1 68 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



better ; and the inner flights are often more or less black, 

 which is better than white. White in the tail is a great 

 blemish. Buffs tend to breed rather lighter ; and the cock 

 should, therefore, always be chosen of perfectly sound colour 

 on the wings, and, if possible, a shade or two deeper than 

 the hens which really match him. On the other hand, a 

 very much darker cock, or one with very dark wing, usually 

 breeds spotty or patchy chickens. The legs yellow, or with 

 a reddish tinge. A rich lemon buff is most preferred, and 

 some people think the colour may be improved by the 

 "colour-feeding" described in Chapter IX. We have been 

 unable, so far, to trace any improvement in Cochin colour 

 since this practice was introduced. 



Partridge Cochins are very differently coloured in the 

 two sexes. The cock for exhibition has black breast, under 

 parts, and thighs. His hackle and saddle feathers are rich 

 orange-red, striped with black. The back and shoulders of 

 wing are almost crimson ; the secondaries bay on the outer 

 edge, with a black spot on the end, edging the point of the 

 wing. Across the centre of the wing is a broad u bar " of 

 green-black. The tail is black, white being a great blemish. 

 The pullet or hen has also an orange or rich yellow hackle 

 striped with black ; the rest of her plumage consists of dark 

 pencillings on a lighter ground. Formerly this was really 

 partridge in character, or grouse ; but for years now the 

 pencilling has exactly resembled in character that of the 

 Dark Brahma, which has been crossed to produce it ; the 

 pencilling being black on an almost yellow ground. The 

 legs are dusky yellow. 



This modern type is difficult to breed, and separate pens 

 are practically required for the two sexes. For cockerels, an 

 exhibition-coloured bird, with solid black under parts, is 

 mated with hens or pullets that have specially well-striped 

 hackles, and dark bodies, with small pencilling almost covering 



