148 THE COCHIN CHINA FOWL. 



Though at times they have all inclined to do so, I have never 

 set but one of the imported Hens ; she proved an excellent 

 mother, and reared eleven out of thirteen of her Chicks. I 

 think them too clumsy, however, as sitters, and should avoid 

 it, if practicable. 



My Cochin China Fowls have been much admired, and this 

 stock (old and young) has taken tliQ first premiums at all the 

 Fairs or Exhibitions in Massachusetts, where they have yet 

 been shown. This is some evidence of their excellence, in 

 view of the generally acknowledged fact, that there are some 

 very fine fowls here, out of other importations from Shang- 

 hae and Canton. I have found the young birds, latterly, very 

 hardy though at first I lost a goodly number from breeding 

 too early. 



The prevailing colour of my birds is yellow, or yellowish- 

 brown Pullets and yellow and red, or yellow, red and brown 

 Cocks. They have never deviated from this range of colour, 

 except in two or three broods out of the dark Canton Cock 

 all of which are now extinct. The Chicks come even in size 

 and plumage ; and down to the third generation, they have 

 bred exactly the same : this is a very satisfactory result, in 

 my estimation. I have never yet seen a black, a grey, a white, 

 or a speckled Chick, from this stock ! A very few specimens 

 have shown a dark leg; but, with the epicure, this is desirable, 

 and I do not discard these birds on that account though my 

 own taste favours the yellow limb. 



I am more and more confirmed in my opinion that the 

 " Cochin Chinas" and " Shanghaes" originate from the same 

 primitive stock. The difference between the two varieties is 

 distinct, but the general characteristics, (so far as my experi- 

 ence goes,) are similar. The Cochins are longer legged, 

 longer necked, and longer bodied, generally ; they should be 

 smooth-legged, and are usually a heavier Fowl at the same 

 age I think the pure Shanghae tribe are uniformly heavily 



