WIITTE CCCIIIN CHINA FOWLS. 



The Domestic Cock is that bird over which, above all others, man has acquired the 

 m.ost ample dominion. This conquest was not, however, achieved without difficulty. In 

 no work of antiquity do we meet with the slightest indication of the migration of these 

 birds ; nor is it probable that, heavy as they are, and with wings and tails so constructed 

 as to have no facility for a flight of long duration, or for traversing the seas, they should 

 have been able to transport themselves from countries far remote. Man miist, therefore, 

 have brought them into the ditf^rout countries where those species exist at the present 

 day. They are now propagated through ever}' country of the globe. 



The birds represented in the annexed engravings, are a Chinese breed, and are 

 kept in great numbers at Shanghai. Some of these fowls are quite white, and others 

 quite black ; and they have the same peculiarity of form. The white, with feathered 

 legs, are the most valuable. One pen of these birds, consisting of a cock and three hens, 

 were sold at the Birmingham poultry show, in 1802, for fi(ty pounds. The price for 

 ordinary fowls of this breed varies from ten shillings to five pounds each. 'I'he real 

 Cochin China fowls are said to bo small and elegantly shnj)od. 



The first yhanghai fowls brought into England are said to liave been a j^resent to Her 

 ^Majesty from India ; but the eggs liuviug been freely distributed, the breed may now bo 

 easily obtained. These birds appear to be a liardy race. A pair of Cochin China fowls, 

 sent by. Her ilajesty to the DubKn Cattle Show, in April, 1810, created a great sensa- 

 tion, from their immense size and weight, and the full deep tone of the crowing of the 

 cock. So great was the desite tO. possess the breed, that enormous prices were given for 

 the eggs and chickens. At Handsworlh, near Birmingham, large numbers arc kept by 

 G. C. Adkin, Esq., an nmaleur in fancy poultry; and in tlie jjnultry yard of lliat 

 gentleman they have all tlic liidiils of our barn-door fowls. 



