COCHIN-CHINA FOWLS. 



. DOMESTIC FOWLS. 



Few realize the importance of the Domestic Fowl. 

 The poultry business has generally been considered 

 too insignilicant to claim the attention of the farmer, 

 and hence this department has usually been con- 

 signed to the care of the younger members of the 

 family. Yet no domestic animal pays a better profit 

 on its care and keep than the dunghill fowl, when 

 its keep and care are what they should be. The im- 

 provement of this species of bird-s is beginning to ex- 

 cite considerable interest, particularly in the vicinity 

 of Boston, where new notions and " Fowl Coneeii- 

 iions' are hatched with the shortest possible incuba- 

 tion. The late Convention at that place of the Fowl- 

 Breeders of Boston and vicinity, has brought out 

 some facts showing the importance of the business. 

 The sales in Boston for the year 1848 was over a 

 million of dollars. The proceeds of the sales of eggs 

 for the same year was little short of a million of 

 dollars. The value of poultry in the State of New 

 York in 1840, as shown by the agricultural statistics, 

 was two million thn e hundred and seventy-three thou- 

 sand and twenty-nine dnllurs! which was more than 

 tlie value of the swine, and nearly five times the 

 value of its horses and mules. 



The Boston papers represent this Convention as 

 being one of the most interesting that ever assem- 

 bledlu MassachiiFetts. In the collection, which was 

 very large, we notice the Cochin-China, Poland, 

 Dorkings, Bantams, Java^ and Gold and Silver 

 Pheasants. The Cochin-Cliinas, figured at the head 

 of this article, were the most coveted, and prices were 

 given for pairs of this description ranging from !i^9 

 to $18. 



We copy the following description of this breed 

 from Bement's book, taken originally from a London 

 paper: ""These extraordinary birds are of gigantic 

 size, and in their proportions very nearly allied to 

 the family of bustards, to which, in all probability, 

 thev are proximately related— in fact, they have al- 

 rcad acquired the name of ' Ostrich Fowl.' In gen- 



eral color they are of rich glossy brown; tail black, 

 and in the breast a horse-shoe marking black; the 

 comb double. Two characters appear to be pe- 

 culiar to them — one, the arrangement of the feath- 

 ers on the back of the cock's neck, which are turned 

 upwards; and the other, the form of the wing, which 

 is jointed to fold together, so that, on occasion, the 

 bird may double up its posterior half and bring it 

 forward between the anterior half and body. The 

 eggs are of a deep mahogany color, and of a deli- 

 cious flavor. These birds are very healthy, quite 

 attached to home, and in every respect suitable to 

 the English climate." 



The Poland Fowls have always been favorites of 

 ours. Their shining black color contrasted with their 

 clean white crest give them a beautiful appearance. 

 They lay more eggs than any other variety, and are 

 the least inclined to set. They have not improperly 

 been termed "everlasting layers." We always 

 found it necessary to keep other hens to hatch their 

 egss. The following is Brment's description: — 

 " The Poland Fowls, as they are generally called, 

 were, according to English authors, said to be import- 

 ed from Holland. Their color is a shining black, 

 with a white top-knot of feathers on the heads of 

 both cock and hen. The head is flat and surmounted 

 by a fleshy protuberance, out of which springs the 

 ci-own of feathers or top-knot, white or blacl^ with 

 the fleshy King David's crown, consisting of four or 

 five spikes. They are not so thickly covered with 

 feathers as some other breeds, and still less so with 

 down. The true breed is rather above the middling 

 size: their form is plump and deep, and the legs of 

 the best sorts are not too long, and most have five 

 claws. The top-knot of upright, white feathers, 

 covers so much of the head as almost to blind the 

 eyes; indeed some require clipping, or they vi'ould 

 become an easy prey to the hawks. The contrast of 

 this perfectly white crest with the black plumage, is 

 truly beautiful; but the top-knot of the cock differs 

 from his hen, hers being broad and erect feathers, 

 while his are narrow and hanging down in every di- 



