200 DIFFERENT BREEDS OF POULTRY. 



CHAPTEK XXIV. 



THE VARIOUS CLASS. 



UNDER this chapter we may collect several breeds which rarely 

 have a class of their own, but usually compete together in a 

 mixed class provided for such waifs and strays. Sultans 

 usually compete in this class, but have already been described 

 under Polish fowls. 



SCOTCH GREYS. This is the most useful fowl of the division, 

 and in Scotland often nils large and good classes. It might be 

 called the Scotch Dorking. It is of the cuckoo or Dominique 

 colour, has single upright combs, and red faces and ear-lobes. 

 The legs vary a little, from bluish, to mottled blue and white 

 like the Houdan, and nearly white ; and there have been 

 advocates of all. The size is about that of the White Dorking, 

 and the shape and carriage are more sprightly than that of 

 English Dorkings, somewhat resembling the free and agile style 

 of the Game fowl. The flesh is good, and the bird hardy and a 

 good layer, usually becoming broody once in the season, and 

 being then a good mother. It stands the Scottish climate 

 better than most fowls. 



The difficulty, as usual, is to keep the colour and marking 

 good ; black, white, and coloured feathers being apt to appear. 



DUMPIES, OR CREEPERS. This is also a Scotch breed ; and 

 has long been known under such names as Bakies, Go Laighs, 

 &c., but is now getting rather uncommon. It has never been 

 much valued in England. The principal characteristic is the 

 extreme shortness of the shank, or leg- bone, which should not 

 exceed two inches from the hock joint to the ground. In 

 other respects they most resemble Dorkings, lacking, however, 

 the fifth toe, and being more hardy than that variety. The 

 hens are fair layers of rather large eggs, and as mothers 

 cannot be surpassed. The plumage is generally an irregular 

 speckle, and it is difficult to get them any uniform colour. 



