Management of Malays. 273 



oi the poultry journals, in its report of the Malay classes, observed that ' the gem of the collection 

 was the first prize pen of chickens, with plumage as close and hard as though they were clad in 

 burnished metal.' 



" To ensure good plumage, Malays ought to be kept warm in cold weather. My houses are 

 constructed of wood, and lined all round with matting during the winter months ; in the spring 

 the mats are removed, and the interior of the houses well cleaned and lime-washed. They have 

 plenty of dry earth, often renewed, and straw laid on the floor just on that part where they alight 

 from their perch, as they come to the ground with great force, and are apt, like Dorkings, to 

 become bumble-footed if they perch too high. The perch should just allow of the birds walking 

 under it without injuring their plumage, and should be very broad, and bound round with carpet. 

 To each house is attached a wire run about ten feet long and six feet" broad, into which about 

 nine o'clock during the winter the birds are let out ; the ground about three times a week being 

 dug and raked over, and then mostly covered with straw, in which they have to scratch for their 

 food. Each run has a small iron trough, standing on two bricks ; the water is emptied out every 

 night, and renewed in the morning. In the summer time they are not shut in their houses at 

 night, but have free access to their runs. By frequently adding fresh earth the fowls get their sand- 

 bath, which is most essential to their health and comfort. 



"The food I mostly give them is small round Indian corn and boiled rice, mixed with barley- 

 meal ; occasionally bread sopped in ale, or potatoes mashed with gravy. Avoid meat and bones 

 by all means : the meat is too heating, and, I believe, is conducive to feather-eating ; the bones 

 cause quarrelling. I grow hundreds of cabbages and lettuces every year for them, and in the 

 summer they often besides have a grass sod, which they much enjoy. They bear confinement 

 uncommonly well, and I seldom have any suffering from illness, or find them look droop 

 is in a great measure attributable to the very clean way in which they arc kept. 



" It is advisable not to keep more than a cock and two hens in each run, and as they are 

 naturally of a savage and irritable disposition, if possible avoid letting them see their neighbours. 

 My runs are so constructed in the shrubberies and other parts of the garden that they cannot 

 possibly see or be seen by the other fowls. When they are allowed to be restless and excited 

 they will never get into exhibition trim. 



" The chickens as a rule are hardy, and will stand a great deal of cold provided there are no 

 draughts ; but it is best not to hatch them before May, as they have but few feathers for the first 

 three months. I never recommended a Malay hen as a rearer of chickens ; they sit very well, but 

 are clumsy, and uncertain in temper with their progeny. The eggs they lay are very rich, but no^ 

 so numerous as in many other breeds. The birds shown in the plate seem to be the favourite' 

 colour ; there are also Brown-reds, White, and Black ; there used to be Cuckoos, but these seem 

 to be extinct. 



" As a cross in the farm-yard the Malay cock is very useful, imparting both size and quality. 

 Game-breeders occasionally use them to get increased size, but whenever application is made to 

 me for a Malay cock for that purpose, I decline complying with the request. Surely such a cross 

 does much harm, and invariably shows itself most prominently. 



" Now that Malays are being more recognised as a distinct breed, and poultry-show committees 

 seem more inclined to give them a class to themselves, I trust there will henceforth be a greater 

 number exhibited, and strongly advise any one desirous of giving them a trial to be sure and kee-3 

 them by themselves." 



The following remarks are added by Mr. Joseph Hinton, of Warminster, also a faithftd 

 adherent of this much-abused race ; — 

 35 



