158 THE COCHIN CHINA FOWL. 



the toe of one foot a peculiarity which is inherited by some 

 of the chickens. 



The Eggs average about 2 oz. each. They are smooth, of 

 an oval, nearly equally rounded at each end, and of a rich 

 buff colour, nearly resembling those of the Silver Pheasant. 

 The new-hatched Chicks appear very large in proportion to the 

 size of the Eggs. They have light flesh-coloured bill, feet, and 

 legs, and are thickly covered with down, of the hue vulgarly 

 called " carrotty." They are not less thrifty than other chick- 

 ens, and feather somewhat more uniformly than either Black 

 Spanish or Malay. Nevertheless, it is most desirable to hatch 

 these, as well as other large-growing sorts, as early in the spring 

 as possible; even so soon as the end of February. And it 

 deserves consideration, whether those breeders are not the 

 wisest, who do not allow their Hens to hatch chickens after 

 midsummer. A peculiarity in the Cockerels is, that they do 

 not show even the rudiments of their tail feathers till they are 

 nearly full grown. They increase so rapidly in other direc- 

 tions, that there is no material to spare for the production of 

 these decorative appendages. A gentleman, to whom I sent a 

 pair, wrote word that one of the Fowls had had the misfortune 

 to lose his tail on the journey. An Egg hatched at a distance 

 was said to have produced something more like an Eaglet than 

 a Chicken. The Pullets are less backward in shooting their 

 tails ; and this distinction alone is sufficient to denote the re- 

 spective sexes at a very early age. The Cockerel is later than 

 others in commencing to crow. 



The merits of this breed are such, that it may safely be 

 recommended to persons residing in the country. For the 

 inhabitants of towns it is less desirable, as the light tone of its 

 plumage would show every mark of dirt or defilement, and 

 also the readiness with which they sit would be an inconve- 

 nience, rather than not, in families with whom everlasting layers 

 are most in requisition. At present, they are too expensive to 



