rOULTIlY. 



Id). The term includes all the do- 

 mesticated birds reared for the table : 

 fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, and 

 Guinea fowls. 



" Fowls. — ' The strong feet of the 

 gallinaceous birds are adapted to the 

 region where they chiefly resort for 

 their food and the purposes of incu- 

 bation ; their toes and nails peculiar- 

 ly formed for scratching up the grains 

 and seeds which constitute the main 

 part of their subsistence ; their short 

 wings and the weakness of their pec- 

 toral muscles, which cause the heavi- 

 ness of their flight, a deficiency which 

 is counterbalanced by the strength of 

 those muscles of the thighs and legs 

 that contribute to their powers of 

 running; their gregarious, and, gen- 

 erally speaking, polygamous habits ; 

 the ease w ith which they are domes- 

 ticated ; their wholesome flesh, to- 

 gether with many striking peculiari- 

 ties in their anatomy, serve equally 

 to distinguish them.' 



" Some foreign varieties have not 

 even the rudiment of a tail, while 

 others are distinguished by it. The 

 gamecock, which is probably a native 

 of India, has an unusual length of 

 spur, his natural weapon of combat. 

 The flesh of this variety is delicate- 

 ly white and of the finest flavour, the 

 plumage brilliant, and the form sym- 

 metrical ; but from their pugnacious 

 temper, there is great difficulty in 

 rearing even those of the same brood ; 

 and for companionship with the gen- 

 eral inmates of the fowl-yard they are 

 very exceptionable for the same cause. 



" The best breed of Dorking fowls 

 is the produce of the Dorking cock 

 and the common dunghill fowl. This 

 cross is larger and plumper, and more 

 hardy than the pure Dorking, without 

 losing delicacy of flavour or white- 

 ness of flesh. 



"The characteristics of the pure 

 Dorking are, that it is white-feather- 

 ed, short-legged, and an excellent 

 layer. The peculiarity of this estab- 

 lished variety, which has frequently 

 five claws perfectly articulated (witli 

 sometimes a sixth springing laterally 

 from the fifth, but always imperfect), 

 is well known. But though the true 

 620 



Dorking, which is white, is much es- 

 teemed, that colour is rare, and prized 

 for the ornament of the poultry-yard : 

 speckled colours are most generally 

 seen. 



" The Poland breed, which is black- 

 feathered, with white topknots, lays 

 well, and is highly desirable where 

 the production of eggs for the table 

 is the principal object ; but they sel- 

 dom sit. 



'• The Chiltagong, or Malay, which 

 is a very large Indian variety, is gen- 

 erally long-legged, with yellow body 

 and coarse, yellow flesh. Fancier's 

 used to like them for their fine ap- 

 pearance and their large eggs ; but 

 as their long legs incapacitate them 

 from steady sitting, they are not gen- 

 eral favourites. One of our practical 

 acquaintances recommends the male 

 produce of the Poland and Chittagong 

 as a good cross with the common 

 dunghill hen, as their progeny will sit. 



" Parmentier thus describes the 

 cock ; ' He is considered to have ev- 

 ery requisite quality when he is of a 

 good middling size ; when he carries 

 his head high ; has a quick, animated 

 look, a strong and shrill voice, short 

 bill, a fine red comb, shining as if 

 varnished ; wattles of a large size, 

 and of the same colour as the comb ; 

 the breast broad ; the wings strong ; 

 the plumage black, or of an obscure 

 red ; the thighs very muscular ; the 

 legs thick, and furnished with strong 

 spurs ; the claws rather bent, and 

 sharply pointed. He ought also to be 

 free in his motions, to crow frequent- 

 ly, and to scratch the ground often in 

 search of worms, not so much for 

 himself as to treat his hens. He 

 ought, withal, to be brisk, spirited, 

 ardent, and ready in caressing the 

 hens ; quick in defending them, at- 

 tentive in sohciting them to eat, in 

 keeping them together, and in assem- 

 bling them at night.' " 



'• The Bantam is a beautiful little 

 bird, usually white in colour, with 

 short legs, feathered oftentimes to 

 the extremity of its toes. It is often 

 of variegated colours, inclined to red, 

 brown, and white, prettily mixed. Oc- 

 casionally a variety is met with that 



