8HANGHAE FOWLS. 43 



starting point others differing much, from a distinct original. I am 

 not inclined to trace every variety of chickens, from the Great Malay 

 to the Bantam, to a common progenitor. Nor do I yet believe, that 

 every extra speckle, or every superfluous feather, whether on top of 

 the head, under the throat, or upon the legs, denotes a distinct Adam 

 cock, and Eve hen. A middle course seems to be the sensible one. 

 No man can believe, that the Chittagong, the Game, and the Bantam 

 are descended from the same stock, and yet no man can deny, that 

 wonderful changes in external appearance, and even in qualities, can 

 be effected by the careful or fanciful breeder. Some years ago, I came 

 into possession of three common grey puddle ducks a male, and two 

 females. These birds were without a single white feather, and yet, 

 by aiming at white, in the course of four years, I had from these 

 three, a flock of beautiful white ducks, without spot or blemish. I 

 could more easily have had grey, parti-colored, or dark, if I had chosen. 

 Nay, I could have turned the white flock back again, for though that 

 color, when once established, greatly preponderated, the dusky hues 

 would sometimes re-appear. And thus of the purest fowls you or I 

 have ever seen. From yellow or buff Shanghaes, it is hardly to be 

 doubted, that white and other colors could be obtained, in the 

 course of a few generations, if constantly aimed at. As of color, so 

 of other minor characteristics. 



After the rearing of young broods, the next most important item, 

 and certainly the most profitable, where fancy prices cannot be 

 obtained for chickens, is the production of eggs. In France, it is said, 

 the cooping system answers very well. But unless the citizens of the 

 Grand Republic understand the necessities of egg-bearing hens better 

 than we do, or minister to them with much greater care, I am inclined 

 to doubt the statements. I know very well, that in our country, 

 abundant food and liberty are both essential to long continued pro- 

 ductiveness. On a limited range, a hen soon exhausts the supplies of 

 grass, worms, gravel, and calcareous matter, that are necessary to her 

 health, enjoyment and fertility. And even if these things are plenti 

 fully furnished her, a difficulty still remains. The premises will 

 become tainted and unwholesome, in spite of the most unremitting 

 care. I have had hens to lay tolerably well for a time, when confined, 

 but the attention they required was tenfold, and their prolificness of 

 short duration. Fruits and vegetables, and any form of animal food, 

 are highly promotive of the object to be attained. With the excep- 

 tion of hogs and men, there is nothing so omniverous as a chicken 

 And in this respect, the more their appetites are pampered, the better. 

 Corn to-day, oats to-morrow, wheat next day, and "green things" 

 every day, is a good system of rotation. 



If I were a butcher, I would engage to supply a small neighborhood 

 with eggs, winter and summer, by keeping hens around my slaughter 

 house, to live on bullocks' blood, scrapings, and other odds and ends. 

 I can imagine no better food for poultry than corn meal saturated with 

 blood. I would advise every knight of the slaughter weapon, to add 

 a hennery to his premises, thereby securing both profit and pleasure. 

 If any farmer who has been in the habit of wintering one hundred 

 fowls on the shift-for-themselves principle, will reduce his flock to 



