VARIETIES OF DOMESTIC FOWL. 75 



and they are usually very red about the head. Their tails are 

 rather shorter and broader than most others of the race, and 

 they feather rather slowly. Their legs are short and black, 

 with five toes on each foot, the bottom of which is sometimes 

 yellow. The two back toes are very distinct, starting from 

 the foot separately, and there is frequently a part of an extra 

 toe between the two. This breed commence laying when very 

 young, and are the greatest layers, during winter, I ever had. 

 Their eggs are of a large size, and hatch well ; they are per- 

 fectly hardy, as their color indicates, and for the product I con- 

 sider them among the most valuable of the Dorking race." 



It should be remembered that all pure Dorkings are com- 

 pactly formed, and have rose combs, long tails, white legs, 

 and five toes upon each foot ; and even the hybrids, when per- 

 fected, have these uniform characteristics : but it by no means 

 follows that every five-toed fowl is a Dorking. Many, and I 

 believe most, that are sold as Dorkings, are spurious, and a 

 disgrace to t} Dorking race. 



