ESSEX SOCIETY. 97 



The Dung-hill Fowl.—'' The Dung-hill Fowl," Mr. Ricli- 

 ardson says, " occupies in the poultry-yard precisely the posi- 

 tion of the cur-dog in the kennel, being in fact, the produce of 

 a miscellaneous intermixture of most of the ordinary domestic 

 varieties, and constantly differing in its appearance, with the 

 accidents which may have influenced its parentage." 



Mr. Richardson is probably correct in the rank he assigns to 

 the Dung-hill fowl, but still it is not improbable that this breed, 

 which may be called the native stock of our country, might, if 

 the same attention were bestowed upon it, by judicious crossing, 

 become equal to any of the above described kinds. 



Many varieties of fowls, besides those above mentioned, are 

 described in works on poultry ; and some of them may be val- 

 uable, — perhaps as much so, as any of which we have spoken, — 

 but the committee think that their duty will be better per- 

 formed, by confining their remarks to breeds which have been 

 proved to be good. Of the above described varieties, they 

 would particularly recommend the Spanish, Dorking, Chinese, 

 and Polish. The Malay, too, crossed with the Dorking, might 

 produce a valuable breed ; and the Chinese, crossed with the 

 Dorking, Spanish, or Polish, would, perhaps, prove still more 

 valuable. The committee cannot condemn in too strong lan- 

 guage, the practice of breeding in and in ; if this course is 

 pursued, the best stock will soon degenerate. 



Selection of Stock. For the choice of a cock, Mr. Richard- 

 son gives the following directions: — He "should be m perfect 

 healthy feathers close and rather short, chest compact and firm, 

 full in the girth, lofty and elastic gait, large and firm thigh, 

 beak short, and thick at its insertion. Next to health and 

 strength, age is to be duly considered. Neither select a cock 

 that is too old, nor one that is too young ; let the age be from 

 a year and a half, to three and a half. Some cocks retain their 

 vigor till they are even past six years old." 



The proportion of cocks to hens must depend upon the 

 object we have in view. 



Mr. Richardson says : — " If you look for profit to the i^roduc- 

 tion of eggs alone, I should say that one cock, if a stout, young, 

 and lively bird, may have as many as twenty-four hens. If, 

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