The Country Gcntknians Magazine 



387 



"(Llic ^airt} anil Poultry lavb. 



NOTES ON THE VARIOUS BREEDS OF POULTRY. 



THE HENWIFE. 



IN describing the points of the difterent 

 varieties of our domestic fowls, with a 

 view to aid intending exhibitors in forming 

 perfectly matched pens, I shall commence 

 with 



I. THE DORKING BREED, 



Our own national fowl, whose merits can- 

 not be too much lauded, as it is indeed the 

 ne plus ultra of excellence. 



Whether we glory in its rich beauty of 

 colouring, or its more substantial qualities of 

 shape, size, and plumpness, we may claim for 

 it a place in any poultry tournament — abroad 

 as at home. Indeed, on the Continent, our 

 Dorking is making its way into general favour 

 wherever known. At the Paris Exhibition in 

 1863, amongst other valuable prizes, I became 

 the fortunate possessor of a gold medal 

 offered by the Emperor for the best pen of 

 fowls in the Exliibition. My Dorkings 

 proved victorious over all the finest French 

 varieties, and the birds could have been sold 

 at enormous prices ; but being intended for 

 competition at Birmingham, they returned to 

 Scotland none the worse of their trip across 

 the Channel, and week's residence in the 

 fairy city of Paris. In selecting a pen for 

 exhibition, the points essential to success in 

 the grey Dorking cock are the following : — 



G?w/^— Straight, single, erect, evenly ser- 

 rated, and free from sprigs or side shoots. 



Wattles — Long, red, and pendulous, but 

 firm and not too thin. 



Ear-lobes — Red. 



Breast — Black or slightly speckled with 

 white. 



Tail — Black, large and sweeping, sickle 

 feathers well carried, a white feather no dis- 

 qualification. 



Side tail feathers — Abundant and long. 



Saddle hackle — Light straw colour or silvery- 

 grey, long and silky. 



Neck hackle — Ditto, coming well round to 

 the breast. 



Primary quills — Black or dark grey. 



Secondary quills — Light grey. 



Upper wing coverts — Grey. 



Loiver tai fig coverts — Dark grey. 



Thighs — Straight, strong, black, or spotted 

 with white. 



Legs and feet — White, and free from 

 feathers. 



Toes — Five in number, and quite distinct,, 

 the fifth pointing upwards, and not a mere 

 branch of the fourth, as too often seen. 



The Dorking hen should have the follow- 

 ing points : — 



Coi/d> — Red, falling over on either side. 



Wattles — Red and firm. 



Ear-lobes — Red. 



Breast — Reddish brown, or, if the cock is 

 much spotted with white, salmon colour. 



Tail — Dark grey or black. 



Neck hackle — Black and white, or duck 

 grey, long and full. 



Back — Dark ash or gi'e}'. 



Primary quills — Black, or tinged with dark 

 brown. 



Secoiulary quills — Brown, spotted. 



Upper wing coverts — Grey. 



Lower wing coverts — Grey, and very dis- 

 tinct. 



In addition to points and colouring, size 



