General Points of Cochins. 209 



even then timidly endeavoured to attract the attention of a discerning public, they were regarded 

 as the harmless craze of a few weak-minded individuals, looked upon in those days much as a man 

 would be now who should devote his spare time and energies to the cultivation of white mice. But 

 the Cochins came like giants upon the scene ; they were seen, and they conquered. The few people 

 who, were at first tempted into the shows went home and told with wonder that they had seen 

 fowls " as large as ostriches," which nearly blew off the roof with their awful crow ; or, as some 

 affirmed, "roared like the lions in the Zoological Gardens;" but were said withal to be of such a 

 mild and peaceable disposition as never was known, and put the little birds which, according to 

 good Dr. Watts, " in their little nests agree," utterly to shame. This sent in others to see the 

 wonderful fowls, till the shows were crammed, and even the streets leading to them ; and still the 

 excitement gathered and grew. The names of Sturgeon, Moody, Punchard, and Andrews, became 

 famous in the land ; and Mrs. Herbert bred white birds which have never been since surpassed. 

 Poultry auctions came into fashion ; Punch himself began to point his jests with allusions to the 

 famous fowls, and people really seemed going mad for Cochins : when, as suddenly as it began, the 

 mania subsided, and people became cool again. But the work was done. It was indeed natural 

 that after such unnatural excitement there should be unusual calm ; and for some years after this 

 wonderful outburst of hobbyism poultry-shows rather languished and declined. But the recovery 

 was rapid, though steady ; and it is a singular fact that at the present time, without any mania or 

 excitement whatever, there are far more pouJtry-shows and poultry-keepers than in the hottest 

 days of the " hen-fever," while higher average prices are realised than ever, and there never was 

 such a steady and remunerative market for good birds. 



Well, therefore, does our Cochin — as we stand before him in his pen — merit at our hands some 

 tribute of respect ; well does he deserve such honour as we can show him, by placing, him first in 

 our exposition of the various breeds. Besides his own merits, and grand proportions, he is the 

 father of tlie poultry fancy ! May he never be worse "furnished " than now, and may his shadow 

 never grow less ! With these respectful wishes for his welfare, we proceed to the practical con- 

 sideration of the Cochin as he exists at the present day. In doing so we shall endeavour not 

 )nly to describe what high-class fowls should be, but how they may be bred; which, indeed, through- 

 out these pages will be our aim, and that of the skilled breeders who have placed the results of 

 their experience at our disposal, with a generous confidence which it has been one of our 

 greatest pleasures in preparing this work for the press to have awakened. 



The general characteristics of Cochins are so peculiar and distinct fro^ other fowls, that a 

 short general description will first" of all be necessary. ' 



A Cochin cock ought not to weigh less than ten or eleven pounds, and very large specimens 

 range from that weight to as high as fifteen pounds ; but the latter weight is very rare, and is 

 generally, according to our observation, accompanied by a clumsy and ungainly carriage, though 

 we have seen some exceptions to this rule. A good Cochin looks larger even than his actual 

 weight, as the plumage is very loose and fluffy, a peculiarity which arises from the feathers being 

 broader across the web, and thinner and weaker in the shaft or quill, than that of other varieties. 

 The comb is single, and should be perfectly upright, free both from twist and any tendency to fall 

 over, with a fine arched outline and neat handsome-looking spikes ; both comb, face, deaf-ears, and 

 wattles being as fine in skin or texture as possible. This point is greatly valued by fanciers, a 

 rough warty-looking skin being much disliked. The head, which should be carried slightly forward, 

 is rather small and very intelligent-looking ; the neck rather short, and very thick and full in the 

 hackle, which should be long enough to flow well over the shoulders and back ; the shoulders 

 somewhat square, and very broad across ; the breast rather high relatively, but should be prominent, 



