THE DORKING FOWL. 191 



higher above the damps and dews, besides having a longer 

 leverage of limb (if such an idea is not altogether fanciful) 

 to assist them in scratching for the worms and insects with 

 which such localities abound. For instance, the average suc- 

 cess of many country-people in rearing young Turkeys, is 

 greater, all along, than that with Chickens. 



Such people as are careless about seeing the full comple- 

 ment of five toes, are advised to try the Surrey Fowls, a nearly 

 allied breed, or, as some call it, an improvement of the Dork- 

 ing. They are a very fine variety, and may be had genuine 

 from any of the respectable London dealers. The Old Sus- 

 sex, or Kent, are closely related to these, if not absolutely 

 identical. 



But the serious and fatal maladies of Fowls are difficult to 

 trace to their cause, and still more difficult to cure by the 

 application of any remedy. It is unnecessary to more than 

 allude to the volumes of absurd, irrational, and impracticable 

 directions that have been printed on the subject. Many ill- 

 nesses which we suppose to be of natural and spontaneous 

 origin are, there is no doubt, brought on by the neglect and 

 cruelty of boys and servants. Our domesticated animals are 

 dumfc^ they cannot tell their master what illTtreatment they 

 have received in his absence ; and they often severely, cruelly, 

 suffer the displeasure of some ill-natured underling, who dare 

 not show his temper in higher quarters. Many a fancied or 

 real wrong has been expiated by the Horse, the Dog, the Cat, 

 or the Poultry. Nay, there is no concealing it, and mothers 

 should listen to it, and think of it, as a motive to keep their 

 lips guarded and their brow serene many a harsh word spoken 

 in a moment of irritation has been -revenged in shakes and 

 pinches upon the helpless infant. 



In a communication with which I have been favoured by 

 Dr. Bevan, the able author of the " Honey Bee," he says, 

 11 Just about roosting-time, one of the Cocks (of a very choice 



