

Bach — Broad.

Wings — Large.

Tail — Large, expanded, the feathers broad.

Thighs — Short and stout.

Legs — Short, straight, thick, and strong.

Feet — Five-toed, the extra toe well developed, distinctly
separated from the others and inclining upwards.

Carriage and Appearance — Bulky.

15

SILVER GREY DORKINGS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Head and Neck Hackle — Clear white.

Comh, Face, and Wattles — Bright red.

Breast, Underpart of Body, and Thighs — Rich glossy

black.
Back and Shoulder Coverts — Silvery white.
Saddle — Clear white.
TI7«^ -Bojw— Silvery white.
,, Coverts — ^Metallic green black, forming a wide

bar across the wing.
,, Primaries — White on the outside edge of the

outer web, black on the inside web.
,, Secondaries — Clear white on the outside web,
black on the inside web, and also on the end
of the feather.
Tail—Kich black.
Sickle Feathers — Rich metallic green black.

342

APPENDIX.

Tall Coirrts — Rich metallic green black, the lesser ones

silvered on the edge.
Legs — White, with a flesh-coloured tinge betwixt the

scales.

COLOCR OP HEN.

Head — Silrery or ashy grey.

Comb, Face, and WnttUs — Bright rod.

i^\ci- — Silvery white, striped with black.

Breast — Salmon red, shading off to grey towards the

thighs.
Bad- and Sfiouhlcr Corriis — Silvery or slaty grey, free

from dark bars or marks across the feathers, shaft of

feathers whit«.
Wing 5oic— Silvery or slaty grey, shaft of feathei-s

whit*. Any tendency to red on the wings is highly

objectional«le.
CovtHt and Fli''j?i(s—SMj grey.
Tail — Dark grey, inside approaching black.
Thighs — Ashy grey.
Ltgi — White, with a flesh-coloured tinge betwixt the

3

3
2

2
3

2

15

Points in Silver Grey Sorkingg,
Size

Colnur .
Head and Comb
Leg?, Feet, and Toes
Symmetry
Condition

Bisqoalifications.

Birds without the fifth toe, or with crooked backs,
wry tails, combs not uniform in the pen, white in cock's
breast or tail, legs of any colour except white.

COLOURED DORKINGS.
The colour in these not material, providing the birds
match in the pen.

Points in Coloured Borkin^s.

Size

Head and Comb .

Legs, Feet, and Toes

Symmetry

Condition

2
4
2

15

WHITE DORKINGS.

Comh, Face, and ira/<?e«— Rich red.

The whole of the plumage in both cock and hen pure

white, the more free from yellow tinge the better.

Legs — YThite.

Points in White Sorkingg.

Size

. 4

Purity of Wliite Plumage

. 2

Head and Comb ....

. 2

Legs, Feet, and Toes

. 2

Symmetry

. 3

Condition

. 2

Sisqnalifications.
Birds without the fifth toe, or with crooked backs,
wry taUs, combs not matching in the pen, legs of any
other colour except white.

\l

Bisqnaliflcations.
Bird.? without the fifth toe, or with crooked backs
or wry taib, combs not uniform in the pen, coloured
feathers in any part of the plumage.

SPANISH.
GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCK.

Bealc — Dark horn colour, rather long and stout.
Vomh — Bright red, large, single, still", erect, straight,
free from twists in front or fallin;,' over to cither side
at the back, deeply serrated, rising from the beak
betwixt the fore part of the nostrils, and extending in
an arched form over the back of the heu'I, free from
excrescences or side-sprigs, and not of too great
thickness at the edge.

Ilcad — Long, broad, and deep-sided.

Eyes — Large, the sight perfectly • free, and not ob-
structed by the white.

Face — Pure opaque white, long and deep, the greater
breadth of surface the better, providing it is smooth,
free from wrinkles, and the sight not obstructed, ris-
ing well over the eye towards the comb in an arched
form, extending towards the back of the head, and
also to tlie base of the beak, covering the cheeks, and
joining the ear-lobes and wattles.

Ear-lohes — Pure opaque white, very large and pendent,
rather thin, smooth, well expanded and free from folds
or wrinkles, extending well on each side of the neck,
hanging down very low, not pointed, but regularly
rounded in the lower part, and meeting in front, be-
hind the wattles.

Watthi — Bright red ; very long, thin, ribbon-like, and
pendulous ; the inside of the upper pcurt, and skin
betwixt, white.

Nech — Long, well hackled.

Breast — Round, full, and prominent.

Bach — Slanting down to the tail.

Body — Wedge-shaped, narromng to the tail.

Wings — Large, carried well up to the body.

Tail — Large, expanded and rather upright, but not
earned over the back, or squirrel-tailed.

Sidle Feathers — Large and well curved.

Tliighs — Long and slender.

Legs — Long, dark leaden blue, or blue.

Plumage — Rich glossy black, having a metallic green
lustre on the hackle, back, wings, saddle, tail coverts,
and sickle feathers.

Carriage — Upright and striking.

Disqualifications in Spanish Cocks.

Comh — Falling over to one side, or twisted in front
over the nostrils.

Face — So puffy as to obstruct the sight ; decided red
mark above the eye.

Plumage — Of any other colour except black, or metallic
green black.

Legs — Of any other colour except dark leaden blue, or
blue.

THE nEN.

Bealc — Dark horn colour, long.

Comh — Glossy bright red, large, single, serrated, droop-
ing over to one side of the face, free from side-sprigs
or duplicature.

Head — Long and deep.

Eye — Large.

Face — Pure opaque white, smooth and free from wrinkles,
with great breadth of surface, rising well over the
eye in an arched form, extending well towards the
back of the head, and also to the beak, covering the
cheek, and joining the ear-lobes and wattles.

Ear-lobe — Pure opaque white, large, pendent, smooth,
well expanded, free from wrinkles, regularly rounded
on the lower edge.

]yaltJes — Bright red, thin, pendent, and rounded on
the lower edge.

Nech — Long and graceful.

Breast — Round and full.

Back — Slanting down to the tail.

APPENDIX.

343

Whijs — Ample, carried close up to the body.

Tail — Large, earned rather upright, but not over the
back, the two highest feathers slightly curved, espe-
cially in i^ullets.

Thiffhs — Long and slender.

-Ler/s — Long, dark leaden blue, or blue.

Plumage — Black, \rith a rich metallic lustre on the
back and wings.

Carriage — Upright, movement quick.

Disqualifications in Spanish Hens.
Duplicature of comb, comb small and erect (prick-
combed) ; decided red mark over the eye ; plumage of
any other colour except black, or metallic black ; legs of
any other colour except dark leaden blue, or blue ;
birds that are trimmed in any part whatever.

Points in Spanish Fowl.

Comb

. 2

Face ......

. 3

Ear-lobe

. 3

Purity of White, Face and Ear-lobe

. 2

Symmetry .....

. 3

Comlition of Plumage

. 2

15

GAME.
GENERAL SHAPE.

Beah — Strong, curved, very stout at the base.
Corah — In a chicken that has not been dubbed, single,
small and thin, low in front, serrated, erect, and
straight ; in older birds, neatly dubbed, smooth, and
free from warty appearances, small feathers or ridges
on the edges.
Head — Long, thin, and taper, very strong at the junc-
ture with the neck.
Eyes — Large, bright, and prominent, perfectly alike in

colour, with a quick, fearless expression.
Face and Throat — Lean and thin.
Nech — Rather long and neatly arched, hackle short and

very close.
Back — Rather short, flat, broad across the shoulders

and narrowing to the tail.
Breast — Broad, round, and full.
•Stern — Slender and very neat, saddle feathers very

short and close.
Wings — Strong, long, and very powerful ; the butts

and shoulder pait slightly raised, as if for a sudden

spring, the remainder of the wings not drooping, but

carried neatly aad comj^actly to the sides, passing

over the upper part of the thighs, the points resting

under the saddle feathers.
Tail — Rather long, the feathers very sound and not

too broad, carried well together, and not spread out,

scattered or loose.
Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Perfectly sound,

naiTOw, hard, and wiry, not hanging loosely, well

earned and neatly cm-ved j the whole of the tail

going backwards and not upright over the back, or

squirrel-tailed.
Thighs — Round, stout, hard, and iii-m, rather short in

proportion to the shank, placed well up towards the

shoulders, and covered with veiy close short feathei's,

so as to have a velvety appearance.
Legs — Rather long, strong, bony, clean, standing well

and evenly apart ; the spurs set on low ; the scales

close and smooth.
Feet — Broad, flat, and thin ; toes long, spreading, and

straight, well furnished with strong nails, with the

hind toe set low on the foot, standing well backwards

and flat on the ground, not merely touching with the

point of the toe, or duck- footed.
Plumage— Close, sleek, and glossy, body feathers short,

hard, and firm, quills very strong.
Body in hand—Yevj muscular, and firm, not soft or

hollow on the sides, perfectly straight in the breast

and back, and quite even in the hip bones.
Carriage— Upnght, active and quick.

