42 JUNGLE FOWL. 



and pugnacity. They are splendidly marked, as my readers will 

 perceive, from the annexed sketch, the ground of the feathers being 

 either a rich, orange brown, or cream colour, and each feather, 

 pencilled round with black, or dark brown, with the greatest 

 uniformity. They are said to have been brought, by the late Sir 

 John Sebright, M.P. for Herts, from India, and have frequently 

 been exhibited in London ; for beauty of plumage, and, indeed, if 

 well bred, and perfect in their markings, nothing can exceed them. 

 The regulations of the Society of London Amateurs, require that 

 each exhibitor shall offer his birds for sale, after the exhibition, 

 and may bid himself, and put on a prohibitory amount of purchase- 

 money. It is on record, that Sir John, bid up one of his dimi- 

 nutive hens to 29, and bought her in, at that price. And it is 

 recorded in the Illustrated London News, of 20th February, 1847, 

 that so late as that date, two hens and a cock, of these beautiful 

 emblems, of pride and consequence, sold for 50 and Is., being a 

 shilling more than the amount put on them, by their owner. At 

 the sale of the late lamented baronet, the golden grounded birds 

 averaged 6 a brace, and the silver spangled 8 a brace ; although 

 they are becoming comparatively abundant, they still keep up a 

 high price, in the London market, if well marked. There has 

 been lately offered here, some fine specimens, from Sir John's 

 own stock, at a very low figure. I do not think anything could 

 exceed their perfection of feather. A lady near Shrewsbury has 

 procured some fine specimens, of both gold and silver spangled, 

 from this neighbourhood ; if she still retain them, I think she may 

 challenge England ; as far as I can judge, they are quite superior 

 to those that took the prize in London. Some ladies in the 

 Queen's County, have procured fine specimens from the late 

 baronet's stock ; I have no doubt, but under their fostering care, 

 the breed will be kept up with as much ardour as during the life- 

 time of the great poultry patron, Sir John, and that we will be 

 breeding them, as in the baronet's lifetime, " to a single feather," 

 and retain their character of the " prettiest of domestic birds." 

 The male birds should stand about 12 inches high ; the standard 

 weight being 22 oz. ; the plumage as above described, the rose 

 comb is preferred; the wattles are moderately long; face and 

 throat bare ; no top-knot or ruff on neck ; as free as possible from 

 hackle; tail without the plume, or what is called hen-tailed; 

 perfectly clean-legged. The hens are abundant layers, and though 

 it is said there is a difficulty in rearing their chickens, my patrons 

 have been successful in that way. Both flesh and eggs are said to 

 be of fine flavour; although scarcely ever without the birds, I 



