POULTRY. 127 



this country, but none the less valuable or beautiful on that 

 account. 



" The prevailing and true color of the Dominique fowl is a 

 lightish ground, barred crosswise, and softly shaded with a 

 slaty-blue, as indicated in the portrait of the cock figured on 

 the previous page. The comb is variable, some being single, 

 while others are double niost, however, are single. The iris, 

 bright orange ; feet, legs, and bill, bright yellow ; and some 

 light flesh color. We prefer the yellow legs and bill, and con- 

 sider them well worthy of promotion in the poultry -yard. 



" We seldom see bad hens of this variety ; and take them 

 'all-in-all,' we do not hesitate in pronouncing them one of the 

 best and most profitable fowls, being hardy, good layers, care- 

 ful nurses, and affording excellent eggs, and the quality of their 

 flesh highly esteemed. The hens are not large, but plump and 

 full breasted. The eggs average about two ounces each, and 

 are of porcelain whiteness."* 



6. The Leghorn Fowl. The Leghorns are believed to bo 

 cousins of the Spanish, whom they resemble in general form. 

 They have been considerably experimented with in this country, 

 and are highly extolled by some breeders ; but the general ver- 

 dict is that they are inferior to the Spanish.! 



7. The Shanghai Fowl. The Shanghai fowl was originally 

 brought from the northern part of China, particularly about 

 the city of Shanghai, from which it takes its name. It is the 

 common domestic fowl of that part of the country. 



The Shanghai cock is a large, bold, upright bird, strongly 

 distinguished for the length, loudness, hoarseness, and awk- 

 wardness of his half guttural crow. Most of the sub- varieties 



* Country Gentleman. 



t A correspondent of one of the agricultural papers, however, gives the fol- 

 lowing testimony in their favor : " I have kept in different inclosures six of the 

 most approved varieties of fowls, for four months (from the 1st of April to the 

 present) have registered the number of - ggs laid by each variety every day, 

 and the Leghorns have laid almost three eggs to any other bird's one, not ex- 

 cepting the far-famed Black Spanish." E. W. PEAKSALL, Harlem, N. Y. 



