22 THE SPANIARD. 



such thorough-bred cock chickens as I chose to send 

 him. At that period the real Duke of Leeds' breed 

 had become very scarce, which induced the dealers to 

 put Shackbag cocks to Malay hens, by that means 

 keeping up the original standard size, but entirely 

 ruining the colour and delicate flavour of the flesh. 

 The Shackbag fowl was a convenient substitute for 

 the turkey, to the frequent great convenience of 

 poulterers and inn-keepers, at Wokingham and else- 

 where. 



The breed of Shackbags, it has been already 

 observed, has been many years extinct, and the sub- 

 stitute of the Malay cross is not satisfactory. A 

 large variety has been since introduced with suc- 

 cess ; a cross between the Spanish and our Dorking 

 breed, the best of which are to be found in Sussex, 

 and near Wokingham, Berkshire. 



The Spaniard. 



A large fowl, the plumage black, flesh white and 

 delicate, but inferior in size to the old Duke of Leeds' 

 breed. They are well adapted for CAPONS, and pro- 

 duce eggs nearly equal in size to those of the Malay 

 hens. This breed is now common, particularly in 

 London ; all black, black legs, large red combs and 

 gills far too high on the leg, and in want of improve- 

 ment in that particular. 



In the Section on the Rabbit, I have adverted to 

 the old and cruel practice in the country, of killing 

 fowls, which I formerly noticed, in particular, at the 

 house of a religious lady, whom, however, I failed to 

 convince. She insisted on the necessity of the me- 



