152 THE COCHIN CHINA FOWL. 



Of this so much and deservedly lauded Fowl ; Mr. Dixoa 



Whether the breed now under consideration did really 

 come from Cochin China or not, is probably known only to the 

 party who imported them, if to him. But they certainly have 

 been cultivated in this country previously to their recent intro- 

 duction to general notice as the most conspicuous ornaments of 

 the Royal poultry-yard. A gentleman (W. S.) living in Mon 

 mouthshire, informs me that, nearly thirty years ago, a friend 

 sent him a Cock and Hen of the "true Java breed." The 

 Cock was so fine, large, and handsome, that he was immedi- 

 ately made " Cock of the walk/' The present stock on that 

 farm, which I have seen, are entirely his descendants, and are 

 true Cochin China- Fowls; so that, in this case, " Java" and 

 " Cochin China" are synonymous. The first parents of this 

 lot came direct from India. But from whatever Oriental re- 

 gion derived, it is a most valuable variety, and the only fear 

 is that statements of its merits have been set forth so highly 

 exaggerated, that they must lead to disappointment, and cause 

 the breed to be as much undeservedly underrated, as it had 

 been before foolishly extolled. 



The size and weight ascribed to them are enormous. To 

 give an idea of their height and magnitude, they have been 

 styled the Ostrich Fowl. It is an old, but very bad system of 

 giving names, to affix that of some other creature, indicating 

 certain supposed qualities ; for such titles are apt to induce no- 

 tions of relationship, or hybridity, which are not easily dis- 

 lodged from the minds of many people. The Cochin China 

 Fowls have been averred, in the Agricultural Gazette, (Sept. 30, 

 1848 ,) to weigh, the male birds from twelve to fifteen pounds, 

 the Hens from nine to ten pounds. They certainly must be 

 very fine indeed : for the weights specified are those of respect- 

 able Turkeys, not of Fowls. My own Cochin China Fowls, 

 obtained from the Messrs. Baker, now about eighteen months 



