284 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



1889, that any improvement of a decided char- 

 acter took place, when birds of the closer type 

 came to the front and swept the deck con- 

 sistently for the first time. The change, I well 

 remember, caused quite a flutter of excitement 

 amongst exhibitors, and of course did not please 

 them all ; but the majority were satisfied at the 

 turn things had taken, and it may be said that 

 from this time forward the new and improved 

 type made progress. The ideal might have been 

 reached more quickly had it not been that most 

 of the judges would not forsake their old love 

 for the new, but still gave the prizes and 

 honours to the old and now discarded type — in 

 fact to that which the prominent Langshan 

 breeders were determined to give up, and con- 

 trary to the standard of the Langshan Society. 

 This retarded matters from proceeding as fast 

 as the Society desired, and it was not until 

 specialist judges came more into vogue, who 

 understood better what was wanted, that matters 

 were placed on a more satisfactory basis, the 

 result being that now, through perseverance and 

 in spite of much difficulty, many are the birds, 

 both in and out of the show pen, that are to be 

 found bearing the stamp the standard requires. 

 The Palace Show of igoo confirmed this m 

 some measure. At that show the judge had no 

 difficulty in being consistent in his awards, and 

 placing birds of the correct style in the front 

 ranks. It is to be hoped that this satisfactory 

 state of things will continue, and that the novice 

 will not be so perplexed in the future as he has 

 been in the past, but that now there is some 

 fixity of type, his many difficulties as to what 

 to breed for will be overcome. 



" It may be helpful to many to make a note 

 of some of the chief points a Langshan should 

 above all possess. Richness of colour, I think, 

 stands first; for the chief beauty of the breed 

 lies here, and gives it a charm which is most 

 attractive. This colour should be a pure black, 

 with a metallic sheen of beetle green, the richer 

 and greener the better, and any birds with 

 even a suspicion of blue or purple in their 

 feathers should be set aside or consigned to the 

 kitchen. It has frequently been stated that 

 breeders run the risk of spoiling the useful 

 properties of the Langshan by breeding too 

 much for colour ; but this, as far as my own 

 experience goes, is a certainly mistaken view, 

 for I have always found that those birds are 

 invariably the best layers which carry lustre of 

 plumage in a very high degree. It is thus satis- 

 factory to know that we can safely combine 

 beauty with usefulness, without there being the 

 least danger of impairing the prolificacy of this 

 handsome and beautiful bird. 



" The plumage, besides being pure in colour, 

 should be tight-feathered all through, and 

 especially so if anything, over the back, without 

 any suspicion of cushion. Down and around 

 the thighs it must be the same, fitting down if 

 possible more closely and evenly over the hocks, 

 and from thence passing into a fringe of feather.s 

 down the shank to the end of the outer toe. 

 Feathers on the middle toe should be carefully 

 avoided. 



" In regard to the eye, this must be almost 

 black in colour, or at least a very dark brown ; 

 any yellow, orange, or mottled colour being a 

 great disfiguration and blemish. The young 

 fancier should be very particular in selecting 

 birds for breeding that are especially strong 

 and first rate in this respect. 



" The legs and feet are of a dark slate colour, 

 and the skin between the toes of a vivid and 

 delicate pink, and the toe-nails white. The beak 

 is of horn colour, dark at base but running off 

 into a lighter shade. Combs, face, and wattles 

 all should be a very brilliant red. For the rest, 

 I think with the aid of the Standard, and the 

 illustration of the pair of Langshans before him, 

 the amateur will gain all the theoretical know- 

 ledge he requires. He will observe at first 

 sight that the bird is tall, upright, of alert and 

 active appearance notwithstanding its size, and 

 in type also the birds are as nearly as possible 

 a faithful representation. 



" There is one point upon which it is neces- 

 sary for me to issue a word of warning, as it is 

 one whereby the perfect symmetry of the bird is 

 endangered. There is a tendency in my opinion 

 to get it too long on shanks and thighs, and 

 especially the latter. A moderately and only 

 fairly long shank and thigh should be bred for, 

 otherwise one gets a bird out of proportion at 

 once, and with no counterbalancing advantage. 

 There is not a shadow of a doubt that length of 

 leg is rather overdone in some birds, and there 

 being neither beauty or usefulness in it, a com- 

 promise might with advantage be effected. It is 

 a point that might well be conceded with profit, 

 for besides being a direct improvement to the 

 bird itself, it would gather many more fanciers 

 into the ranks of the Langshan Society, and 

 gain a larger number of admirers. 



"At any rate, despite one or two weak points, 

 which I feel sure in course of time will be 

 rectified, the modern bird is far and away 

 superior to the old type in nearly every respect 

 As it stands it is a fine, useful, and profitable 

 fowl, with great beauty combined. With more 

 activity and more inclination to ramble and 

 forage for themselves, they have become more 

 interesting, for they make the poultry yard full 



