Book VII. 



GALLINACEOUS FOWLS 



lOSa 



perior to that of any other variety for richness and delicacy of flavour ; eggs small, fine shaped, and 



extremely delicate : the 

 chickens are difficult to 

 rear from their pugna- 

 city of disposition. The 

 game cock has long been 

 a bird both of cruel and 

 curious sport in this as 

 well as other coutitti s; 

 but the taste for these 

 amusements, like that 

 for others suited to times 

 of comparative leisure 

 and ignorance, is now 

 happily on the decline 

 in Britain. 



7443. The Dorking 

 cock and hen {Jig. HoO.), 

 so called from the town 

 in Surrey of that name, 

 is the largest variety ; 

 shape handsome ; body 

 Ions and capacious ; legs 



short, five claws on each foot ; eggs large, and lays abundantly ; colour of the flesh inclining to yellowish 



or ivory. Both hens and cocks often made 

 into capons. 



7444. The Poland cock and hen (Jig. 931. 

 a) were originally imported from Hol- 

 land. The colour shining black, with 

 white tops on the head of both cock and 

 hen ; head flat, surmounted by a fleshy 

 protuberance, out of which spring the 

 crown feathers, or top, white or black, 

 with the fleshy king David's crown (the 

 celestial in heraldry), consisting of four or 

 five spikes ; their form plump and deep; 

 legs short, feet with five claws ; lay 

 abundantly; are less inclined to set than 

 any other breed ; they fatten quickly, and 

 are more juicy and rich than the Dorking. 

 On the whole, this is one of the most use- 

 ful varieties. There is an ornamental 

 subvariety known as the golden Poland 1,6), 

 with yellow and black plumage. 



7445. The every-day cock and hen is a 

 subvariety of the above, of Dutch origin ; they are of smaller size, and said to be everlasting layers Their 



tops are large, and should be pe. 

 riodically clipped near the eyes; 

 otherwise, according to Mowbray 

 [Treatise on Domestic Fowls, 24. 

 and 115.), they will grow into the 

 eyes of the fowls and render them 

 very subject to alarm. 



7446. The bantam cock and hen 

 (Jig. 932 ) is a small Indian breed, 

 valued chiefly for its grotesque 

 figure and delicate flesh. Mowbray 

 mentions a subvariety, extremely 

 small, and as smooth-legged as a 

 game fowl. From their size and 

 delicacy they are very convenient, 

 as they may always be used as sub- 

 stitutes for chickens, when small 

 ones are not otherwise to be had. 

 They are also particularly useful 

 for sitting upon the eggs of par- 

 tridges and pheasants, being good 



nurses as well as good layers 

 9:52 



There are two varieties of this breed, of which the more common is re- 

 markable for having the 



"Nt^&JT^ 



legs and feet furnished 

 with feathers. The other, 

 and more scarce, variety 

 is even smaller ; and is 

 most elegantly formed, as 

 well as most delicately 

 limbed. There is a so- 

 ciety of fanciers of^this 

 breed, who rear them for 

 prizes, among which Sir 

 John Sebright stands pre- 

 eminent. 



7447. The Chittagong or Malay hen (fig. 93.1) is an Indian breed, 

 and the largest variety of the species. They are in colour striated, 

 yellow, and dark brown ; long necked, serpent-headed, and high upon 

 the leg ; their flesh dark, coarse, and chiefly adapted to soup. They 

 are good layers ; and being well fed produce large, substantial, and 

 nutritive eggs : but these birds are too long-legged to be steady sitters. 



7448. The Shack-bag, or Duke of Leeds' breed, was formerly in great repute, but is now nearly lost. It 

 is sometimes to be met with at Wokingham (Oakingham), in'Berkshire, and is so large, and the flesh so 

 white, firm, and fine, as to aflbrd a convenient substitute for the turkev. 



7449. The improved Spanish cock and hen is a cross between the Dorking and Spanish breed, also to be 

 found in and around Wokingham. It is a large bird with black plumage, white and delicate flesh, the 

 largest eggs of any British variety, and well adapted for capons. 