THE HEN.

Bealc—Loug, slightly curved, shaii^ at the point, and

stout at the base.
Co??i6— Single, small, and thin, low in front, evenly

serrated, perfectly erect and straight.
Head— Long, slender, very neat and taper."
Eyes— Bright, large, and prominent, perfectly alike in

colour, with a quick and fiery expression.
Face — Lean and thin.

Deaf-ear— Yerj small, and close to the face.
Wattles — Small, thin, and neatly rounded on the edge.
Throat — Neat, the feathers veiy short and close.
Xeck—Long, feathers very short, giving the neck a

slender and very graceful appearance,
^ac^— Moderate in length, perfectly flat and broad

across the shoulders, and narrowing to the tail.
Wings— Long and powerful, the butts and shouldei-s

carried rather high, so as to cause a pert'ectly fiat

back, the points not drooping, but carried compactly

to the sides.
Tail — Moderate in length, not can-ied over the back,

but extending backwards ; the feathers not scattered

or spread out, but held neatly together.
Breast — Broad, round, and prominent.
Thighs— Stout, round, and neat, the feathers short and

very close,
ie^s— Long, veiy bony, clean, and taper, the scales

narrow, smooth, close, and neat.
Feet— Broad, flat, and thin ; toes spreading, long and

.straight, well fiu-nished with strong nails, the hind

toe set low on the foot, standing well backwards, and

not duck-footed.
Plumage— Yerj close, sleek, and glossy ; body feathers

short, hard, and firm, quills strong.
Carriage — Rather upright, very neat, quick, and

active.

BLACK-BREASTED RED GAilE.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Head — Very rich dark red.
Comb, Face, and Jaws — Veiy bright red.
Eyes — Bright, clear, deep bay.

Nech HacMe — Rich red, free from black or dark stripes.
Bach, Shoulder, and Shoulder Coverts — Rich dark red.
Wing i?M«s— Black.
,, Bow — Rich dark red, perfectly free from black

feathers.
,, Greater and Lesser Coverts — Metallic green
black, forming a wide bar across the wing,
perfectly even, well defined, and not irregular
on the edges.
,, Primaries — Bay on the outside web, black on

the inside.
,, Secondaries — Rich clear bright bay on the out-
side web, black on the inside web, witii a rich
metallic gi-een black spot on the end of the
feather.
Saddle — Rich red.
Tail— Rich black.
Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Yeiy rich metallic

green black.
Breast, Undcrpart of Body and Thighs — Rich black,
perfectly free from any admixture of red or other
colour.

844

APPENDIX.

Ltgi — Either ^rillo\r, o'.ive, yellow, white, or blue. The
colours i>re£eiTeJ ii the onler in which they are
naincJ.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Ilead — Brown.

Comb, Face, Deaf-car, and Wattles — Very bright red.
Neck — Li.irTit browuish yellow, striped with black.
Back and .Shoulder Coverts— Mvown.
Wing, Boxc, Shotddtr, and Coverts — Same colour as
back, perfectly free from red.

f. Primaries and i<€Condaries — Brown.
Tail — Dark brown, approaching black.
Breast — Deep salmon, shading off to ashy brown towards

the thighs.
Thighs — Ashy brown.
Ligi — To match those of the cock.

BROWN RED GAME.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Head — ^Very dark red.

Comb, Face, and Jaics — Bright red or dark purple

(gipsy-faced).
Eyes — Dark bro\*Ti or black.
Neck Hackle — Dark red, shaft of feather black.
Back and Shoulder Coverts — Dark cri iison red.
Saddle — Dark red, shaft of feathers black.
Wing, Butts — Bhck or very dark dusky brown.

,, Shoulder and Bow — Dark crimson red.

,, Coverts — Rich glossy black.

„ Primaries — Dusky black.

,, Secondaries — Black, with a metallic lustre towards
the end of the feathers.
TaiV— Black.

Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Rich glossy black.
Breast — Reddish brown streaked with black, shaft of

feather black ; the ground colour becoming darker as

it approaches the lower part and thighs.
Thighs — Dusky black.
Legs — Olive T>ronzy black, or dark willow.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Head — Dark dusky brown, approaching a dusky black.

Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Bright red or dark
purple.

Eyes — Very dark brown or black.

Neck — Coppery yellow, striped with black.

Remainder of the Plumage — ^Yery dark brown, ap-
proaching to black.

Lens — To match those of the cock.

GIXGER RED GAME.

COLOUR or COCK.

yZeai— Red.

Face and Javs — Reddish purple.

Et/es — Brown.

Neck Hackle — Rich clear red.

Back, Shoulder Coverts, and Bow of the Wings— B-ich

red.
Wing — Primaries and secondaries brownish red.
Saddle — Rich clear red.
Ja//— Black.
Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Rich black, the

lesser coverts edged with red.
Breast — Ginger red, becoming darker as it aji^roaches

the thighs.
Tliiglii — Dusky red.
Legs — Olive, bronzy black, or dark willow.

COLOUR or HEX.

Head — YellowLsh brown.
Comb, Fw'', Deaf-car, and Wattles — Purple.
Eiiet — Brown, perfectly alike ia colour.
Neck — Golden yellow, strii^ed with black.

Breast — Higher part towards the throat yellowish brown,
shaft and a narrow margin of the feathers
a much lighter shade.
,, Lower i>art and sides, dark dusky brown, with
a narrow margin of the feathers of a golden
ginger .shade.
Remainder of the Plumage — Yellowish brown, with a
narrow margin of the feathers of a golden ginger
shade.
Legs — Same colour as those of the cock.

YELLOW DUCK-WING GAME.

COLOUR OP COCK.

Head — Straw-coloured yellow.

Comb, Face, and Jaios — Briglit red.

JVeck Hackle — Clear, straw colour, free from black.

Back, Shoulder Coverts, and Bow of the Wing — Rich,

uniform, bright copper or maroon ; the more even,

clear, and unmixed in colour the better.
Wing Butts— Dhck.

,, Greater a7id Lesser Coverts — Steel blue, or
metallic black, forming a wide bar across the
wing.

, , Primaries — Straw white on the outside web, dark
on the inside web.

,, Secondaries — White on the outside web, black on
the iu.side, and on the end of the feathers.
Siddle — Clear straw colour.

Breast, Underpart of Body, and Thicjhs — Rich black.
Ta//— Black.
Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Rich metallic green

black.
Legs — Willow, yellow, or olive.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Head — Grey.

Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Bright red.

Neck — White, .striped with black.

Breast — Salmon red, shading off to ashy grey towards

the thighs.
Back^ and Shoulder Coverts — Bluish or slaty grey,

shaft of feather white.
Wing, Shoulder, and Bow — Slaty or bluish grey, shaft
of feather white. Red or brown on the ^^■ing
very objectionable.
Wing Coverts and Flight — Slaty or bluish grey.
Tail — Dark grey, the inside approaching black.
Thighs — Ashy grey.
Legs — To match those of the cock.

SILVER DUCK- WING GAME.

COLOUR or COCK.

Head — Silvery white.

Face, Jans, and Comb — Bright red.

Neck — Hackle clear white, without any mi.xture of

black or other colour.
Breast, Undcrjuirlt of Body, and Thighs — Black.
Back and Shoulder Coverts— Silvery white.
Saddle — Clear white.
Wing Butts — Black.

,, Boiv — Silvery white.

,, Coverts — Steel blue, forming a wide bar acro-ss
the wing.

,, Primaries — White on the outside web, dark on
the inside web.

,, Secondaries — Clear white on the- outside web,
black on the inside web, and on the end of the
feathers.
Tail— W.&ck.
Sickle Feathers and Tail Corcrls — Mctalli-;: green black

the Its.ser tail coverts slightly edged with white.
Legs — Willow, olive, bronze, or blue.

APPENDIX.

345

COLOUR OF HEX.

/Tead— Silvery grey.

Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and WatlUs—'Bnght red.

Neclc — Silver, striped with black.

Breast — Salmon.

Bach and Shoulder Coverts — Silvery or ashy grey, shaft

of feather white.
Win(/ Bow — Ashy grey, shaft of feather white. Red
or brown on the wing very objectionable.

,, Flight and Coverts — Grey.
Tail — Dark grey, approaching black.
Thifjhs — Ashy grey.
Leys — To match those of the cock.

BIRCHEN YELLOW GAJIE.

COLOUR OP COCK.

Head — Dark straw colour.

Face and Wattles — Either red or purple.

