436 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



should very much prefer. They are great layers, though 

 poor breeders; and therefore, are not particular favor- 

 ites just now, while the hen fever rages so high, and the 

 whole country is converted into one great chicken-hatch- 

 ing machine. Among the prettiest fowls in the show are 

 the Bolton greys. They are about the size of the old 

 style of Dominiques, a few of which are also here ; and I 

 should think would be preferred by any man in his senses, 

 instead of that long-legged, garret-window, corn-eating 

 breed, clothed with dirty feathers down to their ugly 

 heels. The Dorkings and Jersey blues are large enough, 

 and good enough to suit any taste not vitiated by this 

 mania of speculation in hen flesh. Among all this vast 

 variety of fancy fowls, with fancy names, my fancy 

 would not lead me to name more than half a dozen kinds 

 from which to select for myself, or friends — and these 

 should be Dorkings, Dominiques, Bolton greys, Jersey 

 blues, black Polands, Java game, and perhaps, for fancy, 

 a few Sebright Bantams. 



Among the ducks, those which pleased me particularly 

 were called Spanish — their neat, drab coats, closely fit- 

 ting their moderate-sized, compact bodies. For beauty, 

 the little wood duck excels any other of the quack family 

 — those in the rooster trade included. 



There were in the exhibition a few very handsome Bre- 

 men and China geese, and several small samples of tur- 

 keys; but the fever ran highest for the tallest kind of 

 cocks and hens, both in size and price. The curiosity of 

 visitors was about equally divided between the cage of 

 an American eagle, upwards of twenty-three years old, 

 and a pair of very large swans, belonging to the "old 

 Marshfield farmer," better known among politicians, per- 

 haps, as Daniel Webster. 



The annexed beautiful picture of one of these birds 

 will afford pleasure to your readers, and form an appro- 

 priate finis to my hasty account of the great poultry 

 show. Solon Robinson. 



Boston, Nov. Uth. 1850. 



