40 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



This variety of fowl so far surpasses, both in size and 

 power, all that we have ever yet seen in the shape of poultry, 

 as to have led many persons not conversant with zoology, on 

 first viewing them, to refer them to the family of Bustards. 

 They are, however, genuine poultry. Their general color is 

 rich, glossy brown, deep bay ; on the breast is a marking of a 

 blackish color, and of the shape of a horse-shoe ; the comb is 

 of a medium size, serrated, but not deeply so, and the wattles 

 are double. Besides their size, however, these fowl possess 



COCHIN CHINA HEN. 



other distinctive characteristics, among which the most striking 

 is that the wing is jointed, so that the posterior half can, at 

 pleasure, be doubled up, and brought forward between the ante- 

 rior half and the body. The birds can do this at pleasure, and 

 the appearance the manoeuvre imparts to their form has pro- 

 cured for them the title of ' ostrich fowl.' The flesh is white 

 and delicate. The eggs laid by the hen of this variety are 

 large, of a chocolate color, and possess a very delicate flavor. 