Nech — Hackle, deep straw colour, striped with reddish

brown.
Breast — Reddish brown, shaft and narrow margin of

the feathers cream colour.
Bach and Shoulder Coverts — Rich coppery straw,

marked with reddish brown.
Saddle — Deep straw, striped with reddish brovm.
Wing Butts— Bull black.

, , Boxv — Rich dark coppery straw, slightly marked
with reddish brown.

,, Coverts — Cream coloirr, mottled with reddish
brown and tipped with chocolate.

,, Flight — Reddish brown.
Ta/i -Black.
Sichles — Bronzy black.
Tail Coverts — Bronzy black, the lesser with a narrow

margin of cream colour.
Legs — Bronzy black, olive, willow, or yeUow.

COLOUR OF UEX.

Jlead — Dark grey.

Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Either red or

piirple.
Neck — Grey, striped with duU black.
Breast — Greyish brown, shaft and mai-gin of feather

creamy white.
Bach and Shoulder Coverts — Greyish brown ; shaft of

feather dull creamy white.
Wing Bow — Greyish brown, shaft of feather dull
creamy white.

,, Coverts — Greyish brown.

,, Flights — Dark grej'.
Tail — Dark greyish brown.
Thighs — Greyish brown.
Legs — To match those of the cock.

PILE GAJIE.

COLOUR or COCK.

Head — Deep chestnut red.

Comb, d;c. — Rich bright red.

Nech Hachle and Saddle — Light chestnut red on the

outside of the web of the feather ; the middle of

each feather white towards the end.
Breast — Higher part marbled red and white, lower part

white, or entirely white.
Bach, Shoulder Coverts, and Bow of the Wings — Rich,

uniform red.
Greater and Lesser Wing Coverts — White, edged v/ith

red.
Wing Secondaries — White on the outside web, red on
the inside web, with a rich red spot on the end
of thefeather.

,, Primaries— y^hits.
Thiqhs—mnte.
Tail— ^Xhite.
Legs — Yellow, willow, or white.

COLOUR OF HEX.

Comb, Face, Deaf -ear, and ira^i/ts— Bright red.

Nech — Chestnut and white.

Breast — Chestnut red oa the front part, mottl-.d v/ith

white on the lower part.
Thighs and Tail — White.
Remainder of the Plumage— Yfhite, mottled with light

chestnut red.
Legs — To match those of the cock.

WHITE GAME.
Comb, Face, Deaf-ear, and Wattles — Very bright red.
The whole of the plumage clear white. The cock's
plumage as free from yellow tinge as possible.
Legs — YeUow or white.

BLACK GAME.
Comb, cCr. — Bright red.

The whole of the plumage glossy black, wiih a
metallic lustre on cock's hackle, back, saddle, wings,
and tail.
Legs — Bronzy black, dark olive, or leaden black.

Points in Game.
Shape of Head and Neck . . .2
Body and Wings . .... 2

Tail 2

Thighs, Legs, and Toes .... 2
Colour of Plumage . . . . .3

Symmetiy, Handling .... 2
Condition, and Hardness of Plumage . 2

15

E's lualiflcatiozs.

Colour of legs, or plumage, not matching in the pen ;
crooked backs or breasts : adult cocks not dubbed.

HAMBURGHS.
GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCK.

Beah — Medium.

Comb — Double, not so large as to overhang the eyes or

beak, square in front, fitting close and straight on tlie

head without inclining to either side, no hollow in

tha centre, imiform on each side, the top covered

over with small points, with a jjeak behind, inclining

veiy slightly upwards.
Head — Rather short and small.
Eye — Full and quick.
•Deaf-ear — Not pendent, but fitting close to the face,

flat., of medium size, round, and even on the surface.
Wattles — Broad, thin, and well rounded on the lower

edge.
iVcc/i;— Taper, the higher jxart carried well over the

back, hackle full, the lower part flowing well on to

the shoulders.
Breast — Round, full, and prominent, carried vrcll

forward.
Z?ac'j— Short, well furnished with saddle feathers.
Wings — Ample, points can-ied rather low.
Tail — Full, expanded, sickle feathers well curved.
Thighs — Short and neat.

Jjcgs — Slender, rather short, very neat, and taper.
Plumage — Rich and glossy.
Carriage- — Upright and strutting, graceful, quick, and

restless.

THE HEX.

Beah — Rather small.

Comb — Same shape as that of cock, but very much

less ; smaller in the i)eucilled than iu the spangled

varieties.

346

ArrENDix.

Head — Small anJ very neat.

Eye — Full and very quick.

Deaf-ear — Small, dat, rounded in the lower part,

fitting close to the face, and not pendent.
Wattles — Small and thin, roundeil on the lower edge.
Ned- — Taper and verj- graceful.
Jireast — Broad, plumji, and carried forward.
Jiack — Rather short, but not so much so in appearance

as in the cock.
WinffS — Amjile, carried very neatly to the body.
Tail — Full, expanded, and well carried.
Thi'jiu — ^Short and neat.
Legs — Very slender, neat, and taper.
Plumarie — Close and glossy.
Camu<;e— Graceful, quick, an 1 restless.

GOLDEX PENCILLED mUIBURGHS.

COLOCB OF COCK.

Comb, Face, and n'a«/f5— Rich red.

Deaf -ear — Pure oixique white, free from red on the
edge.

Head and Tlachle — Clear re<ldisli bay.

Bad; Saddle, Bow of the Wing, Shoulder and Wing
Coverts — Rich deep reddish bay.

Flight — Reddish bay on the outside web, black on the
inside web.

Secondaries — Reddish bay on the outside web, the
inside web pencilled across ^^-ith broad black marks,
each feather ending with a rich black spot.

Breast and Thighs — Reddish bay.

TaiV— Black.

Sickle Feathers and Tail Corerts — Rich black down the
middle of the feather, the entire length edged with
bronze, each bronze edge as near one-fourth the width
of the feather as possible ; the more distinct the two
colours the better.

Legs — Slaty bine.

COLOm OF HEX.

Comb, Face, and Tla^/es— Rich red.

Deaf-ear — Pure opaque white, free from red on the
edge.

Head and Neck — Clear deep golden bay.

Remainder of the Plumage — Clear deep golden bay,
free from either lacing or mossing : each feather
(including tail feathers) distinctly pencilled across
with rich black ; the pencilling not to follow the
outline of the feather, but to go straight across on
each side of the shaft. The two colours distinct,
well defined, and not shading into each other.

Legs — Slaty blue.

SILVER PENCILLED HAMBURGH3.

The same standard will apply to the Silver Pencilled
Ilamburghs, substituting a clear silvery white ground
for a golden one. The silver cock as free as possible
from yellow tinge.

PENCILLED HAMBURGHS.
Points in Cocke.

Comb

Deaf-ear ......

Colour of Plumage, except tail, sickle

feathers, and tail coverts
Colour of Tail, Sickle Feathers, and Tail

coverts ......

Symmetry .....

Condition ......

3

2
2

15

Points in Hens.

Comb 2

Dciif-ear ...... 2

Purity of Colour in Head and Neck . 3

Purity of Ground Colour, and accurate
and distinct Pencilling in every j>:irt,

except head and neck . . . . 4

Symmetry ...... 2

Condition ...... 2

S isqualiBcations.
Hen-feathered cocks, crooked backs, wry tails, combs
single or falling over to one side, red deaf-ears, shanks
of any other colour except blue.

GOLDEN-SPANGLED HAMBURGHS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Comh, Face, and Wattles — Rich bright red.

Deaf-ear — Opaque white.

Head — Deep reddish bay.

Hacllc — Rich deep golden bay, each feather striped

down the centre with rich green black, each colour

well defined, and not clouded.
Breast, Umlerparl of Body, and Thighs — Golden bay,

free from mossing, streaking, or lacing, each feather

ending with a round, large, rich black moon or

spangle, the moons increasing in size in proportion

to the size of the feather.
Back and Shoulder Coverts — Rich deep reddish bay,

distinctly spangled with rich metallic black, the

texture of the feather giving the spangle a starry or

rayed appearance.
Saddle — Rich reddish golden bay, each feather striped

down the centre with rich metallic green black.
Wing Boic — Rich reddish golden bay, distinctly spangled
with black.

,, i?cTrs — The gre.iter and lesser wing coverts clear
reddish golden bay, free from lacing, each
feather ending with a large round green-black
spangle, forming two distinct parallel green
black bars across the wing.

,, Primaries — Baj', ending with a black spot.

, , Secondaries — Rich golden bay, each feather end-
ing with a rich green-black spot.
TatY— Black.

Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts — Rich green black.
Legs — Slaty blue.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Comb, Face, and Wattles — Rich bright red.
Deaf -ear — Opaque white.

