FOWLS, TABLE AND MARKET. 181 



was obliged to pass nearly one-tliird of the coops, many of 

 them very fine otherwise, because one or more of the birds 

 had crooked breasts. 



This is a great disfigurement to market poultry, especially 

 to fowls and turkeys. It comes from roosting on too narrow 

 perches, or from having soft bones, or from both causes ; 

 and it is certainly right that crooked-breasted fowls should 

 be disqualified from competing at such shows. Mr. Teget- 

 meier awarded the first prize to a pair of pullets bred from a 

 Dorking cock and game hen, and another pair bred in the 

 same way were highly commended, but were not in condi- 

 tion to be exhibited as table fowls, as one of them had just 

 finished laying her first clutch of eggs. 



The second prize went to a pair bred from a Dorking cock 

 and Houdan hens. Mr. Tegetmeier says : " As they were 

 purely white, the cock was probably a white Dorking. 

 They possessed small tufts and beards, with small combs, 

 moderate bone, were fine in quality, and good in breast." 



He speaks of a fine pair, one of which had a crooked 

 breast, bred from a Dorking cock and black Hamburg hen, 

 as being " small in l>one, meaty, and of good quality," and 

 as sure to have been prize-winners had it not been for the 

 defect spoken of. 



The third prize went to a pair of cockerels bred from a 

 game cock and Brahma hen. " They were plump-breasted, 

 heavy birds, with white skins, though their yellow shanks 

 and length of lei2:s were asjainst them. The crosses between 



O o O 



Brahmas and Dorkings were numerous. The white Dorking 

 cock and dark Brahma hen gave rise to a pair of handsome 

 white pullets, that were commended, but their size was 

 deceptive, the feathers being very loose. The cross of 

 Brahma and Dorking produces large birds, coarse in the 

 bone, fluffy and soft in feather, tremendous in size of the 

 legs, and correspondingly poor in the chest ; size is gained, 

 but quality is wanting. A Malay cock and Dorking hens 

 yielded a pair of pullets that were commended. Partridge 

 Cochin cock and game hens produced birds with small 

 breasts, and indiiferent quality." Pie adds : — 



"The inferences that I think may be drawn from this 

 interesting class are obvious. The first is, that the French 



