36 THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



the weight of 7^1bs., nor the latter that of 6 Jibs. It 

 is possible, nevertheless, that capons of this, or some 

 allied variety, might arrive at double these weights. 



The average weight of the eggs of the Cochin-China 

 fowl is about 2oz. each. They are smooth, of an ova], 

 nearly equally rounded at each end, and usually of a 

 rich buff color, but sometimes white. The newly- 

 hatched chicks appear very large in proportion to the 

 size of the eggs. They have light flesh-colored bills, 

 feet, and legs, and are thickly covered with down, of 

 the hue vulgarly called " carrotty." They are not 

 less thrifty than other chickens, and feather somewhat 

 more uniformly than either the black Spanish or the 

 Malay. A peculiarity in the cockerels is, that they 

 do not show even the rudiments of their tail feathers 

 till they are nearly full grown. They increase so 

 rapidly in other directions, that there is no material to 

 spare for the production of these decorative appendages. 

 The pullets are less backward in shooting their tails, 

 and this distinction alone is sufficient to denote the 

 respective sexes at a very early age. The cockerels are 

 also later than others in commencing to crow. 



The merits of this breed are such, that they have 

 been highly recommended to persons residing "in the 

 country, from the fact, that the hens are capital layers, 

 and from the large and rapid growth of the chicks ; 

 but, in my humble judgment, this nor any other breed 

 of excessively large fowls are not the most desirable 

 for general use. 



The Cochin-China fowl is said to have been pre- 

 sented to her Majesty, Queen Yictoria, of England, 

 from the East Indies, and, by her liberality, imparted 

 to such persons in her dominions as were likely pro- 

 perly to appreciate them. 



In the United States, there are numerous individuals 

 \vho possess large fowls bearing the name of " Cochin- 

 China," which have been crossed with the Dorking and 

 other large breeds ; but such a course is believed to 

 be of doubtful utility. 