Head — Golden bay, distinctly tipped with black.-
Neck — Golden bay, each feather distinctly striped down
the centre with rich green black, the coloui's distinct
and not clouded.
Breast, Underpart of Body, and Thighs — Clear golden
bay, free from mossing or lacing, each feather ending
with a distinct large, round, rich green-black moon
or spangle, the moons increasing in size in proportion
to the size of the feather.
Back, Shoulder Coverts, and Rump — Rich clear golden
bay, free from mossing or lacing, each feather ending
with a distinct large, round, rich green-black spangle.
Wing Bow — Rich clear golden bay, each feather ending
with a distinct round rich green-black spangle.
,, JSars— Greater and lesser wing coverts rich clear
golden bay, free from lacing, each feather end-
ing with a large, round, rich, green-black
spangle, forming two distinct parallel green
black bai-s across the wings.
,, Pnmarics — Golden bay, each feather ending with

a black spangle.
,, Secondaries — Golden bay, ea^di feather ending
with a rich green-black half-moon or crescent-

APPENDIX.

347

shaped spangle, termed by the Lancashire
fanciers, "lacing on the top of the wing above
the flight."
ra??— Black.

Tail Coverts — Golden bay, free from mossing or lacing,
each feather ending with a rich green-black spangle.
Leris — Slaty blue.

Hens in a pen to matcb as nearly as possible in size
of markings and depth of colour.

SILVER-SPANGLED HAJIBURGHS.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Conib, Face, and Wattles — Eich bright red.

Deaf-ear — Opaque white.

Head — Silvery white.

-ffact/e— Silvery white, free from yellow tinge, the

longest feathers ending with a small black spangle.
Breast, Vnderpart of Body, and Thighs — Clear sil-
very white, free from lacing or mossing, each feather
ending with a distinct large, round, rich black moon
or spatigle, the moons increasing in size in proportion
to the size of the feather.
BacJc and Shoulder Coverts — Pure white, free from
yellow tinge, distinctly spangled with black, the
texture of the feather giving the spangle a starry or
rayed appearance.
Saddle — Silveiy white, free from yellow, the largest

feathers ending with a small black spangle.
Wing Boio — Pure white, distinctly spangled with black
spangles.
,, Bars — The greater and lesser wing coverts clear
silvery white, free from lacing, each feather
ending in a large gi-een -black moon or sisangle,
foi-ming two distinct parallel black bars across
the wing.
,, Primaries — Pure white, each feather ending with

a distinct black spangle.
,, Secondaries — Pure white, each feather ending in
a half-moon shaped green-black spot.
Tail — White on the outside, each feather ending in a

large black spangle.
Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts— ^Taiie, each feather

ending with a rich green-black spangle,
ic^s— Slaty blue.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Comb, Face, and Wattles — Rich bright red.

Deaf -ear — Opaque white-

Head — Silveiy white, distinctly spangled with small

black spangles.
Nech — Clear silvery white, each feather distinctly
striped towards the end with rich black, each coloxir
well defined and not clouded.
Breast, Underpart of Body, and Thighs — Clear silvery
white, free from lacing or mossing, each feather end-
ing with a distinct large, round, black moon or
spangle, the moons increasing in size in proportion to
the size of the feather.
Bad; Shoulder Coverts, and Rump — Clear sifvery
white, free from mossing or lacing, each feather
ending with a distinct large, round rich green-black
moon or spangle.
Winy Bov) — Clear silvery white, each feather end-
ing with a distinct round, rich green-black
spangle.
,, Bars — Greater and lesser wing coverts clear
sUvery white, free from lacing or mossing,
each feather ending with a large round green-
black spangle, forming two distinct parallel
black bars across the wing.
,, Primaries — White, each feather ending with a

distinct black spangle.
,, Secondaries — Clear silvery white, each feather
ending with a large half -moon shaped green-

black spangle, termed by the Lancashire
fanciers "lacing on the top of the wing."
rc«7— White on the outside, each feather ending with

a lar^e round black spangle.
Tail Coreris— Clear silvery white, free from mossing or

lacing, each feather ending with a distinct large,

round, gi-een-black spangle.
Zf<7s— Slaty blue.

Hens in a pen to match as nearly as possible in size
of markings and depth of colour, &c.

Points in Spangled Hamburgh Cocks.
Comb ...... 2

Deaf-ear . . . . . .2

Colours and Mai-king of Head, Hackle,

Back, Saddle, and Tail . . ' . 3
Breast, Underparts of Body and Thighs . 2
Wings and Bars . . . . .2

Symmetry ...... 2

Condition ...... 2

Points in Spangled Hambui-gh Hens.

Combs ......

Deaf-ear ......

Keck most distinctly and evenly striped .
Remainder of Plumage (except tail in
Golden) clearness of ground colour,
evenness and distinctness of spangling,
with rich large round spangles

Bars .......

Symmetry ......

Condition ......

4
2
2
2

15

S isqualifications.
Hen-feathered cocks, crooked backs, wiy tails, combs
single, or falling over to one side, red deaf-ears, birds
without distinct bars across the wing. Legs of any
other colom- except blue.

BLACK HMIBURGHS.

Comb, Face, and Wattles — Rich bright red ; the face

perfectly free from white.
Deaf-ear — Pure opaque white; round and small,

fitting close to the face ; not ijendent.
Plumage — Veiy rich glossy green black.
Legs — Blue or dark leaden blue.

Points in Black Hamburghs.
Comb, Head, and Face .
Deaf-ear ....
Plumage ....
Shape .....
Condition ....

3
2
4
4
2

15

Disqualifications.

Combs falling over to one side, or so large as to
obstruct the sight, red deaf-eai-s, crooked tacks, wry
tails, or legs of any colour except blue or dai'k leaden
blue.

POLISH.

GENERAL SHAPE.

THE COCK.

Crest — Composed of feathers similar in texture to the
hackle, very large, round, close, and well fitted on
the cro-\vn of the head, falling backwards, and rather
lower on the sides than over the beak, but not so low
on the sides as to prevent the bird from seeing.

348

APPENDIX.

Head— With round protuberance on the top, concealed
by the large crest.

Eye — L;ir^e, full, and bright.

Jjcaf-rar — Small, even on the surface, rounded on the
lower edge.

Wttttlis — In the unbearded varieties, thiu, and pen-
dulous;- in the Warded varieties, none — the under-
side of the beak and throat being covered with a full,
close, muffy l)eard.

iVeri— Medium in length, slightly and neatly curving
over the back and well hackled.

Breast— Deep, full, round, and carried prominently
forward.

.Baci— Perfectly straight, wide betwixt the shoulders,
and tai>ering to the tail ; hi]>-bones even.

Witi^s — Amjile.

TaiV— Large, rather erect, expanded, and well adorned
with sickle feathers.

Thiyhs — Short in the white-crested black, rather long
in the spangled varieties.

Leys — Rather short in the white-crested blacks, long
in the spangled varieties.

Carriage — Erect.

THE DEN.

Crest — Very large, round, straight on the head, not in-
clining to either side, the surface close, firm, and
even.

Head — Round, the protuberance concealed by the crest.

Eye — Large, full, and bright.

2>t;a/-far— Small, even on the surface, and rounded on
the lower edge.

Wattles — In the unbearded varieties, small and thin ;
in the bearded varieties, none — the throat and under-
side of the beak being covered with a full close
beard.

A'fc.l— Rather short and taper.

Breast — Very full, round, and prominent.

Back — Straight, the hip-bones even.

Wings — Ample.

Tail — Large, expanded, and broad at the end.

Thighs — Short in the white-crested black, rather long
in the spangled varieties.

Legs — Clean, neat, and taper ; short in the white-
crested blacks, rather long in the sjiangled varieties.

Carriage — Rather upright.

WHITE-CRESTED BLACK POLISH.

COLOUK.

Crest — Pure white ; the less black in front the better.

Deaf-ear — Pure opaque white.

Remainder of the Plumage — Uniformly rich glossy

black.
Legs — Leaden blue, or black.

Points in White-crested Black Polish.
Size of Crest .....
ShajfC of Crest ....
Crest of the purest white, and most fic

from black .....
Deaf-ear .....
Eichest black Plumage .
Symmetry . , . . .
Condition and General Ajipearance .

II

Sisqualiflcations.
Crooked baclcB, wry tails, white feathers in any part
except the crest, legs of any other colour except dark
leaden blue, or blue.

GOLDEN-SPANGLED POLISH.

COLOUR OF COCK.

Crest — Golden b.ay, laced with black ; in adults, white
feathers may apjiear.

Ihtvklc und ifuddlc -Golden bay, the end of each fea-
ther laced witli bhick.

Ihruid — Clear golden bay, free from mossing, each
feather ending with a round rich black spangle, the
spangle increasing in size in proportion to the size of
the feather.

Duck; i<hotddcr Coverts, and Jiow of the H7«^— Rich
golden bay, spangled with black, the taxture of the
feather giving the spangle a rayed appearance.

