82 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. hi. 



country ; but whether correct in the opmion 

 or not, is very immaterial. 



It is somewhat amusing to see, among ac- 

 counts of different breeds of poultry, a dis- 

 tinct description of the Barn-door Fowl, as 

 if it were a peculiar species ; whereas the fact 

 is, that all fowls brought up in a farm-yard 

 where corn is thrashed, or having constant 

 access to it, are called "barn-door fowls," 

 in consequence of their continually picking 

 up grain and insects, from which their flesh 

 is generally thought to acquire a superior 

 quality. The term, however, might be aptly 

 applied to the well-known Dung-hill Cock, 

 which is so familiar to common observation 

 that any description may appear almost super- 

 fluous, even if it could be given with any degree 

 of accuracy ; for, such is the variety of their 

 plumage, that with the exception of the pure 

 white and jet-black, scarcely any two are per- 

 fectly alike, and although formerly the most 

 ancient of our domesticated breeds, and then 

 formmg an exclusive race, they have since 

 been so crossed with other species as to be now 

 considered mongrels. Viewing them, how- 



