YOKOHAMAS. 



497 



very late hatched birds never grow much tail, 

 which is such an important feature in the fowl. 

 As layers it would be hard to beat them : wet 

 or dry, snow or wind, they continue quite un- 

 concerned. Their eggs are very rich, and 

 although small, contain the same amount of 

 nutriment as a full-sized one. The birds them- 

 selves are a dainty dish. Being exceedingly 

 active, their eggs are wonderfully fertile. I 

 very rarely have a clear egg, and find chickens 

 hatch out very strong." 



The birds that we have most admired have 

 not been those with most length of sickle. Of 

 this five to six feet can be got, as above 

 described, but specimens of less age, and not 

 exceeding three feet, have more 

 impressed us. A young pair of 

 birds appeared at the Crystal 

 Palace show of 1900, of which 

 the cockerel scarcely reached 

 that, but for pure and simple 

 beauty in fowls we never saw 

 anything to surpass them. 

 Long as the male's plumes 

 were, he had actually reached 

 the inside of an exhibition pen 

 with every sickle and hanger 

 absolutely smooth, sound, and 

 unbroken ! The sound smooth- 

 ness of every feather seen in 

 this case should, we think, be 

 taken more account of than any 

 mere length of feather which 

 cannot be kept in order ; but so 

 long as such condition can be 

 maintained, doubtless the 

 longer the better. To attain it, 

 good range and "hard" fecd- 

 mg are obvious means ; also 

 mature age, hatching in good 

 time, and an occasional pinch 

 of sulphur in tlie food. 



Suice these notes were written for our last 

 edition a specialist club has been founded for 

 the Yokohama, and as a result classes have 

 been given for the breed at many leading 

 shows, with gratifying results in entries. 

 Writing in The Feathered World Year Book 

 for 191 1, Mr. E. H. Turrell, of Ide, Seven- 

 oaks, thus speaks of the Yokohama: — • 



"Of the many fine breeds notable for their 

 excellence, yet in danger of being overlooked 

 for some newer product of the breeder's skill, 

 none, perhaps, is more deserving than the 

 Yokohama. 



" Having many points of excellence in 

 common, the entire Yokohama family have 

 established a very good reputation for their 



laying qualities. Although not a very large 

 egg, the quality is generally acknowledged to 

 be the very best for invalids. I claim attention 

 also for the other merits of this exceedingly 

 handsome, useful, and valuable fowl. 



" In the first place, contrary to a popular 

 impression, the Yokohama is very hardy and 

 vigorous from the start. The chicks are active 

 and lively as soon as they hatch, and are not 

 nearly so likely, as are the heavier birds, to 

 meet with accidents at the outset. The chicks 

 feather out early, and are thus enabled to 

 withstand cold or rain much better than the 

 heavier breeds that are slow in feathering. 

 Furthermore, Yokohamas make most excellent 



(Erod and 



Black-red Yokohama Cockerel. 

 Exhibited by Mr. E. H. Turrell. First Crystal Palace, igio.) 



mothers ; they are light, and therefore do not 

 break nearly so many eggs in the nest as do 

 the heavier fowls. They will hunt and scratch 

 for their young in a most industrious way, and, 

 if need be, will fight for them, almost like a 

 Game hen. 



" Again, the Yokohama has the reputation 

 of being wild and nervous. Let me say that 

 this depends very largely upon the treatment. 

 In keeping them in small flocks, particularly 

 if one is gentle and careful, they may be made 

 almost as tame and tractable as fowls of the 

 larger breeds. I have no difficulty whatever in 

 training them to be lifted from the nest at 

 pleasure. 



" The Yokohama is a great ranger, and this, 