Zicu'i) — Greater and le^iser wing coverts, golden bay,
each feather laced on the edge with black, and ending
with a large black spangle, forming two distinct black
bars across the wing.

Primaries — Bay, ending with a black spot.

Secondaries — Golden bay, with a distinct crescent-
shaped green-ljlack mark on the cud of each feather.

Thighs — Bay, spangled with black.

TctiY— Rich golden bay, each feather ending with a rich
Idack spot.

SicHe Feathers — Rich golden bay, ending with a rich
black sj^angle.

Tail Coverts — Rich golden bay, edged with rich black,
and ending with a rich black spangle.

Legs — Blue.

COLOUR OF HEN.

Crest — Golden bay, each feather laced with black ; in

adults, white feathers may appear.
Neck — Golden bay, laced with black.
Breast, Underparls of Body, and Thighs — Clear

golden bay (free from mossingX each feather ending

with a distinct round, rich, black spangle, the spangle

increasing in size in proportion to the size of the

feather.
Bach and Shoulder Coverts — Golden bay, each feather

ending with a distinct round Idack sjiangle.
Wing Boiv — Golden bay, each feather ending with a

crescent -shaped black spangle.
117/)^^ Coverts — Golden l>ay, each feather laced or edged

with black, and ending with a large black spangle,

forming two distinct black bars across the wing.
Primaries — Bay, each feather ending with a black

spot.
Secondaries — Golden bay, each feather ending with a

crescent-shaped black mark.
Tail — Bay, each feather ending with a large black

spangle.
Zcys— Blue.

SILVER-SPANGLED POLISH.

Colour and Marking the same as in Golden, substituting

Silvery White Ground for Golden Bay.

Points in Spangled Polish.

Size of Crest 3

Shape of do. . . . . . .3

Colour of do. . . . . .1

Plumage accurately marked ac<:ording to
the foregoing rules . . . .2

Purity of Ground Colour . . .1

Bars 1

Symmetry ....... 2

Condition ...... 2

Disqualifications.
Crooked backs, wry tails, legs of any other colour
except blue.

APPENDIX.

349

SULTANS.

THE COCK.

Crcsi— Composed of hackle feathers, full, and arched
over the ej'es, and round head, full in centre, and
falling softly and evenly round at back, not straight
and stifi' as in Polish ; the front free from feathers
falling forward, and neatly arched at both sides.

Bcalc — Brilliant white, tinged with red at hase, very
curvetl, and with broad cavernous nostrils.

Comb — Invisible, or two small spikes, brilliantly red.

Muffling — Thick and close round the throat, meeting
the crest, and covering the face.

Eye — Bright, vivacious, and intelligent.

Wattles— ^m^W and rather shrivelled.

Ned: — Eather short, carried well hack, very arched,
and very thickly hackled.

Breast — Deep, full, round, and carried well forward.

Body — Very square, deep, and carried low.

Back— Straight, and rather broad.

Wings — Ample, and carried down.

Tail — Large, erect, and well sickled.

Thighs — Very short and well feathered.

Legs — Very short, feathered to the toes, with full, long
vulture hocks.

Toes — Straight, five in number.

Colour of Plumage — Brilliantly white throughout.

Carriage — Eather low, brisk, and vivacious.

THE HEN.

Crest — Full, round, close, audglohular.

Eye — Bright and intelligent.

Muffling — Very thick and close round the throat, going
well back, covering the face, and meeting the crest.

Bealc — Curved, clear, transparent white.

Nech — Short, fully arched, and very thickly feathered,
carried well back.

Breast — Full, deep, and prominent.

BatJc — Straight and broad.

Body — Very square, and carried low and forward.

Wings — Full, and carried low.

Tail — Large, erect, and well expanded.

Thighs — Very short and well feathered.

Legs — Very short, feathered to the toes, with full,
large vulture hocks.

Toes — Five in number.

Colour of Plumage — Brilliantly white throughout.

Ceirriage — Low, fon^-ard, brisk, and lively.
Points.

Cre.^it 4

Muffling 3

Shape ....... 3

Leg-feathci-ing . . . . .3

Condition ...... 2

15

DisQiialifioations.
Any colour but vv-hite in the plumage, crooked crest,
tare red face, or absence of muffling, deficiency of leg-
feathering, or absence of vulture hocks, beak any colour
tut white, deformity of any kind.

HOUDANS.

THE COCK.

Crest — Composed of hackle feathers, full, and well
arched, falling hack, and right and left of comb, clear
of the eye, rather than over it.

Conib — "Well developed, large, red, and branching, broad
at base, well indented, looking like a mass of coral
with antler-like branches, inclining rather backward
into the crest.

Beah — Curved, with nostrils wide and cavernous, as in
Polish, dark horn colour.

Eye — Large, full, l;nglit, and lively ; colour various.

Wattles — Thin, rather long, neatly rounded, and bright

red.
Muffling or Beard — Full and thick under beak, and

reaching well back in a curve to the back of eye.
Face — Eed ; the less seen the better.
Breast — Deep, full, and plump.
Bach — Wide and straight.
Wings — Moderate, and carried well up.
Tail — Moderate, erect, and well sickled.
Thighs— The shorter the better.
Legs — Fine in bone, white shaded.
Toes — Five in number, the fifth curved upwards at back.
Colour — Broken black and white, as evenly broken as

possible, free from coloured feathers, which, however,

though objectionable, are not a disqualification.
Carriage — Lively, brisk, well set np, and spirited.

THE BEN.

Crest — Large, compact, and even, as in Polish.

Comb — Small, branching, and coral-like.

Eye — Full and bright.

Wattles — Small, red, and neatly rounded.

3!uffling—F-a\\, forming a thick beard reaching back to
the eye.

A'eck — Eather short, full feathered, and arched.

Breast — Full and deep.

Bade — Wide and straight.

Wings — Moderate, and carried closely to body.

Tail — Moderate, and fan-like, carried well up.

r/H>As— Short.

Zf^s— Fine in bone, white, or shaded in colour.

Toes — Five in number, the hind or fifth claw curved
upwards.

Colour — As in cock.

Carriage — Brisk, and rather upright.
Points.

Size 4

Crest i

Symmetry ...... 2

Plumage ...... 2

Condition ...... 2

Five Claws ...... 1

15

Disqualifications.
Absence of crest. Deformity of any kind. Maia
colour or ground colour other than black and white.

CREVE CCEURS.

THE COCK.

Crest — As in the Polish cock, but perfectly black ; white
feathers a defect, but not a disqualification.

Head — As in Polish cock.

Comb — Brilliant red, two-horned in shape, but free from
tynes, slightly sprigged at base, of good size, show-
ing well in front of the crest.

Ei,e — Full, bright, and very vivacious.

Beef -ears — Small and nearly concealed.

Face — Eed, well mulHed.

Wattles — Moderately pendidous, and evenly rounded,
brilliant red.

il/«j///?i^— Close and thick, running to back of eye in a
handsome curve.

Bealc — Black, with horn-coloured tip, strong and well
curved, S\ith highly arched broad nostrils, as in Polish.

Neck — Moderate in length, thickly hackled, well
arched, and carried a little back.

Breast — Broad and full, can-ied well forward.

Bach — Wide, perfectly straight, and free from deformity.

Body — Long and square.

Wings — Closely set, and well clipped up.

Tail — Full and ample, well sickled, and carried rather
erect.

Thighs — Eather short, well set in body.

350

APPENDIX.

Leg$ — Black or slat« ; the shorter the better, rather

fine in the bone. Fret- from feathers.
Carriatje — Upright, smart, vivacious, and watchful.
Colour — Brilliant black. Red or straw feathers in the

hackle or s:uldle unties! mble, but uot a disijualificjition,

TIIK HEN.

Crest — Full and globular, a^ in the Polish black ; white
feathers objectionable, but not a disqualification.

Ilead — As in Polish.

Ei/t — Full and bright.

Deaf-ears — Small, hidden by muffling.

Miijfliiiff — Thick and full, extending well back to crest,
and forming a thick beard under the beak.

Watlle-i — Very small and neatly rounded.

JNVfi — Thick and arched.

Ih-ea^t — Full, plump, and carried well forward.

Bod;/ — Square, and carried low,

liack — Straight and broad.

Wings — Well clippetl up.

Tail — Large and well expanded.

Thifjhs — Short, and well set into body.

Legs — Short as possible, free from feathers, rather small
in bone, slate or black in colour.

Carriage — Upright and vivacious.

Colour — Brilliant black; a brown tinge very unde-
sirable.

Points in Creve Cceu'S.
Size 4

Crest ,

Shape and Symmetiy

Colour .

Condition

Comb .

