17 



combs, and white fa ci' a. The males are courageous, but attentive 

 and kind to the females, who are most excellent layers, hut poor 

 sitters, and inconstant nurses. The flesh of these fowls is ex- 

 tremely delicate, white, and juic3^ The eggs are of good size 

 and excellent flavor. Together with these desirable (jualities, this 

 breed is easily reared and fed, (the birds being but small eaters,) 

 and they reach maturity at an early period. Care must be taken, 

 in severely cold weather to protect them, as .their large wattles 

 and combs are easily frozen. 



The riambura; fowl is another excellent laving breed, often 

 being called the " Everhisting Layers." There are five varie- 

 ties : — the Black, Goldea Sjiangled, Golden Pencilled, Silver 

 Spangled, and Silver Pencilled. These are all desirable breeds 

 for laying, but the eggs are rather small, and the birds not so 

 large for the table as the Black Spanish, although of equally good 

 flesh. The males are kind and attentive, and the females seldom 

 desire to sit ; this is the breed that Martin, in his Book on Poul- 

 try, wrote of as follows : — " The hen betrays no disposition to in- 

 cubate, but continues to lay eggs, as if for no oth-er purpose than 

 to repay her keeper." This breed is not very hardy, but, in a 

 warm house, will lav throughout the winter. 



The Dorking fowl stands, unquestionably, at the head, where 

 a breed for poultry is desired. Both sexes have usually a pure 

 ■white plumage, sometimes gray or mottled ; their hind toes are 

 doubled. The males are peaceable, and attentive to the females. 

 The hens are good layers and excellent sitters and constant mo- 

 thers. These fowls are very heavy. Their flesh is delicate and 

 juicy, yielding an abundance of what is called " white meat," in 

 consequence of their great depth of breast. The eggs are large, 

 and of delicious flavor. Perhaps, for general purposes, this breed 

 is to be preferred, as in it are united the most desirable qualities. 



The Game fowl is valuable as a stock fowl. The only great 

 objection to it is its extreme pugnacity ; on account of which the 

 young are with difficulty reared, " sometimes a large part of 

 the brood being killed or blinded " before they are half grown. 

 The females are good layers and mothers ; and their eggs, though 

 small, are deliciously flavored. The flesh of this breed is ex- 

 tremel}' delicate and fine grained, and in great repute. A cross 

 of the breed Avith the Dorking is valuable for general purposes. 



Although poultry husbandry properly includes the management 

 and breeding of several species of domesticated water fowl, to- 

 gether with the turkey, Guinea fowl and other species more nearly 

 allied to those already considered, I do not propose, in the present 

 paper, to treat of them, or their merits, but shall confine myself 

 to those above mentioned. 



Accurate observation and experiment have proved that the 



