THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 53 



tail ; they are chiefly esteemed as very constant 

 layers, though their color would mark them for good 

 table fowl.' Certain other breeds, (in Lancashire,) are 

 described, but they do not appear to possess any title 

 to distinction." In his eighth edition, a colored figure 

 is given, which quite corresponds with the silver 

 Hamburghs. "Why they are called " corals," it is diffi- 

 cult to say, unless it be on account of their red comb ; 

 which, however, is not redder than that of other fowls. 



" Bolton bays" is another provincial name for the 

 " golden Hamburghs, "as "Bolton greys" is for the "sil- 

 ver." In order to fix more clearly the nomenclature, 

 by the comparison of individual specimens of different 

 localities, Rev. E. S. Dixon, of Norwich, England, 

 purchased in Hungerford Market, some birds that had 

 been imported from Holland ; another specimen from 

 Herring, on the New Road, and was supplied with a 

 pair of " bays," and also of " greys," from Bolton, in 

 Lancashire ; likewise, with a " Creole" hen from Wilt- 

 shire. The result of the comparison, and of the una- 

 nimous opinion of the London poulterers, was, that the 

 two varieties of Hamburghs, the " golden" and " sil- 

 ver," are of the same breed. 



The "Bolton bay," from Lancashire, says Mr. 

 Dixon, "differed most in her markings from the nor- 

 mal type, which we will suppose represented by Al- 

 drovandi's Turkish hen ; but all the main points were 

 correct, and for this difference I had been prepared. 

 The bay hen I received was marked very like a golden 

 Poland, (the crest, of course, being quite absent,) but 

 that the ground of the plumage was of a much richer 

 and browner hue. Those persons, therefore, who wish 

 to procure golden Hamburgh fowls, from Lancashire, 

 should state to their agents whether they desire them 

 to be of barred or marginated markings. The Bolton 

 fowls average, in Liverpool, 3s. each, which is cheap for 

 those who wish to obtain a stock of this very distinct 

 variety. All the birds that I received were very good 

 specimens. The male golden Hamburgh is a particu- 



