JAPANESE LOXG-TAILED FOWLS. 205 



most common. The size also varies much, ranging from three 

 to seven pounds each. 



ORPINGTONS. This name has been given to a breed es- 

 tablished within the last few years by Mr. W. Cook, of 

 Orpington, by crossing Minorcas, black Plymouth Rocks, and 

 Langshans, the Langshan predominating. It most resembles 

 the latter breed, but with rather short and smooth legs, and is 

 a fair table fowl and excellent layer, but (naturally) tends to 

 vary a great deal During the agitation for stilty Langshans, 

 there was need for some such fowl ; but since opinion has 

 settled that a Langshan should have only moderate shanks, 

 the distinctiveness of the Orpington, save for its bare legs 

 (which could soon be bred in Langshans), is less apparent. 



YOKOHAMAS, PHOENIX FOWLS. There have very lately been 

 introduced from Japan, through German importers, several 

 very peculiar breeds, mostly known in England under the 

 above names. The general character of the bodies and heads, 

 and the colours, resembles that of Game fowls; Piles and Black- 

 reds being the usual colours. The peculiar point is the im- 

 mense length of the cock's hackles and streamers. Those 

 called " Phosnix " have been longer in feather than others 

 shown as Yokohamas ; but we believe the whole class to be 

 one race at the bottom, and it is to be hoped that some one 

 name may be adopted. In Germany, for want of stock, many 

 have had to be crossed with common Game fowls ; and even so, 

 tails three and four feet long have been produced ; but sickles 

 nearly seven feet long have been dropped by some of the im- 

 portations, and at Tokio, in Japan, there are said to be feathers 

 nearly 27 feet in length. The illustration is engraved from 

 a painting made in Germany. 



This breed is of course of purely ornamental value, and much 

 care is required to keep the plumage in good order. Length 

 of feather, if in decent order, will naturally be the chief point 

 in judging. 