3
2
1

15

Slsqualificatioiis in Creve Coeurs. —

Deformity of any kind. Coloured feathers elsewhere
than in crest, neek, or saddle, feathered legs, and
shanks of any other colour than black or slate.

LA FLECHE.

THE COCK.

Bcal- — Black, strong, and cur\-ed ; nostril.?, wide and
cavernous, as in Polish, with small spot or knob of
bright red flesh at junction of nostril with beak.

Coml — Branching and antler-like, like two horns
pointed straight up, brilliant red.

Ear-lobes — Large, and as M-hite as possible.

Head — Long.

/T/ze— Bright, large, and watchful.

Face — Red, and rather bare.

Wattles — Red, long, and pendulous, well rounded.

Xecl- — Long, rather cun'ed, and upright ; hackle thick,
but rather short.

Back — Very long and broad, slanting towards the tail.

Wings — Long, and well clipped in.

Breast — Broad, and rather full.

Tail — Rather small, and carried low.

TfiigJis — Strong, long, and well set into body.

Legs — Long, strong, and black or slate in colour.

Toes — Four,

Plutmtfje— Close and hard, brilliant metallic black.

Carriage — Very uj)right, dignified, and watchful.

THE HEX.

Beak — Black, strong, and curved; nostrils arched, broad,

and cavernous.
Comh — Double-spiked and branching, standing well up,

or the branches inclining a little forward, small.
Head — Long.

^ye— Bright and watchful.
Face— Red, and rather bare.
Deaf-ear — Small and white.
H'a^/cj— Red, small, and neatly rounded,
I^efik — Long an<l straight.
-Baci— Broad and tapering towards the laiL

Bodg — Wide and deep.

Breast — Very broad.

H'/«r/s— Large, and well clipped up,

Tatl — Small in proportion, but well expanded, ar.d

carried upright.
Thig/ts—Loug, and well set into lx)dy.
-iryj— Long, well boned, black or slaty in colour.
P/«wayc— Brilliant metallic black, close and hard.
Cam'cw/e— Upright, dignified, and watchful.
Points.
Size 5

Comb .
Sliape .
Condition
Deaf-ear

3
3
3

1

15

Disqualifications. —

Plumage any colour but black, presence of crest,
feathered legs, deformity of any kind, legs any colour
but black or dark.

BANTAMS.

GAME BANTAJIS.

GENERAL SHAPE AND COLOUR.

The same as in the corresponding varieties of Game
Fowls.

Points in Game Bantams.
Smallness of Size . .... 2

Colbur 3

Shape of Head and Neck . . .2
, , Body and Wings . . .2

,, Tail 2

,, Thighs, Legs, and Toes . . 2
Condition ...... 2

15

Disqualifications. —

Cocks above 24 oz. or hens above 20 oz. ; adult cocks
undubbed, colour of legs not uniform in the pen, birds
not matching in the pen.

SEBRIGHT BANTAMS.

GENERAL SHAPE — THE COCK.

Comb — Double, square in front, fitting close and straight
on the head, the top covered with small points, with
a peak behind turning slightly upwards.

Head — Small, round in front, carried well back towards
the tail.

Beak — Short, slightly curved.

r//f— Full.

Wattles — Broad, rounded on the lower edge.

Deaf-ear — Flat.

Neck — Neat and taper, quite free from hackle feathers.

Breast— Round, full, and carried prominently forward.

Back — Very short, perfectly free from saddle fcathei-s.

Wings — Ample, the points carried veiy low, almost
touching the ground.

Tail — Square, similar to the hen, free from sickle or
curved feathers, the feathers broadest towards the end.

Tail Coverts — Straight, round at the end and lying close
to the sides of the tail.

Thighs— Yery short.

Legs — Short, slender, and very taper,

Plumage — Close, perfectly hen-feathered.

Carriage — Very upright and strutting.

THE HEN.

Very similar to the cock. The comb and wattles much
smaller, and the head neater.

COLOUR OP GOLD-LACED SEBRIGHTS.

Head, Face, and Wattles — Rich red.
Deaf -ear — Whi te.

APPENDIX.

351

Plamar/e—'Rich golden yellow, every feather laced witli
ricli black, tliat is, having a narrow, even, well-
defined rich black edge all round the feathers ; the
two colours distinct, and not shading into each other,
the lacing of the same width on the sides as ou the

Lcr/s — Slaty blue. [ends of the feathers.

COLOUR OF SILVER-LACED SEBRIGHTS.

Similar to the golden, subtsituting silvery white for
the golden yellow ground colour.

Points in Sebrights.
Plumage most evenly and distinctly laced

throughout . . . . .4

Purity of Ground Colour in Silver, and

richness and clearness of Ground Colour

in Golden .....
Comb . .....

Tail

Smallness .....
SymmetiT' .....
Condition and General Appearance .

2
1

2
2
2

15

Disqualifications. —

Cocks weighing more than 20 oz. ; hens more than 18 oz.
Cocks having either hackle, saddle, or sickle feathers.
Legs of any colour except slate blue.

BLACK AND ^YHITE BANTAMS.

GENERAL SHAPE — THE COCK.

Comb — Double, square in front, close and straight on

the head, the top covered with small points, with a

peak behind, turning slightly upwards.
Head — Small, round, and carried well back towards

the tail.
Bcah — Short, slightly curved.
Eye — Prominent.

Deaf-ear — Flat and even on the surface.
Wattles— 'Ero2i([ and tbin, rounded on the lower edge.
Neck — Very taper, curving well back, so as to bring the

back of the head towards the tail ; hackle full and

long, flowing well over the shoulders.
Breast — Round, and carried prominently forward.
Bach — Very short, saddle feathers long.
Wintjs — Ample, the points drooping so as nearly to

touch the ground, the secondaries slightly expanded.
Tail — Full, expanded, well adorned with long curving

sickle feathers, carried well up towards the back of
Thighs — Short. [the head,

ie^s— Short, clean, and taper.
Carriage — Very upright, proud, and strutting.

THE HEN.

Corah — Same shape as that of cock, but very much

smaller.
Head — Small, round, and neat.
.Z?eaZ;— Small.
Eye — Full and quick.
Deaf-ear — Flat, and even on the surface,
ira'/fea— Small.

N'xlc — Short and taper, carried well back.
Breast — Round and prominent.
Bach — Short.

Winrjs — Ample, points drooping.
To.il — Full, exjjanded, carried rather upright.
Thighs— 'Short.
Legs — Short, clean and taper.
Carriage — Upright and strutting.

COLOUR OF BLACK BANTAMS.

Conih, Face, and Wattles — Rich bright red.
Beak — Dark hoi'n colour, or black.
Deaf-ear — Pure white.
Plumage — -Rich black throughout.
Legs — Bhick, or very dai'k leaden blue.

COLOUR OF WHITE BAKTAMS.

Comh, Face, and Wattles — Rich scarlet red.

Beah—y^hite.

Deaf-ear — Pure white.

Plumage — Pure white, as free from yellow tinge as

possible.
Legs — White, with a slight pink tinge on the back, and

betwixt the scales.

Points in Slack or White Bantams.
Purity of White or Richness of Black
Smallness ....
Symmetry ....
Comb ....

Deaf-ear ....
Condition and General Appearance

3
3
3

2
2
2

15

Disqualifications. —

Cocks more than 20 oz. , or hens more than 1 S oz.
Legs of black bantams not black or dark leaden blue.
Legs of white bantams of any other colour except white.

TURKEYS.

Head and Face — Very bright and rich in colour.

Eyes — Bright and clear.

Body — Long and deep.

TF/rt^s— Powerful, and well carried.

Breast — Broad, very long, and perfectly straight.

Thighs — Muscular, straight, and strong.

Legs — Very strong, and perfectly straight.

Plumage — Sound, hard, and glossy.

Colour — Rich, the birds matching in the pen.

Points.
Size .......'

Symmetry ......

Richness of Colour, and Matching in the Pen
Condition ......

15

Disqualifications. —

Crooked breasts, backs, or legs, or deformity in any
part.

DUCKS.

AYLESBURY.

GENERAL SHAPE AND COLOUR.

Bill — Long and broad ; when viewed sideways, nearly
straight fi'om the top of the head to the tip of the
bill; of a delicate pale flesh colour, perfectly free
from black or dark marks.

Head — Long and fine.

Nech — Long, slender, and gi-acefully curved.

Body — Long and deep.

Bach — Long and broad.

Wings — Strong, carried well up, and not drooping.

Tail — Feathers stiff and hard, with hard curled feathers
in the drake.

Thighs— ^hoxt.

Legs — Short and strong ; bright light orange coloui*.

Plumage — Pure white throughout.

Points in Aylesbury Ducks.
Purity of Colour and Sbape of Bill
Size .....
Symmetry ....
Purity of Colour in Plumage .
Condition ....

