272 The Illustrated Book of Po'ltry. 



importations varied a great deal, and partook rather more of a liglitish brown-red character, the 

 breasts of many of the cocks being brown or red ; but among the dark colours a pure black breast 

 is now necessary to win at any good show. 



Many years ago, when Cochins were unknown, l\Iala}-s were the only Asiatic breeds which 

 could be used to give size by crossing to smaller fowls ; and being then freely imported, were 

 large heavy birds. But of late the superiority of the Cochin in temper has so diminished Malay 

 admirers, that there has been little demand for imported birds ; in-and-in breeding has been the 

 necessary consequence ; and they now usually appear in the pens as actually small fowls, though * 

 their real weight is always greater than appears. The cocks used to stand thirty inches high, and 

 weigh eleven to twelve pounds, the hens in proportion ; but now at the very least one-third must 

 be taken off these figures. We believe, however, that much might be done to restore the old 

 proportions by the judicious use of bone-dust and " Parrish's Chemical Food." 



The following notes on Malays have been furnished us by the Rev. A. G. Brooke, so well 

 known as an old (and still successful) admirer and breeder of this variety : — 



" To say that Malays are favourites with the majority of poultry fanciers would be untrue, for 

 hardly ever do I attend a show where the committee are kind enough to give them a separate 

 class, but I hear from one, 'What horrid ugly-looking things!' from another, 'What is the use of 

 those long-legged creatures.'' or, as I once heard an elderlj- gentleman observe, 'I have no 

 sympathy with Malays.' They have been for some time past looked upon as a persecuted race ; 

 for this and no other reason did I, fifteen j-ears ago, purchase some in the neighbourhood of the 

 London Docks, and to the present time have most pertinaciously adhered to them. It is true that 

 I have met with many discouragements ; every one that comes to look at my poultry seems to 

 make a point of abusing them, though they are candid enough to admit that the plumage of the 

 cocks is magnificent. 



" It is far more diflicult now to obtain Malays from abroad than formerly ; and even then 

 I have seen many imported birds with white feathers in their tails and wings. Experience has 

 taught me to discard such, and never breed from them, as the white feathers mostly appear in 

 their offspring. Oftentimes, too, brown patches appear on the breasts of imported cocks, which 

 I look upon as a great disqualification ; the breast should be pure black. 



" I am bound to admit that, for want of a thorough good cross, Malays are sadly deteriorating 

 in size. I have heard of cocks weighing eleven pounds, and hens nine pounds ; but seldom have 

 any of my own cocks weighing more than eight, or hens more than six. So fatal do I consider 

 the breeding in-and-in, that some years I have set no eggs at all, because I could get no 

 cross sufficiently good ; but was fortunate enough to be in possession of a foreign hen for last 

 breeding season. 



" If I may so use the expression, Malays are getting too 'Anglicised ;' they are too genteel. 

 Their necks are far shorter than they used to be, their shoulders not so high, their combs are 

 much larger, they have too much neck-hackle : the cocks' tails are mostly too full, and not drooping 

 enough ; the hens are often fan-tailed These are innovations which have gradually crept in, and 

 I trust that admirers of the breed will spare no pains to try and stamp them out About twelve 

 years ago, I attended a poultry-show at Gloucester, and there had the privilege of seeing a grand 

 pen of Malays belonging to a Mr. Leighton, of Cheltenham. I have never seen such since; they 

 were giants, but well-nigh perfect. 



'■ Size is a great point, undoubtedly, in Malays ; but I have often pulled through at exhibitions 

 with average-size birds, through style, condition, and tightness of plumage. At Birmingham, in 

 1864, I won first prize with a pen of chickens (cockerel and two pullets) hatched in June ; and one 



