VARIETIES OF DOMESTIC FOWL. 41 



They are very prolific, frequently laying two, and occasionally 

 three eggs on the same day, and within a few moments of each 

 other. An anonymous writer in the Gardeners' Chronicle calls 

 this statement of mine in question. I now beg to refer, as my 

 authorities, to the Right Hon. Mr. Shaw, the Recorder of Dub- 

 lin, to her Majesty's poultry-keeper, Mr. Walters, and to Mr. 

 Nolan, of Dublin. One of the hens, ' Bessy,' exhibited by 

 her Majesty, laid 94 eggs in 103 days." 



In a letter recently received from Mr. Giles, of Providence, 

 he pleasantly says : "I hope you will succeed in procuring 

 a pair of those fowls that will lay two or three eggs a day ; 

 they must be invaluable. This appears to be an age of won- 

 ders. I should not be surprised to hear of a breed being found 

 that will lay golden eggs, but I should be surprised to see the 

 eggs." The reader may be sure that neither he nor Mr. Giles 

 will be gratified, unless such a breed shall be discovered in 

 California. 



But this marvellous lay ing. is not the only wonder that is 

 reputed of the royal fowls. The writer in the London Illus- 

 trated News, from which the above description is taken, has 

 fallen into an error, which has been pointed out by Mr. Rugg, 

 and the correction will be now subjoined in the words of his 

 letter. It is necessary to premise, however, that the confident 

 arid ignorant assertions, made in several quarters, that there is 

 none of the pure Cochin China breed in this country, are en- 

 tirely without foundation. Mr. Rugg possesses fowls of the 

 identical breed, and it will be seen that his are in fact superior 

 to those possessed by her Majesty. 



Mr. Rugg says: " There is a discrepancy between the 

 portraits and the letter press in the description of the queen's 

 fowls. The reverse featliers, and the folding up of the last joint 

 of the wing, are not made distinctly to appear ; nor could they 

 be otherwise displayed, from the nature of the case. In mjpe, 



