THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



43 



very white nor brown ; the shape varies considerably. 

 The chicks are of a yellowish color, with sometimes 

 two brown stripes down the back and a few specks 

 about the head, but more usually without either. 

 They have, however, invariably the hinder part of the 

 back of an intenser or browner yellow, almost amount- 

 ing to a warm fawn-color. # # * # * My male 

 birds have a very peculiar feathering on the neck the 

 neck feathers being very long and full, dark-red, and 

 black at the tips, but the under part of a downy white. 

 The consequence is, an appearance of mixed dark-red 

 and white about the neck, which is the more peculiar 

 from its being so particularly at variance with the 

 glossy-black neck feathering of the female. The 

 feathering of the back and wings is rather scanty, and 

 the tail is not very full. The bird has a good, erect 

 carriage. * * * * * The chickens of this breed 

 are very small at first, and but scantily supplied with 

 down. As they begin to grow, they have a very naked 

 appearance from the slow development of their feathers, 

 and this renders % them very susceptible of cold. At 

 six weeks old, they are not above half the size of Dork- 

 ings of the same age, but after two months, they grow 

 very fast, and the pullets feather well and show indi- 

 cations of their permanent color. The cocks are ragged 

 in appearance until five months old, after which they 

 get their permanent plumage, and grow fast. As a 

 sort of profitable growth, I cannot recommend them, but 

 the ornamental figure and color of the hens, I think, 

 is beyond question. The flesh, at table, is extremely 

 good and white; and they lay abundantly, though 

 late. I have a strong suspicion, from various pecu- 

 liarities, that they are of comparatively recent intro- 

 duction into this country, from a much warmer 

 climate. * * * * * Baker, of London and 

 Chelsea, (one of the best fancy dealers,) told me that 

 they were a breed from Calcutta. They are certainly 

 tender, and are apt to die in tho moulting." 



