COCHIN CHINA FOWLS. 83 



of Cochin China. I had heard 60 much of Cochin China, and Royal 

 Cochin China, that I took pains, in February, 1850, to write to Nich- 

 olas Baylies, of Shanghae, China, to procure a pair of this breed, if 

 they were superior to the variety that he had already sent me. And 

 in September, 1850, I received his answer, to this effect that he had 

 a friend in Cochin China, who was a missionary, and from him he 

 could get all the information required. 



February 10th, I received from the same kind friend, a beautiful pair 

 of Shanghae fowls, the cock weighing eight and a half pounds, and 

 the hen seven pounds, and with them the reply to his inquiry, from 

 his friend, the Rev. "W. Dean, a Baptist Missionary, which is as follows : 



HONG KOXG, 25th Oct., 1850. 



My Dear Mr. Baylies, I have just returned from Siam and Cochin 

 China, bxit in answer to the inquiry of your note of July, I can only 

 state, that while in Cochin China, I saw the fowls in the market, and 

 in the villages, and we bought them for use on ship-board, but I saw 

 none but the common small fowl, and none to be compared to the 

 Shanghae fowl. Neither in Cochin China, nor Siam, nor elsewhere, 

 have I seen so large fowls as those from Shanghae, neither have I 

 heard of such, at any other place. 



As I have twice visited Cochin China, and been in their markets 

 and villages, I think I am safe in saying that they have not the large 

 fowl you speak of. 



I am happy to report my health as very good, and have had a 

 pleasant visit at our mission station in Siam. 



With kind regards to Mrs. Baylies, 



I am very sincerely yours. 



W. DEAN. 



The above note from the Rev. Mr. Dean, puts a quietus to the 

 " Cochin China " variety. 



I am well satisfied with the Shanghae variety, and if there are 

 larger varieties, there are none better, in my opinion, than the 

 Shanghae. They certainly improve very much in size and form when 

 bred among us, from those imported ; and the reason is obvious. 

 Fowls of four or five months old, put on board of ship in China, and 

 subjected to a voyage of five months, with scanty fare, and cooped up 

 without much exercise, must of necessity get sadly cramped in form 

 and size and I have good authority for such opinion. A letter from 

 Nicholas Baylies, of June, 1850, says, among bis fowls, he frequently 

 has chickens of seven months old, that stand two feet ana eight 

 inches. Allowing this to be truth, which I doubt not, what may we 

 not expect when they are full grown. 



Yours respectfully, 



ALF. BAYLIES. 



JosEph A. SAMPSON, Esq., Boston. 



Thus it appears, that our so-called " Cochin China " fowls, 

 may have originated in the vicinity of the city of Shanghae, or 

 in any other part of China, except " Cochin China" Mr. 

 Burnham admits, himself, that this breed is identical with red 



