MANUAL ON POULTRY. 9 



slightly raised compared with that of other fowls ; the wings ex- 

 ceedingly short, and held tightly to the sides ; the legs, thighs and 

 saddle unusually large in proportion to the rest of the body ; the 

 head small, and carried well up. 



" The carriage of the hen similar to that of the cock in general 

 character, but the head is carried much lower, and the neatness 

 and fine expression of the face is extremely pleasing in really high- 

 bred specimens. 



" The plumage in the cock is very soft, owl-like, and exceedingly 

 downy, giving a peculiar softness to the general appearance. 



" Cochhib possess a great bulk of feathers, each one being wider 

 across than in other fowls. In the hen the peculiar softness of the 

 plumage is more marked even than in the cock, especially on the 

 thighs and saddle. 



"The neck-hackle of the cock is extremely full, * * * spread- 

 ing over the base of the wing?. 



"The thighs of the cock are stronger than those of any other 

 variety ; exceedingly heavy in the feathering ; all the feathers sit 

 very loosely, and are peculiarly downy, forming, in part, what is 

 commonly called the 'fluff.' The shafts of these feathers should 

 be weak and flexible, contrasting with the firm, stiff feathers pro_ 

 ducing the ' falcon-hock,' which is to be regarded as a defect. In 

 the hen the fluffiness is far more conspicuous than in the cocks." 



The Cochins are good win- 

 ter layers, good sitters and 

 fair mothers. From long 

 disuse of their wings and 

 their heavy weight they can 

 fly but little, and hence can be 

 easily restrained within the 

 desired bounds without ex- 

 pensive fencing. Their roosts 

 should not be more than two 

 feet from the floor of the 

 house, so that they may easily 

 reach them, and to prevent 



h eir feet and breast KLACK COCHINS. 



bones in flying down. If they are required to perch upon high 



