2i6 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



was but one entry, and that was a pen of Silver Cinnamon. We may add the general remark, 

 that in. the classes for " Cinnamon and Buff" Cochins, birds of any shade may be shown, provided 

 the hackles be free from black, and the body and wing-feathers be sound in colour, and free from 

 mealiness and mottling. The body-colour of the hen must in all cases be the same as that of the 

 breast and under parts of the cock ; whilst his upper parts will be several shades darker, and must 

 be sound and even in colour. In the lighter colours the cock's tail should not be deeper than a 

 rich bronze or chestnut in colour ; in the darker Buffs black is not so objectionable, and in 

 Cinnamons not at all so. We may, however, remark, that an unplucked tail perfectly free from 

 black is very rare. 



The eyes of all Cinnamon and Buff Cochins should be of a more or less defined yellow colour, 

 to 'harmonise well with the colour of the plumage ; but red eyes are not objectionable. 



We can add little regarding the breeding of Buffs to what has been written by the eminent 

 authorities who have already given their views at length. The essentials may be stated in 

 brief to consist of perfect purity of colour all over the hen, while the cock must possess the 

 same feature in his breast and lower parts, his "upper works" being of a rich, sound, and rather 

 deep colour, much deeper than the colour it is intended to breed. The fault it is perhaps most 

 difficult to avoid in hens is a tendency to be lighter on the tips of the feathers than lower down, 

 which gives a rather mottled look, very unpleasant to the eye of a fancier, and especially common 

 in the lighter-coloured birds. The self-colour should be pure and uniform throughout the feathers 

 as far as possible, up to the very tips. In the cock, the general fault is a "mealy" wing, or the 

 colour broken up with patches of lighter tint, or even of white. Such a bird is almost hopeless 

 to breed from ; all Buffs as a rule breeding lighter and lighter. Even a Lemon cock with Lemon 

 hens will almost always breed very washy chickens with mealy wings ; hence the importance 

 attached by both the breeders we have quoted to choosing a cock whose hackle, wings, back, and 

 saddle are a deep rich colour, unbroken by any lighter tint. The flights especially must be a very 

 deep tint ; and, as remarked by Mr. Tomlinson, it is far better to select even black flights than such 

 as have any mealiness in them. Black is not however a good colour, as such birds usually breed 

 cockerels with black tails also, a feature the Buff breeder endeavours as far as possible to avoid. 



The birds whose portraits we have given were selected by us chiefly from their well-developed 

 Cochin character. At the time, we had not for years seen a cock we thought equal to the winner 

 of Birmingham in i860 and 1861 ; and in reply to our inquiry whether any materials existed from 

 which a portrait of him could be secured, we found that by means of a rough photograph, with the 

 aid of a living bird of the departed hero's fine shape, though inferior by far in other points, and 

 another which gave the exact colour, the object might be accomplished. The portrait is therefore 

 " constructed," and corrected from memory, but is a faithful likeness. The hen was drawn from a 

 living specimen of particularly fine development. Since these portraits were taken we have seen 

 several chickens which have again come near the old type of bird, for several years so much lost ; 

 and the winner of the Crystal Palace Cup in 1871, in particular, shown and bred by Lady Gwydyr, 

 was as fine a specimen of a Cochin as we can remember to have seen. 



PARTRIDGE COCHINS. — These fowls have never been so universally popular in England 

 as the brighter-looking Buffs ; but their more sober colour fits them especially for many amateurs, 

 and they have never lacked enthusiastic admirers. When small space and low fences necessitate 

 one of the Asiatic breeds being kept, and even the Dark Brahma becomes yellow and dirty from 

 the smoke of a town, the Partridge Cochin retains its beauty, and will do credit to the owner. In 

 America it is a particularly esteemed variety, having been introduced more than twenty years 



