HAMBURGH FOWLS. 289 



seventy or eighty. Fifth, forty or fifty. Sixth, eighteen or 

 twenty. Seventh, almost total barrenness. This statement 

 shows the extreme folly of keeping Hens, after the third, or 

 even the second } T ear. For, besides the great falling off in 

 Eggs, these are apt to prove infertile when laid by super- 

 annuated Hens." 



Mr. Dixon, in writing on the whole family of Hamburgh 

 Fowls, to which the Bolton Grays and so-called Silver and 

 Golden Pheasants belong, says : First, of the Bolton Grays, 

 " The Hen has a rose comb, pure white neck and breast, and 

 the rest of the body most exquisitely pencilled with bluish slate- 

 colour and white, legs light blue. The Cock has the back and 

 neck greyish white; breast and wings slightly spotted, tail 

 nearly black, fine double comb. These Fowls are the most 

 perfect patterns of neatness in make, and are under the ave- 

 rage size. They are excellent layers, and pretty fair mothers; 

 Eggs rather small, French-white, and slightly tapering at one 

 end. The Chicks are white, except a dark streak on the head, 

 and down the nape of the neck a curious fact, as, when adult, 

 this is the only part without dark markings. When their 

 little barred wings begin to appear, they are very pretty ; but 

 are certainly rather difficult to rear, many of those I have had 

 dying off when a quarter grown, from some cause, the only 

 symptom being the skin's turning black. 



" There is also a spurious breed of this variety sold in towns, 

 that are larger, but by no means so neatly made ; the necks 

 mixed with specks, and the slate and white markings confused 

 on the body. They are beautifully distinct in the true sort. 

 We have found the Creoles very good eating." H. H. 



In the neighbourhood of Keighley, in Yorkshire, on the bor- 

 ders of Lancashire, the Bolton Grays are called " Chittiprats," 

 or " Cheteprats.''" Prizes are given for the best by the Keighley 

 Agricultural Society, and the opinion of them current there, 

 is, that they are very handsome, very hardy, and excellent 



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