20 SHACKBAGS. 



very large, the plumage black, flesh white and de- 

 licate, but inferior in size to the old Duke of Leeds' 

 breed. They are well adapted for CAPONS, and 

 produce the largest eggs to be obtained. This 

 breed is now common, particularly in London ; all 

 black, black legs, large red combs and gills far 

 too high on the leg, and in want of improvement in 

 that particular. 



In the Section on the Rabbit, I have adverted to 

 the old and cruel practice in the country, of killing 

 fowls, which I formerly noticed, in particular, at 

 the house of a religious lady, whom however, I 

 failed to convince. She insisted on the necessity of 

 the method, in order to drain oil' the blood and in- 

 sure the whiteness of the chicken ! If the neck be 

 broken by the finger and thumb, according to the 

 practice of the London poulterers, the birds die 

 instantly; at any rate, lose from the moment all 

 sensibility of pain. My own method is to brace the 

 wings, and taking hold of the head, to give them 

 three or four turns, by which the neck is broken. 

 They may then be hung up by the legs, and the 

 blood will settle in the neck and head, for which an 

 outlet may be made by an incision in the throat. 



