THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



as we do to purity of color ; large size and large 

 eggs are what they most admire and prize. 



'"The Chinese are not particularly careful in 

 managing their poultry. They feed them in 

 the same way as our cottagers do in the country ; 

 that is, the birds are allowed to get as much as 

 they can for themselves, and I need scarcely tell 

 you they are not very particular. When the 

 Chinese housewife feeds them, she generally 

 gives them paddy ; that is, unhusked rice.' 



" It being certain that the true Shanghai fowl 

 is met with in its native district with plain legs, 

 even more frequently than with legs feathered, 

 or booted, as it is technically termed, the point 

 often disputed is now settled, as to whether this 

 is any demonstration of a distinct breed. Hence- 

 forth it must be held to be a mere matter of taste ; 

 and as we have seen plain-legged Shanghai fowls 

 superior in every important character to those 

 feathered on the legs, we think that it would be 

 well to have distinct classes for them at our 

 poultry shows. 



"Mr. Fortune's testimony settles another dis- 

 puted point. It is very evident that, except as 

 a matter of taste, the light-colored should have 

 no pre-eminence over the darker plumaged ; and 

 those societies have acted judiciously who have 

 given separate prizes of extra value to all the 

 sub- varieties of color." 



Characteristics. The pullets of all Asiatic 

 fowls begin to lay at five months old. The 

 eggs are small at first but they are numerous, 

 where liberal feeding and good shelter are pro- 

 vided. The egg of the hen averages about 2^ 

 ounces; it is rounded almost equally at each 

 end, so that its shape may be strictly described 

 oval an expression, notwithstanding its deri- 

 vation, that is by no means applicable to the 

 eggs of some fowls. In color it varies from dif- 

 ferent shades of buff to a tint approaching cin- 

 namon, and the shell is unusually strong. The 

 attractive color probably induces the belief that 

 the egg is peculiarly rich, but this argument on 

 their behalf we must leave to individual taste ; 

 but much may probably depend on the quality 

 of their food. 



It is not uncommon for the Asiatic hen to lay 

 eggs with double yolks ; they are unproductive, 

 and it is useless to attempt hatching them. 



THE MALAY FOWL. 



This is one of the giant tenants of our poultry- 

 yard for which we are indebted to tropical lati- 

 tudes, and which, though natives of such a con- 

 stantly torrid climate, have the power of endur- 

 ing, uninjured, temperatures so varying, so cold, 

 and so trying as our own. 



This is undoubtedly descended from the Kulm 

 or Gigantic cock, which is a native of Java, Su- 

 matra, and probably, all other parts of Southern 

 Asia. Colonel Sykes found the Kulm fowl do- 

 mesticated in the Deccan; but he believed it 

 was there introduced from Sumatra by the Mus- 

 sulmans. He imported two cocks and a hen 

 into England in June, 1831. They bore the 

 winter uninjured; the hen laid freely, and by 

 September, 1832, she had reared two broods. 

 One of these cocks measured, when standing 

 erect, 26 inches to the crown of his head. In 

 comb, colors, and other points, they resemble 

 the Malay ; the hen was one-third smaller than 

 the cocks. 



It is still found in the islands named. Trav- 

 elers inform us that it is kept in a domestic 

 state not only in India, but in the Malay penin- 

 sula, in Cochin-China, and China, from whence 

 they are now occasionally imported. It has 

 long been known in Europe and America. It 

 is unquestionably the parent stock of the kinds 

 now known under the names of India, Java, St. 

 Jago, Chittagong, Cochin, Shanghai, and Brah- 

 ma, and in some parts of America as the Bucks 

 County and Ostrich fowl. 



Previous to the introduction of the more quiet 

 Chochin and Shanghai, whoever required size 

 resorted almost of necessity to the Malay blood, 

 and a cross of it probably prevails in all the 

 larger breeds. The trifling differences which 

 appear in the kinds mentioned, Martin attrib- 

 utes to the influence of domestication and acci- 

 dental crosses. 



But a few years ago, the Malay formed a feat- 

 ure in most collections of any extent ; and it is 

 hoped they will not be lost sight of in the pre- 

 vailing taste for Shanghais, Chochins, and Brah- 

 mas, as they are beyond doubt, taking size, ap- 

 pearance, carriage, and all into consideration, 

 the most majestic fowl we have. 