3
4
3
3

2

15

Disqualifications. ——

Birds so fat as to be down behind, bills deep yellow,
or marked with black, plumage of any colour except
white.

352

APPENDED.

ROUEN DUCKS.

CEXERAL SHAPE AXD COLOCR — THE DRAKE.

Bill — Long, l>ro;nl, ami rather wi.ler at the tip than at
the base ; when viewed siileways, nearly straight from
the crown of the head to the tip of the bill ; the
longer the better. Colour, greenish yellow, without
any other colour except the black bean at the tip.

Head — Long and tine ; rich lustrous green,

Ei/e—Dark hazel.

Xecl- — Long, slender, and neatly curved ; colour, the
same lustrous green as the hea«l, with a distinct
white ring on the lower part not quite meeting at the
back.

Breast — Broad and deep ; the front part veiy rich
purplish brown, or claret colour ; free from grey
feathers, the claret colour extending as far as possible
towanls the legs.

Back — Long ; higher part ashy grey mixed wiih green,
becoming a rich, lustrous green on the lower part and
rump.

Shoulder Corerls — Grey, finely streaked with waving
brown lines.

II7n^« — Greyish brown, mixed with gi-een, with a broad
ribbon mark of rich pui-ple, with metallic
reflections of blue and gi-een, and edged with
white ; the two colours quite distinct.
,, Flifjht Feathers — Dark, dusky brown, quite
free from white.

Underpart of Body and Sides — Beautiful grey, becoming
lighter grey near the vent, and ending in solid black
under the tail.

Tail — Feathers hard and stiff ; dark ashy brown, the
outer web in old birds edged with white.

Tail Corerls — Curled feathers hard and well curled ;
black, with very rich purple reflections.

Lejs and Feel — Orange, with a tinge of brown.

Bill — Broad, long, and somewhat flat ; brownish orange,

with a dark blotch on the upper part.
Head — Long and fine ; deep brown, with two light pale

brown stripes on each side from the bill past the eye.
Ne/rk — Long, slender, and neatly curveil ; light brown,

pencilled with darker brown, and quite free from the

least appearance of a white ring.
Breast, Underpart of Body and Sides — Greyish brown,

each feather marked distinctly with a rich dark brown

pencilling.
Back — Long ; light brown, richly marked with gi'een.
Win[/s — Greyish brown, mixed with green, with a
broad riliand mark of rich purple, edged
with white, the two colours distinct.
,, Fli'jht Feathers — Brown, perfectly free from
white.
Tail Coretis — Brown, beautifully pencilled with broad

distinct pencilling of dark greenish brown.
Tail — Light brown, with distinct broad wavy pencilling

of dark greenish brown.
Leffs — Orange, or brown and orange.

Points in Bouen Ducks.
Shape a.nd Colour of Bill . . .3

Size ....... 4

Colour of Plumage . . . .3

Symmetr/ 3

Condition ...... 2

1.'

Shqualiflcaticno.
Bills clear yellow, dark preen, bine or lead colour ;
any white in the flight feathers of cither sex ; birds so
fcit as to le down behind.

BLACK EAST INDIAN.

GEKKU-ir, SHAPH AND COLOUR.

Ska}^c — The entire form remarkably slender, neat, and

graceful.
Size — The smaller the better.
Plicmaf/e—likli lustrous black, with a brilliant velvety

green tint throughout ; perfectly free from white or

brown feathers on any part whatever.
lull of the Dru/ce—\ei-y dark yellowish green, without

spot or blemish.
Bill of the Duck — Very dark.
Le^s — Dark.

Points in Black East Indian Ducks.

Bill '2

Symmetry, Neatness, and Elegance of

Form 3

Richness of Plumage . ... 4

Smallness of Size ..... 4

Condition ...... 2

li

Disqualifications.
White in any part of the plumage.

CALL DUCKS.
Shape — The entire form vci-y short ; round and com-
pact, with VC17 full, round, high forehead, and short
broad bill.
Size — The smaller the better.

Colour— In the grey variety, — bill, legs, and plumage
the same as in the llouen.
,, In the white variety, — bill bright, clear, un-
spotted yellow. Plumage pure white.
Legs — Bright orange.

Points in Call Ducks.
Smallness of Size ..... 5
Bill and Stop of the Forehead , . 2

Symmetry and Compactness of Shape . 3
Colour of Plumage . ... 3

Condition . . . . . .2

15

Disqualifications in Grey Call Ducks.
White ring on the neck of the duck _: white flight
feathers in either sex.

Disqualifications in White Call Ducks.
Coloured feathers in any part of the pluuiage ; bills of
any colour except yellow.

GEESE.

TOULOUSE.

Carriafje—TaW and erect ; bodies nearly touching the
ground.

Co/owr— Breast and body, light grey ; back, dark grey ;
neck, darker grey than back ; wings and belly,
shading off" to white, though but little white visible.

Bill — Pale flesh colour.

Legs and Peel — Deep orange, inclined to red.

EMBDEN.
PZwma/ye— Uniformly pure white.
Bill — Flesh colour.
Legs and Feci — Oranc-c.

Pciiits in Geese.

Size and Woijjht
Symmetry
Colour .
Condition

0"

■ 4

3

2

INDEX.

A.

PAGE

PAOE

Brown, Mr. C, on Spanish fowls

,

. 105

Aldrovandus on Paduan fowls .

. 171

Brown-red Game

. 126

„ on Silk fowls

. 221

Buenos Ayres ducks

. 306

Andalusians .....

. 120

Bumble foot in fowls

333

Apoplexy in fowls ....

. 322

Burnham, Mi-. G. P., on the origin

of Brahmas

55

Audubon on the Cayuga duck .

. 308

Aylesbiuy ducks ....

. 305

C.
Call-ducks ....

. 309

B,

Caponizing ....

. 94

Baird, Professor Spencer, on the wild turke

y . 269

Caprikukullo ....

. 226

Ballanee, Mr. Charles, on Malays

75, 79

Cayuga or large black ducks

. 308

Bantams .....

. 240

Chalybeate for fowls

. 16

,, black ....

. 247

Chamois Polish fowls

. 185

,, Cochin or Pekin

. 251

Chickens, management of .

32,88

,, feather-legged .

. 249

Chittagongs ....

. 81

,, Game ....

. 248

Chitteprats ....

. 147

,, Gold and Silver-laced

. 241

Clift, Mr., on white Dorkings .

. 99

, , Japanese ....

. 252

Cobbold, Dr. Spencer, on the cause

of gapes

. 326

,, Nankin ....

. 253

Cochins ....

. 37

,, Sebright ....

. 241

Cochin Bantams

. 251

,, white ....

. 247

Cochins, black ....

. 44

Barn-door fowls ....

. 235

, , buff, Mr. Hewitt, on the characteristics o

f 41

Barn-yard duck ....

. 311

, , cross-bred, as table fowls

. 50

Begum Pilly gaguzes ....

. 239

,, grouse-coloured .

. 43

Bement, Mr. C, on Cayuga duck

. 308

,, first introduction^into Eng

land

. 37

Birchen Game ....*■.

. 131

,, partridge .

. 43

131ack-red Game ....

. 125

,, silver-cinnamon .

. 43

Elumenbach on the skulls of crested fowls

. 173

,, value as market and table fowls .

48

Bolton Greys

. 147

,, white.

. 44

Bond, Mr., on Spanish fowls

103, 114

Cock-fighting .

140

Borelli on the skulls of crested fowls .

. 173

Cold in fowls ....

324

Brahmas ... . . .

. 55

Coles, Mr., on Andalusians

120

,, characteristics of dark and light

. 66

Columbian fowls

121

,, history of introduction into Englar

id . 55

Columella on Roman fowls

82

,, value as table fowls

. 72

Consumption in fowls

330

Breed, definition of a irare breed

. 64

Coops for fatting

90

Breeding in-and-in ....

. 79

Coq a Duvet ....

223

Brent, Mr. B. P., on many-spurred Game f

owls . 72

,, N6gre

223

, , on pencilled Hamburghs

. 147

,, ii plumes frisees

22&

Broken bones in fowls

. 334

,, wallikikilli

230

Bronchitis in fowls ....

. 325

Corals .....

147

Brook, Rev. A. G., on the management of

Ham-

Cramming as practised in France

212

burghs .

. 163

Cramming fowls

93

,, on Malays .

. 79

Cramp in fowls

333

H H

354

INDEX.

PAGE

Creels or Creoles

147

Crevecceurs

209, 217

Crested duck

311

Crook, Mr., on Spanish

fowls .

107

Crop-bound fowls

323

Custard for cbickens

S8

Darwin, Mr. C, on the origin of the domestic duel

: 296

,, on the origin

of the domestic fowl

256

DuirrhoMi in fowls

324

Diseases of poultry .

