THE COCHIN CHINA FOWL. 161 



handsome fellow, has but little peculiarity about him, only 

 being, like the Hens, of smaller size than the Barn-door 

 Fowls. They are remarkably tame, indeed, rather troublesome, 

 depending, in part, perhaps, on the manner in which they 

 have been brought up. They all seek the shelter of a building 

 by night, and one of the Hens never roosts, but sits all night 

 upon her nest. From what I have said, you will infer that, as 

 yet, I have not tasted the flesh of this variety, nor shall, of 

 course, till next autumn ; but, as the other character I had of 

 them is correct, I give credit for that also. There is another 

 Chinese variety in the neighbourhood, the bones of which are 

 said to be black. 



" I will endeavour to describe my China Cock. He is of 

 not more than moderate size. His comb is single, erect, and 

 finely serrated, his shawl-feathers of a brilliant gold-colour, 

 reaching, when he stands up, nearly the length of his body, 

 and joining, at that time, a few rows of feathers of the same 

 colour, which extend to the tail, which is jet black, with the 

 feathers finely curled and in moderate quantity ' } his body is 

 of a brilliant chestnut-colour, his thighs and breast black, but 

 spangled with pale chestnut patches. The thighs of both sexes 

 are remarkably full-feathered, which gives them a great ap- 

 parent breadth." 



Another. " I lately saw a Chinese Cock, with a rose comb, 

 and the plumage of the golden-spangled Hamburgh; his 

 legs were yellow, or he might be taken for one of that breed." 

 S. W. 



14* 



