CHAPTER XV. 



EUROPEAN BREEDS. 



DORKINGS. 



Speaking of this breed, a well-known authority says: 

 Looking back into the dim past, to find any record of 

 any pure-bred fowls is almost useless. But few peculiari- 

 ties were noted in ancient records; perhaps the Dorking 

 and Polish fowls are the only ones that can claim any 

 great antiquity. In ancient paintings hens with crests 

 are often seen resembling our Polish birds, and from 

 which the latter are probably descended; and Columella, 

 an old Roman writer, gives directions for the selecting 

 of poultry to breed from, "such as five claws, square 

 frames," etc. Such birds have been bred in England for 

 centuries, but varying in color; the probability is that 

 they were imported by the Romans while Britain was n 

 Roman colony, for they took most of their luxuries along 

 with them. At any rate, these fowls have been so long 

 known in England that they are called an English 

 breed; they have been bred mottled, gray, splashed, 

 cuckoo or dominique colored, white, and silver- gray, which 

 is the last fashion in color. 



A fine Silver-gray Dorking cock is a well-shaped, 

 noble bird, of about eight or nine pounds weight, with 

 full silver hackle and graceful flowing tail; he certainly 

 makes a show that few birds can match; his face and 

 comb are bright-red, beak strongly arched; saddle, back, 

 and hackle fine silvery white, wing coverts the same; 

 breast, thighs, and tail black when complying with the 

 Standard, but the thighs of young birds are nearly 

 always a little grayish if the bird is any size, and birds 

 (136) 



