SCOTCH DUMPIES. 



489 



hibition fowl, where a club was formed for 

 it in 1898, and an attempt was made to popu- 

 larise it in this country in igoi-2, it was not 

 until 1904 that the single-comb variety was 

 recognised by the American Poultry Associa- 

 tion, and 1906 that the rose-comb variety was 

 admitted to the same association's Standard 

 of Perfection. In August, 1909, the British 

 Rhode Island Red Club was established ; and 

 since that date the breed in whose interests it 

 exist has increased in popular esteem with 

 wonderful rapidity. The club in 1910 con- 

 sisted of 116 members, and at its second 

 annual show, held in Sheffield in December, 

 1 910, there were no less than 136 entries in the 

 six classes provided for the birds ; and it is 

 not too much to remark that the breed has by 

 no means attained to the zenith of its vogue in 

 the British Isles. 



By the Standard of the Club, both rose 

 combs and single combs are allowed. Colour 

 was formerly the most important consideration, 

 but at the general meeting held in Sheffield 

 at the end of 1910 it was decided to allot 30 

 points for shape and 25 points for colour. 

 Thu body should be long, broad, and deep 

 (especially being long in keel), and therefore 

 oblong in appearance ; neck of medium length 

 and carried slightly forward — it is covered with 

 a full hackle which comes over the shoulders, 

 but is not too loosely feathered ; the thighs 

 and shanks are of medium length, the former 

 being large and the latter well rounded and 

 smooth. The body is longer and wider than 

 the accepted Rock style, and much longer in 

 keel and carried less upright than the Wyan- 

 dotte type. The beak is reddish horn or 

 yellow, the eyes red, wattles and earlobes 

 medium size and red. The standard for 

 colour is purposely so drawn as to recognise 

 darker colour in the cocks and avoid double 

 matings for securing similar colours. The 

 cock's colour is rich, brilliant red, with back 

 and wing bows darker red ; tail black, which is 

 also allowed in the concealed feathers of the 

 wing ; the under-colour lighter red or rich 

 salmon, free from slate or grey. The hen is 

 lighter, of golden red surface colour, with 

 black tail, and the lower end of the hackle 

 tipped with black, under-colour as in the cock. 

 The shanks are clean, and rich yellow or red 

 horn colour. The standard weights are 8i^ lbs. 

 for cocks and j\ lbs. for cockerels, 6J lbs. 

 for hens, and 5 lbs. for pullets. The dis- 

 qualifications in show birds are feathers or 

 down on the shanks, plucked legs, white 

 feathers in outer plumage, ear-lobe showing 

 more than one-half the surface permanently 



white. This does not mean the pale ear-lobe, 

 but the enamelled white, sprigs or bad lop in 

 single combs, shanks or feet other than yellow 

 or red-horn colour, and more or less than 

 four toes on either foot, entire absence of main 

 tail feathers, two absolutely white (so-called 

 .wall or fish) eyes, wry or squirrel tails, and 

 deformities or " missing " feathers, while a 

 pendulous crop shall be cut hard. Faults to 

 be avoided are fluffy or Cochin plumage, or 

 Cochin cushions on females, light yellow bills 

 or black in bill, pearl eyes, long spike to rose 

 combs, high or upright tails, tendency to green 

 in shanks. The Standard further directs atten- 

 tion to the fact that apparent vigour is to be 

 regarded with the consideration of shape. This 

 being a utility breed, hardiness is of vital im- 

 portance. 



That the Rhode Island Red is a good and 

 useful fowl there is no doubt ; and it is in- 

 teresting to know that it has been found pos- 

 sible to cultivate and exhibit it upon utility 

 lines, and to keep it distinct, in a form that 

 could be recognised by the American Poultry 

 Association. The latest edition of the Poultry 

 Club Standards does not include a scale of 

 points for the Rhode Island Red, but it may be 

 mentioned that the British Club has adopted 

 the standard affected by the American Rhode 

 Island Club, so that it may be possible to 

 breed the fowls in both countries on similar 

 lines. So far the American product appears to 

 be more uniform and brilliant in colour, and 

 larger, than the British variety. A typical 

 Rhode Island Red cock is shown in the photo- 

 graph of " Fearless " on p. 488.* 



SCOTCH DUMPIES. 



These fowls are of considerable antiquity 

 in Scotland, of how great it is impossible to 

 discover ; and they have been known in Eng- 

 land since 1852, when the late Mr. John Fairlie 

 introduced them into his yards near New- 

 market. They were also called Bakies, Go- 

 laighs, and by other synonyms. About 1870 

 they appeared nearly extinct, and Mr. Thomas 

 Raines, of Stirling, wrote to us that he knew of 

 only one or two people that still had them ; but 

 national feeling has recently made commend- 

 able efforts to resuscitate a breed which cer- 

 tainly has commendable qualities, and with 

 such result that it has found a place in the 

 Standard. 



As a rule Dumpies have a rather large, 

 single comb, fair-sized wattles, and red ear- 

 lobes. The real characteristics lie in a long and 

 large and deep body, carried upon extremely 



* For the Rhode Island White see p. 506 



