THE COCHIN CHINA FOWL. 149 



feathered upon the leg ; and I would breed none others, for 

 Shanghai's. As to the comparative laying qualities of these 

 two, I have found but little difference among the best spe- 

 cimens ; either are excellent layers, and both breeds have now 

 their champions among our New England fanciers. For 

 one, /prefer the Cochin Chinas to any fowl I have ever yet 

 met with. 



I have sent samples of my Cochin China stock to South 

 Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Michigan, 

 Maine, and New York ; and, in every instance, they have more 

 than fulfilled the anticipations of purchasers. Other fanciers 

 prefer other varieties : I have bred them all, more or less, but 

 I am content with these ; and if the young stock prove as 

 good as the old Fowls have, I think it will be difficult to find 

 any variety to excel them. 



I send you portraits of two groups. The first is a pair of 

 the " Royals," (so called to distinguish them from others,} 

 and were drawn from life, by S. E. Brown, of Boston. The 

 other group is a trio of this year's birds, drawn also from life, 

 by F. A. Durivage, from the stock I am now breeding. I 

 think they will compare favourably with the best specimens of 

 Domestic birds in our country, and I assure you the portraits 

 are very truthful. "With my best wishes for the success of 

 your contemplated work on Poultry, and the suggestion that 

 you can use this hastily prepared account in such way as may 

 be agreeable to you, I am, 



Very truly, yours, 



GrEO. P. BURNHAM. 



Melrose, Mass., 1850. 



At the Exhibition of Poultry in Boston, in October, 1850, 

 the Committee awarded to George P. Burnham the first pre 

 miums for Fowls and Chickens. The prize birds were the 

 " Royal Cochin Chinas" and their progeny, which have been 



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