HOANG HO FOWLS. 93 



now eight months old, that average about eight pounds each, 

 and the old cock weighs only eleven pounds. They equal the 

 best Shanghaes for laying, seldom missing a day, unless it be 

 between litters. These fowls have a peculiar penchant for fresh 

 meat, and they will devour mice and birds with great gusto, 

 and even catch them. A pullet in my possession, three months 

 old, caught a young bird, and devoured it, feathers and all. 



This variety of fowls is very hardy, their progenitors having 

 come from a severe climate, and they stand our severe winters 

 much better than our native fowls. The chicks are also very 

 hardy, and are protected by a coat of fur while young, almost 

 impervious to water ; and while our common breeds are droop- 

 ing and chilled, the Hoang Ho chicks run about in the sleet, 

 snow, or rain, as happy as in midsummer, chirping a merry 



SOHg. 



The cocks of this variety, when crossed with our good com- 

 mon fowls, of any breed, make a very fine cross one that 

 excites the admiration of all who see them. This I know from 

 experience, having disposed of eggs of this half breed to various 

 gentlemen, who are rapturous in the praise of them, without 

 an exception ; and the cocks of such crosses have been sold 

 as high as $5 each. The size of such a cross is but little 

 diminished from that of the pure Hoang Hos, and the fowls 

 are beautiful, surpassing the parentage in all cases. The 

 crossed cocks are generally of the same bright chestnut color 

 of the Hoang Ho cocks, and much exceed them in their grace- 

 ful proportions. Some of the pullets resemble the pure fowls 

 so much, as not to be distinguished, except by one well 

 acquainted with them. 



The other, and general characteristics of the Hoang Ho fowls, 

 are similar to our best Asiatic breeds. They are confined by 

 fences three feet high. I have furnished n-o portraits of them 

 in consequence of a press of other business, but shall have 

 them executed at the earliest period, for insertion in the 

 " Farmer." 



There are but three or four individuals in the United States, 

 who have this breed at present. Wm. O. Leslie, Esq., of Pa., 

 writes me under date of Jan. 20th, 1853, as follows : 



" In your editorials on Poultry, you have thus far overlooked the 

 great Hoang Hos, a breed which I consider the largest of any we 

 have. I have a pullet a little over six months old, which weighs six 

 pounds full. She lays almost daily. She is from Dr. Bennett's 

 stock." 



