68 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. hi. 



kets. Surrey, Sussex, and Berks are the 

 shires in which they are chiefly produced ; 

 and both Dorking, Horsham, and Oaking- 

 ham are the great marts for their weekly 

 sale. 



They are distinguished by the singularity 

 of having fve claws on each foot instead of 

 four, which is the usual number grown on 

 all other fowls, and are thought by many to 

 be a bastard breed, which took its origin from 

 some very large fowls with this peculiarity ; 

 but, as the fact has been noticed by ancient 

 writers on the subject of both foreign and 

 English poultry, it may be considered an 

 original race. The additional claw is, how- 

 ever, nothing more than an imperfect spur of 

 neither utility nor inconvenience. They have 

 the merit of being very gentle and quiet in 

 their habits; but the main features in their 

 favour are their acknowledged superiority in 

 the important points of being both good layers 

 of fine eggs, and steady sitters when hatching 

 their chickens ; as well also, as their growing 

 to a larger size than the common domestic 

 fowl, and thus producing a more substan- 

 tial dish for the table. The flesh is certainly 





