528 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



shans is excellent, 'being fine-grained, tender, and nicely flavored. 

 As layers they rank with the Brahma, averaging from 12 to 13 dozen 

 eggs a year and as winter layers they are to be recommended. The 

 chicks are hardy and mature early. Langshans are good sitters and 

 mothers, being of gentle disposition ; they are easily kept, either in 

 confinement or on free range. Being excellent foragers, they are 

 ideal fowls for the farm and will gather during the year a consider- 

 able proportion of their food. 



The Langshan is a stylish, medium-sized bird, not overgrown or 

 gawky in appearance, of active nature, and lively disposition. Many 

 confound the Black Langshan with the Black Cochin. This need 

 not be, as the following comparison between the two varieties shows : 

 The Black Cochin is square in shape, with heavy-looking neck and 

 legs, plenty of fluff and leg feathering, cushion rising from middle 

 of back to tail; tail short and almost concealed by cushion; neck, 

 breast, cushion, and tail all represented by convex lines. The Lang- 

 shan head is small for the size of the body and the comb is rather 

 large, well up in front, and arch shaped ; the Cochin head is larger 

 than that of the Langshan and not so arched over the eye ; the comb 

 is smaller, low in front, and almost straight on top of serrations. The 

 back of the Langshan is concave, that of the Cochin is slightly con- 

 vex, and the Cochin has a large convex cushion. The Langshan fluff 

 is moderate and close ; that of the Cochin is extremely full and loose. 

 The wings of the Langshan are of medium size, quite prominent at 

 the shoulders; the Cochin's wings are smaller and almost hidden by 

 the fluffy plumage of the cushion and the fluff. The Langshan 's legs 

 are medium in length, the toes are long and tapering, and the color 

 of the shank is bluish black showing pink between scales ; the Co- 

 chin's legs are shorter and stouter, with larger bone; the toes are 

 shorter and stouter, and the color of the shanks is black or yellowish 

 black. 



There are two varieties of Langshans, the Black and the White. 

 In the black the plumage of neck, back, saddle, and sickles is a 

 glossy metallic black with greenish sheen; the breast, primaries, 

 secondaries, tail, fluff, shank, and toe feathers are black. The under- 

 color is black or dark slate. The White Langshan is pure white 

 throughout. The standard weight of cocks for both varieties is 10 

 pounds ; hens, 7 pounds ; cockerels, 8 pounds ; pullets, 6 pounds. 



Dorkings. This is one of the oldest of domestic fowls. There 

 are no definite records to show when it first lived in England, or 

 whence it came, but the supposition is that it was carried to England 

 by the Romans, who evidently possessed chickens of similar charac- 

 teristics. 



The chief distinctive mark of the breed is the presence of a fifth 

 or supernumerary toe, springing behind, a little above the foot and 

 below the spur. The feature in which this bird is most popular is its 

 table qualities. The flesh is white and very delicate in texture. It is 

 claimed by many to equal if not to excel the French varieties. The 

 broad, deep, and projecting breast of the Dorking admirably fits it 

 for table purposes, and in this respect it is conceded by some to rival 



