Good and Bad Qualities of Breeds. g 



but, like the last, they are non-sitters ; the eggs, as well as the 

 birds, are quite small ; the flesh is of poor quality, the skins and 

 legs are dark. As in the case of the previous breed, there are 

 several varieties of the Dorkings. Although they are large 

 birds and the finest of table fowls, besides being very fair 

 layers, doing their own hatching and being good mothers, 

 they are not very hardy in our cold winters, and require plenty 

 of room and warm houses. The old Dominiques are also good 

 table fowls, but moderate layers. Next come the Black Span- 

 ish and Minorcas, both excellent layers of very large eggs 

 very good birds for the south ; but in our northern states they 

 are very tender to the winter's cold. Flesh poor ; skin and 

 legs dark. 



Asiatics may be divided into two classes Cochins and Brah- 

 mas. Of these, the Brahmas are probably the better layers. 

 All of them are slow in growing to maturity, and are great eaters. 

 Although they lay well in winter, their eggs are rather small in 

 comparison with the food consumed. They are inveterate sit- 

 ters and fair table fowls when young. Leghorns are among the 

 most valuable as great layers, but are non-sitters. Rather small 

 in body ; flesh only medium. They require plenty of room 

 and high inclosures, as they are great flyers, especially the 

 Brown. The eggs of this breed are smaller than those of the 

 White. The French breeds are scarcely hardy enough for our 

 climate, except the Houdans, and these are not particularly 

 hardy. They are only moderate layers, although fine table 

 fowls. Crevecceurs and La Fleches, particularly the latter, 

 lay immense eggs , but are entirely too tender for America, at 

 at least for the Eastern and Middle states. 



The Plymouth Rocks are a cross between Asiatic and Dom- 

 inique, receiving the latter's color. As both are sitting varie- 

 ties, the Rocks are also strong sitters. They are pretty good 

 feeders, but lazy layers, and are inclined to be egg-eaters. 

 Wyandottes are bred between a non-sitting variety, the Ham- 

 burg, and the Asiatic. This was expected to be a better lay- 

 ing variety, and so it is ; the birds have small double combs, 



