46 CHOICE OF STOCK FOR BREEDING. 



brilliant metallic reflections; the bill, legs, and feet, yellow. 

 The hen is plain in her plumage, and perfectly free from the 

 horny appendage ; her colour brown, or brownish white ; the 

 legs and feet are bluish gray. 



Those in the London Zoological Gardens, seem as familiar as 

 any domestic fowl ; it is said to be the boldest and strongest of 

 all the known varieties, according to its size, and anxiously sought 

 after by the cock-fighters, seldom failing to secure the victory 

 over the largest game cocks. 



What is usually denominated barn-door fowl, being a hetero- 

 geneous breed, from all the preceding, a description would be 

 useless. 



CHAPTER III. 



CHOICE OF STOCK FOR BREEDING. 



A SUMMARY of the different sorts of poultry may save the 

 reader some trouble. 



The Cochin China are large birds, and very prolific. 



The Malay is perhaps larger than the Cochin China, and ad- 

 mirably adapted for crossing the smaller breeds. 



The Chittagong is a large-bodied bird, and a good layer ; the 

 flesh is white and juicy. 



The Dorking is a native bird, of course climatized ; and is fit 

 for table at a very early age. 



The Old Sussex is precisely the Dorking, wanting the ad- 

 ditional toe. 



The While Dorking is small and handsome. 



The Spanish lay the best egg, and are fine table fowl ; their 

 skin and flesh are white and delicate. 



The Columbian lay an immense egg, and are well calculated for 

 the table. 



The Hamburgh, Black Polish, Spangled Polish^ and Pheasant 

 Fowl, if well fed, are everlasting layers, and beautifully orna- 

 mental. 



The JBolton Greys are abundant layers, but their eggs are small. 

 There are many other fowl described, which are kept more for 



