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ON POULTRY. 



BY DR. EBEN WIGHT, OF DEDHAM. 



Since public attention in this country has been specially drawn to 

 the subject of poultry, citizens of the County of Norfolk have 

 taken a conspicuous lead in the introduction and propagation of the 

 most esteemed kinds. This was particularly evinced at the far- 

 famed exhibitions of poultry held within a few years at the New 

 England Metropolis, where a large proportion of the best specimens 

 in the different classes, hailed directly from this territory. The new 

 interest in this branch of husbandry has been chiefly manifested in 

 reference to varieties of the bird to which the terra foivl is com- 

 monly applied. One variety of this bird, of oriental origin, has in 

 fact been regarded with a degree of enthusiasm not inaptly charac- 

 terized as " the Shanghae fever ^'' most of the importations of the 

 stock having been derived from the city of Shanghae, in China. 

 Individuals desirous of turning this excitement to their pecuniary 

 advantage, have endeavored to make certain accidental or trifling 

 differences in this variety, the basis for its division into distinct 

 breeds. Hence we hear of Cochin-China, Imperial Chinese, Hong 

 Kong, Hoang Ho, Brahma Pootra, &c., all derived from importa- 

 tions from Shanghae. 



As showing the groundlessness of these attempted distinctions, at- 

 tention is invited to some extracts from a work just issued in England, 

 entitled " The Poultry Book : comprising the Characteristics, Man- 

 agement, Breeding, and Medical Treatment of Poultry ; being the 

 results of personal observation and practice of the best breeders, 

 including Captain W. W. Hornby, R. N.; Edward Bond, Esq. ; 

 Thomas Sturgeon, Esq. ; and Charles Punchard, Esq. By Rev. 

 W. Wingfield, Honorary Secretary of the Cornwall Poultry Society, 

 and G. W. Johnson, Esq., Honorary Secretary of the "Winchester 

 Society for the Improvement of Poultry." 



The work commences with a chapter headed " History and De- 

 scription of the Shanghae Fowl," as follows : 

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