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JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDE-NEE, 



[ November 6, 18C6. 



He says, " These are prolific, but possess no great beauty." 

 Now as far as their beauty goes I certainly cannot agree with 

 him, for I think there cannot be a more majestic or beautiful 

 bird than a Black Spanish cock in full plumage, with his 

 splendid white face, looking like a gentleman in full dress 

 for a ball-room. The Black Spanish are termed by some 

 "the aristocracy of poultry." I quite agree with him as to 

 their constitution being rather delicate. 



We now come to Cochins and Brahmas, which he says, " are 

 large, awkward, clumsy, ugly, heavy birds, and all of eastern 

 origin." Alas for poor Cochins, as far as " Newmarket" is 

 concerned ! Any one never having seen them, but reading his 

 description, would exclaim, " What monsters ! " — but I am 

 happy to say that a great many breeders of Cochins and 

 Brahmas cannot readily agree with the opinion of " New- 

 market." I would ask him whether he has never observed 

 that mild and docile expression which amounts to intelligence 

 in the Cochin hens, and the stately walk and noble appear- 

 ance of the cocks ? Again, what is more beautiful than a 

 Partridge Cochin cock, with his jet-black breast contrasting 

 with the splendid golden colour ? He says, too, they are quite 

 unfit for table ; rather a bold assertion, as I supped off a 

 splendid pair of cockerels a few days ago, when I did not find 

 their flesh yellow, but quite the reverse, it being perfectly 

 white ; their skin is yellow, but flesh and skin are two different 

 things. I should not have mentioned the table properties of 

 these birds, had he not said they were unfit for table. As to 

 their decreasing in popularity, a close observer at our great 

 shows would not think so. 



Now for those gems the Hamburghs. " Newmarket " says, 

 " but their beauty is so far eclipsed by that of the Game fowls 

 and the Bantams, that they can hardly be considered as orna- 

 mental poultry. Mr. Baily, of London, one of our greatest 

 authorities on poultry, describes them as being " Very hand- 

 some birds, unusually good layers, bear moderate confine- 

 ment well, do not sit, most attractive on lawns or at lodge 

 gates." What a character for birds which are considered 

 non-ornamental. I certainly think that both the Pencilled and 

 Spangled varieties are far superior to either Black or White 

 Bantams, and quite equal to the Game Bantams. The 

 Sebright Bantams are really beautiful, but in my opinion 

 Hamburgh hens can in no way be surpassed by Game hens. 



Malays are certainly not over-handsome, but let us not 

 despise them, as they belong to a very useful class of poultry, 

 and will thrive and do well in any little back yard. 



Last, but not least, are Turkeys and Geese, which he de- 

 scribes as the iiftliest of all poultry. Now I would ask " New- 

 market " whether he has ever seen a splendid flock of 

 Cambridge Turkeys in full plumage ; if so, I can hardly think 

 he would class them amongst the ugliest of poultry. Surely, 

 according to his views, the Editors of the " Poultry-Keepers' 

 Manual" must have had very bad taste in choosing a Turkey 

 cock for their frontispiece, but not so according to mine, as I 

 think nothing can be handsomer than a fine Cambridge Turkey 

 cock, with bis rich bronze plumage and noble carriage. 



I think that fine bird the Goose claims a little considera- 

 tion. In a farmyard or any other place where there is a pond 

 and a grass field, Geese will, I think, be an ornament, but 

 especially in a farmyard ; and I would ask " Newmarket," 

 What looks better than a goodly train of Toulouse or Embdens? 



" Newmarket " must not think I disparage Game fowls, for 

 I am a breeder and an admirer of them. My present purpose 

 is to do justice to those breeds which he would depreciate, or 

 even blot out as non-ornamental poultry. — Jcstitla. 



finds its prizetakers. Lancashire has long been celebrated, not 

 only through Admiral Hornby, but all over the county. Derby- 

 shire and Warwickshire also are always in the van ; Scotland has 

 produced numbers of perfect birds, and does so still. The entire 

 supply of the best and choicest poultry in the London market 

 is due to this breed, and is continuous throughout the year, 

 proving that with moderate painstaking there is no delicacy of 

 constitution that cannot be overcome. — Hand-cross. 



DORKINGS. 



