CORTACHY TO PERTH. 253 



and two of the hens were purchased for ten guineas. 

 They were not worth the money, and none of the 

 blood is left. Stretch of Liverpool and Chace of 

 Manchester supplied new strains, the latter buff and 

 white ; and Mrs. Blair also examined the different 

 Zoological Gardens at Paris and Antwerp, and bought 

 a few pens at 4 a-piece. The Rev. G. Hustler fur- 

 nished her first Dorkings, but they have been replaced 

 by Captain Hornby's and Lewry's breed. The Bra- 

 mahs, light and dark, white and cinnamon, came from 

 Tebay and Miss Watts. The old Scotch greys had 

 only a short reign, and were presented to the Em- 

 peror of the French in the spring of '62, six years 

 after Mrs. Blair had led the way in importing the 

 Creve-Coeurs, with their comb like a split heart, 

 from Normandy, as well as Houdan and La Fleche. 

 Polish never gained much hold here, but bantams 

 flourish under the respective heads of black, white, 

 and game. There were a few Spanish, but, hidal- 

 goes though they be, they have all been banished 

 to the farm. Some of the Turkey patriarchs came 

 direct from America; and Fowler's Prebendal farm 

 which furnished the first Rouen ducks and geese 

 to Inchmartine, now adopts the principle of ami- 

 cable exchange. For a dozen Dorking eggs the 

 charge is from two to four guineas, and for others in 

 proportion ; and when Edinburgh could not furnish 

 Holyrood with a regular supply during Prince Alfred's 

 winter stay, the purveyor fell back in his need on 

 Inchmartine. 



