74 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



I regard this as one of the best varieties of fowls known, as 

 the size is increased without diminishing the fineness of the 

 flesh. The portrait is taken from a pullet of this year, in pos- 

 session of Mr. Perkins, of Plymouth. This bird weighs nve 

 pounds and twelve ounces. 



Other varieties are called Dappled, Mottled, Cuckoo-colored, 

 and the Pearl White, which variety was produced by Mr. 

 William Gooding and John Washburn, of Plymouth. 



The Black Dorking is thus described by Mr. N. C. Day, of 

 Lunenburg, Mass., but undoubtedly the appellation is a mis- 

 nomer : 



" The Black Dorkings were brought to this town a few 

 years ago, by a young man, who presented them to his friends 

 living in this place. The person who brought them is now in 

 California ; but he stated to me that ' they came from Philadel- 

 phia,' and I have no doubt of the fact, as I have never seen or 

 heard of any in New England. The family who have kept 

 them here have valued them very high, and would rather kill 

 them than sell them at a reasonable price ; and the neighbors 

 were not very anxious to obtain them, saying that they were 

 ' too large a breed.' The family above referred to have since 

 broken up housekeeping and removed from town, and I have 

 purchased their entire stock, and also every one in the neigh- 

 borhood of this breed that is of pure blood ; and from one year's 

 experience with them, I find their qualities as follows, as nearly 

 as I am able to describe them : Their bodies are of a large 

 size, with the usual proportions of the race, and of a jet black 

 color. The neck-feathers of some of the cocks are tinged with 

 a bright gold color, and those of some of the hens bear a silvery 

 complexion. Their combs are usually double, and very short, 

 though sometimes cupped, rosed, or single, with wattles small, 