I can fully endorse all that is said about Dorkings and their 

 qualities as good layers, sitters, and mothers. It is more 

 than unnecessary to say anything about their merits for the 

 table. They fatten readily while very young, the great weight 

 of the food they afford is composed of that with which " rinder- 

 pest" has made us all familiar — viz., prime joints. The fibre 

 of their flesh is so delicate, that they may be said to have no 

 coarse meat, and the symmetry of their bodies is such that 

 when the cover is removed, and a boiled one is seen of ivory- 

 whiteness, or a roasted one with the same pure colour peering 

 through the delicate and golden skin, either would seem to 

 " £ive the world assurance of a fowl." I believe no fowl is equal 

 to the Dorking for the table. Its detractors say it is delicate, 

 but what proof have we ? In all parts of England it thrives and 



THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF GAME 

 FOWLS. 



1. — Black-breasted Beds. 



Black-breasted Bed cocks are of two colours — the light clear- 

 hackled, and the darker striped-hackled. 



The hens are of three distinct colours — viz., 1, The Par- 

 tridge-coloured (the original wild colour). 2, The fawn-breasted 

 Dark Brown, o, The Cinnamon-coloured. The first two are 

 striped-hackled, and the last sort clear-hackled, breeding clear- 

 hackled cocks. 



Of eyes and legs there are various colours — the red eye, 

 the yellow or daw eye, bay eyes, and light brown eyes. There 

 are also willow legs, white legs, blue legs, yellow legs, carp- 

 brown legs, and dark or blackish legs. 



Classed by eyes and legs of different colours, there are 

 fourteen different varieties of Black-breasted Beds. The 

 willow-legged birds are the most common, and the favourite 

 birds for exhibition, these and the Brown Beds taking more 

 silver cups than any. 



2. — Brown Beds. 



Brown Beds may be divided into four varieties : — 



1. Bed Brown-breasted cocks, with the dark brown hens and 

 the blackish-coloured hens, both with the dark coppery-red 

 necks. Dark or black legs. 



2. Throstle-breasted cocks. These generally have a cross of 

 the Black-breasted Bed in them, but have the same coloured 

 hens and same coloured legs as the first sort. 



3. The Ginger-breasted ginger Brown Bed cocks with a lighter 

 and more j'ellowish feather. Hens either of a ginger brown- 

 red colour, or blackish with yellow necks. The legs of these 

 are generally dark olive green. 



4. Throstle-breasted, willow or dark olive-green legs. Hens 

 of the same colour as the first-mentioned birds. 



The first-mentioned birds with the dark brown hens are the 

 parent stock of all the Brown Beds. The others all result from 

 crossing. The eye in the Brown Beds is not jet black, but has 

 a shade of brown in it. The Brown Beds dispute the pre- 

 eminence at all exhibitions with the willow-legged Black- 

 breasted Beds, with which birds they have been much crossed 

 at times. 



In crossing Brown Beds and Black -breasted Beds together 

 for exhibition, the Black-breasted Bed gives the better and 

 brighter colour, and the Brown lied the sharper and longer 

 head, and the loftier and more commanding shape and carriage 

 required. 



3. — DuckW'Ings. 



These, as already mentioned, are of four sorts, besides 

 which there is the Mealy or Silver-Grey variety. 



1. Willow-legged, red eyes. 



2. Blue-legged, red eyes. 



3. Yellow-legged, yellow eyes. 



4. White-legged, yellow eyes. 



All these were bred originally from different varieties of the 

 Black-breasted Beds. The yellow-legged were bred from the 

 Grey Duckwing hens, crossed with the Black-breasted cock, 

 and then with the Yellow Birchen cock. The Mealy Greys 

 were mostly bred from the Blacks crossed with the Mealy 

 Whites, and the grey colour inclines to prevail much less in 

 the cocks than in the hens, the cocks in all the Grey sorts being 

 always less grey than the hens are. All Greys are bred more 

 or less from the Bod varieties. The willow-legged are most 

 common and are the best birds, and they are the standard Duck- 

 wings everywhere. 



4. — The Piles. 



These are of four sorts as generally classed : — 



1. The Cheshire Pile, red eyes, white legs. 



2. The willow-legged Pile, red eyes. 



3. The blue-legged Pile, red eyes. 



4. The yellow-legged Pile, yellow or daw eye?. 



The first-mentioned is by far the best bird, and is the true 

 standard Pile, and the quickest and most active, and lightest 



