THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 79 



hens are enormous eaters, poor layers, and miserable 

 sitters, seldom laying more than ten or twelve at a 

 litter. They are only profitable to breed from, should 

 the race not run out, for making capons which are 

 sometimes sold in the Philadelphia market for $5 to 

 f 10 per pair. 



In corroboration of the above opinion, I insert the 

 following extract from the American Agriculturist, 

 written by L. F. Allen, of Black Rock, a practical 

 farmer, and late President of the New- York State 

 Agricultural Society : 



" The Bucks- County breed has received some celeb- 

 rity in the neighborhood of Philadelphia as a valuable 

 variety of fowl, principally on account of its enormous 

 size. I have seen many specimens of this fowl, paid 

 some attention to its habits, and learned from those 

 who have tried them their principal merits. It is a 

 large bird, weighing, at maturity, 8 and even 10 Ibs., 

 rather thinly feathered, of various colors from grey to 

 black, and frequently speckled, black, and white. They 

 are coarse in their legs, tall and bony, and have evi- 

 dently a cross of the Malay in their composition. 

 They are but moderate layers ; their eggs are very 

 large and good. They are bad sitters, frequently 

 breaking their eggs, on account of their great weight 

 and size, by crushing them ; they are not hardy, and 

 on the whole, will not compare with the common dung- 

 hill fowl for ordinary uses. They do not breed equally 

 in size and appearance, showing them, evidently, to be 

 a cross from other breeds ; but from what they are 

 derived, other than the Malay, it is difficult to say. 

 A gentleman of my acquaintance, who is very curious 

 as well as nice in the selection of his fowls, tried them 

 effectually for his poultry yard, and they disappointed 

 him. He then crossed them with the game breed, and 

 has succeeded finely, the cross being reduced in size, 

 fuller feathered, hardier, and better layers, with an 

 excellent carcass, and finer flesh. As a fancy fowl, or 

 to make up a variety, they are very well, but they can 



