COCHINS. 169 



the ground-colour, which is also pretty dark quite a dull- 

 looking colour, more after the older style. For pullets, on 

 the other hand, the hens or pullets must be of the ex- 

 hibition type, and the cockerel or cock bred from hens or 

 pullets of this type ; but his breast and thighs will have 

 each feather either ticked or laced with lemon or orange- 

 his hackles may also show signs of marking. The ex- 

 aggerated value put on Brahma type of pencilling has 

 almost destroyed size, shape, and grand " character " in 

 Partridge Cochin hens, and these points need much 

 attention, the type having been got by a cross and only 

 perpetuated by close interbreeding. The colour of the 

 Partridge cockerel, we fancy, may possibly in some cases 

 be improved by colour-feeding. 



Cuckoo Cochins are a peculiar bluish-grey mottle all 

 over ; each feather crossed by bands of light and dark blue- 

 grey. They are seldom of good shape. The colour is bred 

 as in Plymouth Rocks. 



Black Cochins nearly disappeared for many years, from 

 want of stock, and the attempt to breed black fowls with 

 yellow legs, which was unnatural. The importation in 1871 

 of the black-legged type known as Langshans, however, 

 revived the breed, and very good black birds are now 

 sometimes seen. Some approach to dusky yellow in the 

 legs is preferred, and as heavy feather as possible. 



The merits of Cochins have already been hinted at. 

 The chickens, though they feather slowly, are hardier than 

 many other breeds, and will thrive where others would 

 perish ; they grow fast, and may be killed when twelve 

 weeks old. The fowls will do well in very confined spaces, 

 are very tame and easily domesticated, and seldom quarrel. 

 They cannot fly, and a fence two feet high will effectually 

 keep them within bounds. As sitters and mothers the 

 hens are unsurpassed ; though they are, unless cooped, apt 



