98 Cochin- C/unas. 



sprigs; brilliant red face, and pendant wattles; long hanging 

 ear-lobe, of pure red, white being inadmissible ; bright, 

 bold eye, approaching the plumage in colour ; rich, full, 

 long hackle ; small, closely-folded wings ; short tail, 

 scarcely any in some fine specimens, not very erect, with 

 slightly twisted glossy feathers falling over it like those 

 of the ostrich ; stout legs set widely apart, yellow and 

 heavily feathered to the toe ; and erect carriage. The 

 chief defect of the breed is narrowness of breast, which 

 should therefore be sought for as full as possible. 



The hen's body is much deeper in proportion than that 

 of the cock. She resembles him upon most points, but 

 differs in some ; her comb having many indentations ; the 

 fluff being softer, and of almost silky quality ; the tail has 

 upright instead of falling feathers, and comes to a blunt 

 point ; and her carriage is less upright. 



Cochins lose their beauty earlier than any other breed, 

 and moult with more difficulty each time. They are in 

 their greatest beauty at from nine to eighteen months old. 

 The cocks' tails increase with age. In buying Cochins 

 avoid clean legs, fifth toes, which show that it has been 

 crossed with the Dorking, double combs that betray 

 Malay blood, and long tails, particularly taking care that 

 the cock has not, and ascertaining that he never had, sickle 

 feathers. The cock ought not to weigh less than ten or 

 eleven pounds, and a very fine bird will reach thirteen ; 

 the hens from eight to ten pounds. 



The principal colours now bred are Buff, Cinnamon, 

 Partridge, Grouse, Black, and White. The Buff and 

 White are the most popular. 



Buff birds may have black in the tails of both sexes, 

 but the less there is the better. Black-pencilling in the 

 hackle is considered objectionable at good shows. The cock's 

 neck hackles, wing coverts, back, and saddle hackles, 

 are usually of a rich gold colour, but his breast and the 

 lower parts of his body should match with those of his 

 hens. Buff birds generally produce chickens lighter than 

 themselves. Most birds become rather lighter at each 

 moult. In making up an exhibition pen, observe that 



