SHANGHAE FOWLS. 



77 



WHITE SHANGHAE HEN. 



Cochin Chinas, and a number of others, too numerous to mention. I 

 am well aware, that the dark-colored Chinese fowls have had, and 

 still hold, to a great extent, the reputation of being the largest and 

 best ; but on a fair trial, all being kept in the same coops together, 

 from first- to last, the result was in favor of the white Shanghaes, 

 somewhat contrary to my expectations. Their growth is slower than 

 many other breeds, not reaching their full size until the second year, and 

 generally weighing, at the expiration of the first, about two-thirds 

 as much as when fully grown. To enable you to imagine how the 

 chickens look, I weighed a number this morning, being just six months 

 since they were hatched. The cocks drew seven pounds, the pullets 

 Jive pounds and six ounces. There may be, and no doubt are, many 

 other fowls, larger at this age ; but these, when grown, will weigh 

 from eighteen to twenty pounds per pair. This is speaking within 

 bounds. As regards their laying, I have pullets (in fact, all I have of 

 this breed,) that have laid constantly, from the first of last February, 

 until the present time. The inclination to lay commences when from 

 six to seven months old. If for no other motive, I should keep a few 

 of this breed for sitters and nurses, for, in my estimation, it would 

 be far better than to employ any others, if we except the Dorking. 



