THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 45 



Mr. DOUGLAS, an eminent English breeder, says he has found the dark- 

 colored Dorkings the most hardy and heaviest in flesh. He once had a cock 

 weighing fourteen and a half pounds at two years, and several hens at eleven 

 pounds each. He claims that early Dorking pullets will lay all the winter, 

 although not so freely as some other breeds. They lay from thirty -five to 

 fifty eggs before wanting to sit. As mothers, they are perfectly docile, and 

 allow themselves to be handled at will ; chickens from other hens may be 

 placed with them, which they will take to at once. These fowls are not 

 classed among the roamers, but are rather of the stay-at-homeativeness birds, 

 therefore are of little trouble to the housewife, and can be easily reared. 



FAWN-COLORED DORKING. A writer in one of the agricultural journals 

 of New England gives the following description of the Fawn-colored and 

 Black breed of Dorkings. He says the fawn-colored bird is made up of a 

 cross between the White Dorking and the fawn-colored Turkish fowl. They 

 are of lofty carriage, handsome and remarkably healthy. The cocks weigh 

 from eight to nine pounds, and the hens from six to seven ; they come to 

 maturity quite early for so large a fowl. Their tails are shorter and legs 

 darker than those of other Dorkings ; their flesh is fine and their eggs are 

 very rich. It is conceded to be one of the best varieties of fowl known, as 

 the size is readily increased without diminishing the fineness of the flesh. 



BLACK DORKING. The Black Dorkings are said to be of large size, and 

 of a jet black color. The neck feathers of some of the cocks are tinged with 

 a bright gold color, and some of the hens bear a silvery complexion. Their 

 combs are usually double, and very short, though sometimes cupped, rose or 

 single, with quite small wattles, and are usually very red about the head. 

 Their tail feathers shorter and broader than the White variety, and the chicks 

 feather much slower. The legs of the Black are short and black, with the 

 usual five toes on each foot, the bottom of which is frequently yellow. The 

 two back toes are quite distinct, starting from the foot separately ; frequently 

 showing an extra toe between the two. This breed commences laying when 

 very young, and lay well during the winter season the eggs being of a 

 large size. The breed is perfectly hardy, and are good setters and attentive 

 mothers to their young. 



THE HAMBURGS. 



This breed of fowls is considered a very useful and important denizen 

 of our poultry-yard. We have bred them for years successfully and with 

 little trouble. The hens are inveterate layers, and seldom desire to sit ; their 

 propensity for laying being almost continuous from one molting season to 

 another. This is undoubtedly owing to their confined condition in this 

 country ; for it is said that when the birds have a free range, they frequently 

 set themselves to the task of incubation with as much diligence as other 

 fowls. 



PENCILED HAMBURG. The penciled Hamburg, which is of two colors, 

 golden and silver, is very minutely and beautifully marked. The cocks do 



