DORKING FOWLS. 15 



means their true and original characteristic, such 

 peculiarity being merely fortuitous, and in fact ob- 

 jectionable : and that those so marked are deemed 

 a bastard breed. No doubt it is probable that, 

 having five claws accidentally brought into notice 

 certain fine and well-formed individuals, but from 

 those proceeded a distinguished permanent variety, 

 and that variety bearing the name of Dorking, 

 seems a sufficient proof in favour of that town and 

 its neighbourhood. In the mean time, the ap- 

 pellation of Dorking fowl, has been in use, I appre- 

 hend, far beyond the memory of any one now living: 

 and it is not at all improbable, the large Sussex 

 breed has originated from a Dorking cross, the 

 peculiar mark of five claws disappearing in the 

 course of time, from the small number of Dorking 

 cocks employed, compared with that of the Sussex 

 or common cocks, which were not so distinguished. 

 Such is a common case in crossing varieties of live 

 stock ; the home variety in the end gets uppermost, 

 as being the majority. In fine, five claws form an 

 original distinction in the common cock and hen, 

 adverted to by Buffon ; nor is there any thing in- 

 convenient or injurious in it, the fifth claw being 

 seldom of sufficient magnitude to encumber the foot, 

 or cause it to scratch out the eggs, as has been 

 apprehended. 



Poland. 



The POLAND FOWLS, as they are generally called, 

 were chiefly imported from Holland. Their colour 

 shining black, with white tops on the head of both 



