BOOTCH BAKIES.] 



I'OULTKY, 



[SCOTCU BA.k.I£S. 



the table, that wo shall bo much surprised if, 

 oither in their present state, or erosHed with 

 other fowls, they fail to prove a useful addition 

 to our poultry-yards. 



" Mr. Fairlie obtained his binls from Seot- 

 hiiul ; but all his inquiries have hitherto been 

 uuablo to trace their origin in, or importation 

 into, that country. Their general character, 

 however, so closely assimilates to that of tho 

 Dorkings, that the probability of their being 

 descendants of birds of the latter breed, stinted 

 in growth by the less genial climate of the 

 northern district of our island, may readily be 

 admitted ; and this the more easily, when we 

 remember how many would describe the early 

 ancestors of the Dorking race as * stumpy, 

 thick-set, white fowls.' 



'-* For a detail of their several characteristics 

 and points, let us refer to Mr. Fairlie's own 

 words, * The Scotch Bakies, or Dumpies,' he 

 tells us, ' are a breed of fowls closely resembling 

 the Dorking in form, symmetry, and quality of 

 flesh : the average weight of the full-grown 

 male bird, is from six pounds to seven pounds ; 

 and of the hens, from five pounds to six pounds ; 

 their legs are singularly short, not exceeding 

 two inches in length from the hock joint ; the 

 comb is generally single, erect, and well 

 serrated ; the body round and plump, and the 

 tail ample. As layers, they have great merit; 

 for after filling one nest, if the eggs are re- 

 moved, they at once take to another, filling 

 that also before they sit ; during which process 

 thev fully justify the oft-repeated remark made 

 at a late Metropolitan Exhibition — ' What ex- 

 cellent sitters they must make.^ They cover 

 many more eggs than might be expected from 

 their size ; for while on the nest, they appear as 

 if they had been pressed flat upon it. They 

 are gentle and quiet when hatching, and sub- 

 sequently prove fond and attentive mothers, 

 their short legs enabling the chickens to brood 

 well under them, even when standing up. I 

 have found them very hardy ; and their eggs are 

 larger, and the shell of a clearer white, than 

 the usual average of an English market Q^^^ 



"In the pen of these birds exhibited at' 

 Cheltenham, in June, 1853, the ground colour 

 of the cock's plumage was white ; the hackle, 

 breast, saddle, with the flight and tail-feathers, 

 beinfr a little freckled with black. The white 

 earlobe was very fully developed. I 



'5p 



" Wo are glad to lenrn that tho effect of a 

 warmer climate and high feeding will be care- 

 fully watched in this instance ; and if there is 

 a manifest increase in size within the next two 

 or three generations, tho probability of their 

 inheriting eomo of the old Dorking blood 

 w ill be thereby greatly increased ; while the re- 

 tention of their present dwarfed proportions 

 would indicate their claim to bo considered as 

 a permanent variety." 



In concluding this cha])tor, we will notice a 

 report of the Paris Agricultural Meeting, at 

 which various breeds of fowls held a prominent 

 place — there being present 400 pens. Thero 

 were, besides, 1,300 beasts, with goats, rabbits, 

 zebras, lamas, deer, &c., &c., conveniently and 

 tastefully arranged in and about a building 

 splendidly decorated with the choicest flowers, 

 trees (of no small size, transplanted for 

 tho occasion), fountains, painted glass, and 

 tapestry. 



In the galleries, specimens of agricultural 

 produce, of diflierent countries, were laid out 

 for inspection ; wliilst, outside, a number of 

 handsome tents were provided for the use and 

 protection of the sheep, pigs, goats, and agri- 

 cultural implements. 



At first the poultry were sadly injured by 

 the scorching sun during many hours of the 

 day, as they were totally without covering, 

 and many suffered greatly. Afterwards, how- 

 ever, an awning was erected, and they did 

 better. 



We must, however, remember that tho 

 Erench are not much used to cattle shows; 

 and taking this circumstance into considera- 

 tion, we may give them credit for the way they 

 managed their first large exhibition of cattle. . 



It is somewhat curious to observe the man- 

 ner in which they belied their character, as 

 admirers of what is neat and beautiful, in 

 distinction to that which is coarse and ugly. 

 If you notice a crowd, it is sure to be col- 

 lected round the coarsest and ugliest animal of 

 its kind, size being the great attraction. It is 

 the same with the poultry ; they prefer the 

 ]3rahmas and the biggest Cochins to the 

 Dorkings, or to any neater or smaller breed. 



There are a few, however, who seem to know 

 what a good fowl is ; and we shall not easily 

 forget the look of disgust with which a well- 

 known breeder of Dorkings received an iuti- 



811 



