128 VARIETIES OF THE 



from the city of Shanghae, a Cock and Hen, as pure as any 

 Shanghaes I have seen ; differing from other importations only 

 in being nearly smooth-legged, and not attaining to the weight 

 of other specimens. In the second or third generation there 

 was scarcely a feather-legged Shanghae on his premises. 



The plumage of the thorough-bred Shanghae is remarkably 

 soft and silky, or rather downy, and is, in my opinion, equally 

 as good for domestic purposes as those of the Groose. They are 

 certainly quite as fine and soft, if not as abundant. 



The fertile qualities of this breed may be inferred from what 

 has been attested concerning it. The gentleman from whom 

 I procured the stock previously herein portrayed, wrote to me 

 concerning the imported pair, that, although they had been for 

 several months from the ground, and, when they arrived, poor 

 and verminous, yet, on turning them out about the latter end 

 of May, from that time to the first of the ensuing October, the 

 Hen laid forty-eight Eggs and hatched out two broods. The 

 last brood included twelve Chicks, ten of which he raised 

 through the winter, thus proving themselves able to endure 

 our e^er-changing climate. I myself have found the pure 

 Shanghae to equal, if not to excel, any other Fowl in laying 

 qualities perhaps, the Black Poland Fowl or the Creole may 

 lay a few more Eggs in a year, in consequence of not being so 

 frequently broody, but their Eggs are not so rich and nutri- 

 tious. Read the testimony of Mr. T. Ames, of Marshfield, 

 Mass. He says, " that one of his neighbours, Mr. Phillips, 

 has a Pullet of this breed, which laid one hundred and twenty 

 Eggs in one hundred and twenty-five days, then stopped six 

 days, then laid sixteen Eggs more, and stopped four days, and 

 is now laying ; and that he (Mr. Ames) has one that has done 

 equally well/' The Eggs are generally of a pale yellow or nan- 

 keen colour, not remarkably large compared with the size of the 

 Fowl, and generally blunt at the ends. I have known but one 

 thorough-bred Hen that laid a long Egg, and have never yet 