. 322

Dorkings, coloured .

82

„ cuckoo .

97

,, silver-grey

83

,, white

99

Douglas, Mr, J. , on breeding Dorkings

86

»> >i

Game fowls

125

Dubbing Game fowls

139

Ducks

297

Duckwing Game
Dumpies .

127
233

E.

Early broods, to obtain , . . . .19

Earth as a deodorizer in poultry houses . . 9

East Indian ducks ...... 306

Egg organs, diseases of .... . 330

Eggs, best mode of packing for travelling . . 31

,, modes of preserving. ... 30

,, S3X of, not to be distinguished . . Ill

,, sterile, to distinguish ... 21

,, structure and development of . , 25

Elgar, Mr., on cuckoo Dorkings . ... 97

Emu fowls 225

Every-day layers . . . . . .147

Fattening-coops 90

,, fowls, methods followed in England . 90
,, methods followed in France . 211,215
Feather-legged Bantams . . . . .249

Feeding, general principles of . . . .11

Flack, Capt., on the wild turkey . . . 265
Fountain, best mode of constructing ... 15

French fowls 193

Frizzled fowls 226

Oallus .Eneus .

. 257

,, Bankiva

. 257

, , f ermgineufl
, , f urcatus

. 257
. 257

,, giganteus
, , Lanatus

73, 230, 257
. 223

, , Morio .

. 223

,, Sonneratii

. 257

,, Stanieyi
,, Temminckii

. 257
. 257

PACE

Game Bantams ...... 248

,, fowls 123

,, fowls, niany-spurroil .... 135

Gapes 326

Geese 312

,, Chinese ...... 316

„ Grey-lag 314

,, Scbastopol ...... 316

Qeyelin, Mr., exposure of the dc Sora Noax . 196
,, on French poultry breeding . 191,211

Ghondooks 191

Gould, Mr., on the Mexican turkey . . . 269

Gout in fowls 333

Grain, value of different kinds as food . . 12

Grigs, described by Willoughby .... 240

Guelders 219

Guinea-fowls 288

H.

Hamburghs, black . . . . . .158

,, jsencilled . . . . .146

,, spangldl ..... 154

Hen-cocks ....... 131

Hen-feathered Pheasant fowl .... 156

Henny Game fowls ...... 131

Hewitt, Mr. E., on black and white Bantaras . 247
,, Buenos Ayres ducks" . . . 307

., characteristics of buif Cochins . 41,40

,, characteristics of Dorkings. . . 84
,, on Dumpies ..... 233

,, on courage of Game fowls . . .136
,, on Frizzled fowls . . . .229

, , on hybrids between pheasants and fowls 104
,, on JMalays ..... 75

,, on Pea-fowls 285

,, on pencilled Hamburghs . . .150
,, on Polish fowls . . . 177,183

5, on the Rouen duck .... 304
,, on ruraiiless fowls .... 231
,, on characteristics of Sebright Bantams 241

,, on Silk fowls 222

,, on Spanish fowls . . . 104,106
,, on tbe^capture of wild ducks . . 301

,, on white geese . . .315, 320

Hooked-billed duck 310

Horner, Dr. F.R., on PoUsh fowls . . 172, 184
,, on the origin of the Sebright

Bantam . . .241

,, on the sounds in incubated eggs 27

Hornby, Admiral, on Spanish fowls . . 110, 113

Horse-flesh as food for fowls . . , .194

Houdans 203, 217

Hybrids between pheasants and fowls . . 164

In-and-in breeding .
Incubators ....
India, domestic fowls of .
Indian Game fowls .
Inflammation of stomach in fowls

79
22

236
73

324

INDEX.

355

J.

Japanese Bantams .....
Jerdon, Mr., description of wild Pea-fowl .

,, on the wild goose .

Johnson and "Wingfield's, Slessrs., errors respect

ing jungle fowls . . . •

Johnston, Mr. C. S., on horse-fed poultry .
Jones, Mr. P., on the value of Brahmas

,, on Polisli fowls . . . 1/

Junde fowls ......

Kulm fowl

L.

Labrador ducks

La Bresse fowls

La Fleche fowls

Lavergne, M. de, on the value of poulti

Layard, Mr. E. L., on frizzled fowls

,, on rumpless fowls

Leg-weakness in fowls
Lice in fowls ....

M.

Macgillivray on the wild duck .
,, on the wild goose' .

Maggots for chickens

Malays

Manx fowls ....
Martin, Mr. "W. C. L., description of

fowl .
Meleagris Americana

,, Gallopavo

,, Mexicana

,, Ocellata .
Millet Robinet, Mdlle., on caponizing

. 211

•y in France

PAGE

252

279
314

255

193

73

;, 178

255

236

306
213
218
201
226
230
332
334

the Guinea

296

313

33

75

220

on fattenins

Jlinorcas .
Mooneys .

Numida meleagris
, , ptiloryncha

290
265
265
265,[269
265, "271
. 94
. 211
. 119
. 154

288
288

0.

Origin of domesticated varieties
"^Ornithognomon" on wild jungle fowls
,, on wild Pea-fowls

255

257
2S0

Paralysis in fowls

. 323

Paris fat poultry show

. 200

Pavo cristatus ....

. 279

,, muticus ....

. 279, 2S2

,, nigripennis

. 279, 284

Pea-fowl , . . • .

. 279

Pekin Bantams

. 251

Penguin ducks

. 310

Perches, form and arrangement of

Pencilled Hamburghs

Pheasant Malays

Pheasant fowls

Pile Game

Pip in fowls .

Polish fowls

,, black-crested vrhite

, , rumpless .

,, spangled .

,, white
Poulardes
Poultry houses

1, 4,

R.

Red-caps

Restorative for chicken
Rheumatism in fowls
Roan ducks
Rouen ducks .
Roup
Rumpless fowls

PAGE

2,6
146

81
154
128
330
171
186
191
178
185

96
5, 8

234
16
333
304
304
325
230

S.

Sacc, ]\L le Docteur, on management of turkeys . 276
Sclater, Dr. P. L., on the black-winged Pea-fowls . 284
Sclerostoma syngamus .... 326, 328

the

Scrofula in fowls .....

Sebastopol geese ....

Sebright Bantams ....

Serai Tiiook .....

Sex of eggs, imi^ossibility of distinguishinc^

Shanghae, fowls at .

Shanghaes, see Cochins ....

Silk fowls

Silky Cochins ......

Sitting hens, management of . . .

Soft eggs, causes of

Sora, M. de, fictitious account of establishment
Spangled Hamburghs ....

Spanish fowls ......

,, white ......

St. John, Mr., on the wild duck
Sturgeon, Mr., description of Cochins
Sultan fowls ......

Sun-ey fowls ......

Sussex fowls ......

T.

Taylor, Mr. J., on Andalusians .

Teebay, Mr. R., on Brahmas

,, on Mooneys and Pheasant fowls

Tegetmeier, Mr. "W. B., on the characteristics of
pure breed ....
,, on fattening Dorkings

,, on hen-feathered Game cocks
, , description of a cock-fight
,, on skulls of crested fowls .
,, on feeding Aylesbury ducks
,, on the origin of the Sebright Bantam
,, the diseases of fowls

330
316
241
188
111
39

, 221

, 225
17

, 331

, 193

, 154

, 102

. 120

. 301
38, 40

. 188

. 83

. 83

121

66,

155

64
89
131
141
174
306
241
322

856

INDEX.

Tcniminck on Silk fowls ....

Trotter, Mr., on the management of turkeys

„ on the management of geese .

Turkey, the

Vertigo in fowls

VA E

222
272
318
265

323

W.

Waterton, Mr. C, on the chhnge of jilurange in

the wild drake 297

■Watts, Miss. E., on the merits of Brahmas . 73

,, on Sultan fowls . . . ISS

VTilloughby on frizzled fowls
,, on Silk fowls .
,, on Bantams .

White comb in fowls

PAGE

226
221

240
331

Yarrcll on the origin of the domestic goose 312, 315

Yurhorst, Mr. F. W., characteristics of white Cochins 44

, „ on Sultans 189

ou the French breeds of fowls . .217

Wcodfall and Kinder, Printers, Milford Lane, Strand, W.C.

•4

♦

University of British Columbia Library

DUE DATE

651199

AGRICULTURE

FORESTRY

LIBRARY

-J

)

ggQpj

^ ' V 8

jrmS

1^

F','

^

.%

-^fr'

.%-%

'#-

^m

i.' ■1^>3'"'

m

' 'j*^' - '

S^"'

'^. '■ "- ■

A* ■:■■ :■•

w- '

^ .'"v'. .■ 2

p

:'ig^

"v.!

'tHi

,-> ., -M

'''1^1

t<r

iiiV.^

^^^^^1

P^

'^H

pi - ':

^H