VARIETIES OF DOMESTIC FOWL. 



39 



THE COCHIN CHINA FOWL. 



" This gigantic bird,'' says Richardson, " has been only very 

 recently introduced into Great Britain, and it is to that royal 

 patroness of poultry fanciers, the nature-loving Victoria, that 

 \ve owe its addition to our stock of domestic fowls. Two fine 

 specimens of the Cochin China fowl, but rather aged, were sent 

 over by her Majesty to the cattle-show of the Royal Dublin 

 Society, April, 1846, and were subsequently presented to the 

 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Heytesbury. 



The breed have since become comparatively well known, 

 and are now kept by several private persons and breeders ; 

 amongst whom may be mentioned the well-known M. Du Gue. 



