SPECKLED DORKINGS. 17 



their shape being a model for all fowl fanciers to seek for ; but 

 under the circumstances, I think it for the interest of the public 

 to cross them with any good breed till fresh blood shall be attain- 

 able, rather than to attempt to breed them pure. If Mr. Newell, 

 our correspondent, or Dr. Wight can furnish fowls that shall be 

 hardy, and of their original beauty, compactness and weight, 

 and not suffering from a want of fresh blood, then I have noth- 

 ing to say ; but I am satisfied in my own mind that they cannot 

 do it, unless it be from recent importations. There is obviously 

 a tendency in white Dorkings of pure blood to deteriorate, or to 

 become less hardy and vigorous, and consequently more liable to 

 debility and sickness, and this important fact regarding them 

 should be made known, that the public may be able to form 

 a correct opinion respecting these fowls. In justice to Mr. New- 

 ell, however, I will say, that his opinion on this subject is changed 

 from what it was, so far as regards the necessity of obtaining 

 fresh blood, when he furnished the preceding articles for the 

 Northern Farmer, (see advertisement of this publication in the 

 back of this work,) from which a portion of the matter con- 

 tained in this Treatise is copied, and he has taken measures, I 

 believe, to reinstate his stock in vigor and change of blood. 

 These fowls now command from $5 to $10 a pair, and eggs 

 from $3 to $5 per dozen. 



SPECKLED DORKINGS. 



This breed, or variety of fowls possess the general character- 

 istics of the white Dorking to a great extent, except color ; 

 and are so much akin to them, that I have not thought it expe- 

 dient to procure cuts of them. The cut that follows on page 24, 

 representing the Surrey fowl, may be said to be a true portrait 

 of this breed, as well as of the fowl it is intended to represent. 



It is yet a disputed point, how these fowls originated. Some 

 fowl fanciers contend that they are a pure breed, and will pro- 

 duce their like, while others assert that they ^originated in a 

 cross, and therefore should be termed a variety. ' It will not be 

 my object to treat at length on any of the numerous disputed 

 points pertaining to fowls, of no immediate, or particular 

 importance to the American breeder, but to come direct to the 

 point, and show what the fowls are, not what they were. I have 

 no room for such matter, unless I run out my pages to an extent 

 that would produce a too large and too expensive work ; hence 



