50 SHANGHAE FOWLS. 



two eggs per day, but you may, with almost a certainty, rely upon re- 

 ceiving one good egg every day from a Shanghae hen, and occasionally 

 I get one with two yolks, as large as a turkey's, measuring afoot or less 

 around ! For breeding, these fowls are excellent. It is all untrue 

 and libelous in the extreme, to brand them "poor setters" and 

 inefficient mothers ; they hatch their eggs well, and rear their young 

 with great care and success. It is not ^Infrequently the case, that 

 every member of a large brood reaches maturity. 



In all respects then, the Shanghae is a most desirable species, the 

 introduction of which into our country, has formed a new era in the 

 history of poultry and poultry breeding, and will, I think, prove of 

 great benefit to the land. Poultry breeding has become so extensive 

 A business, that it is to the interest of the citizens of the United States, 

 that all improvements in the varieties, etc., should be encouraged, 

 and the scattering through the States, of this capital and profitable 

 breed, will, in my estimation, do much toward raising the quality and 

 increasing the value of our domestic poultry. 



I have not entered into detailed descriptions, as I should like to have 

 done, and find that already my letter is quite too long. But I suppose 

 that there are but few in our country now, who are not more or less 

 familiar with the Shanghae. I have sent of my stock to the 

 Northern and Southern States, and to the West Indies, and have 

 heard th-e most favorable reports. I have not, nor do I intend, to 

 breed for the market, or for profit, but from an innate love for 

 " chickens," (alive,) and a special interest in this species, have devoted 

 much of my time and attention to its study and keeping.. I shall be 

 pleased to furnish you, or the readers of your book, with any further 

 information relative to my Shanghaes, that you may at any time 

 desire, which my continued study of their "manners and customs," 

 may afford. 



I may, perhaps, mention, that to avoid breeding in and in, (a prac- 

 tice to which I am strongly opposed,) and in order to breed directly 

 from imported stock, I replenished my yards last spring by an impor- 

 tation per ship " Oneida," at New York, and within a few days, I 

 have received an additional invoice per ship " Oriental," at New York, 

 from Shanghae direct, in a short passage. 



The accompanying " sketches," were prepared by Nathaniel Or, 

 Esq., the distinguished engraver of New York, and although pro- 

 nounced exceedingly accurate and artistic, they still carry to the 

 uninitiated, a very imperfect idea of the size and beauty of these 

 fowls. 



With continued respect, 



Yours truly, 



RICHARD C. McCoRMiCK, JJR. 



Woodville, near Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y., ) 

 December 22d, 1852. J 



