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BLACK COCHIN CHINA FOWLS. 



In England manj- different breeds of fowls are distinguished and prized by ainateui-s, 

 and many counties have long been celebrated for the size and excellence of their poultry, 

 of which Surrey and Sussex are examples. The Sussex fowls are of large size and fine 

 flavour, but inclined to be long in the body. The breed around Dorking, in Surrey, is of 

 great antiquity, and supposed by some to have been introduced by the Romans. 



A pure Dorking fowl is of large size and rounded contour, and furnished with one or 

 more additional, but imperfect, toes ; the legs are short, and the plumage white. The 

 breed, of late years, has been much crossed with the common dunghill fowl, and with the 

 Sussex race, but without any deterioration. The fle.sh is remarkably white and delicate 

 in flavour. They are not easily obtained in the place to which they have aided in giving 

 celebrity ; but vast numbers of them are regularly sent to the London' markets. 



A brood of fowls, called the Spanish, is often seen around London. They are of a very- 

 large size, and the hens lay enormous eggs, but they do not sit well. The plumage is 

 black, the comb large and often pendulous, and the naked skin behind the ears white. 



The black Poland or Hamburg breed have a large top-knot of long white feathers. 

 The gold-spangled and silver-spangled Polands are remarkable for their beauty of 

 plumage. Thcso have small combs on the forehead, and a fall top-knot of feathers on 

 the crown. Fine fowls of these breeds are highly valued. 



The rumpless fowl, in which not only ai-e the tail-feathers wanting, but the tail itself, 

 is said to l:c derived from Persia. These birds arc not pleasing in appearance, but they 

 lay well. The I'riesland breed, remarkable for having all the feathers frizzled or curled 

 up the wrong way, are very unsightly. These fowls are founil in the Deccan, in Java, 

 and in Sumatra, as well as in Europe. 



The game cock, which is probably a native of India, though for many centuries 



