POULTRY. 



123 



ish is only second to the true Dorking, in not raising their own 

 young, seldom or ever wanting to sit ; but what they lose in 

 that point is more than made up by the abundance of eggs. 

 By some they are called the everlasting layers ; eggs large ; 

 flesh and skin beautifully white and juicy ; chickens grow rap- 

 idly." 



A cross between the Dorking and the Game fowl is greatly 

 esteemed, and is thought to be more profitable than the thor- 

 ough-bred Dorking. 



The possession of the fifth claw is generally considered as an 

 essential characteristic of the Dorking, but it is not always 

 present, and might and should be " bred out." The weight of 

 the Dorking at maturity varies from five to eight pounds. 



3. The Polish Fowl. The origin of this family of fowls is 

 entirely unknown. They do riot exist in Poland at the present 

 time, and there is no evidence that they were ever known 

 there ; but this is a matter of small moment. Their beauty 



Fig. 32. 



THE POLISH FOWL. 



