White Dorklvgs. 325 



all, as we have already seen that years ago it was the only variety which invariably bred the fifth 

 toe, while there is strong reason for believing that the Coloured Dorking owes more or less to a 

 cross with the large Sussex or Surrey fowl. This may account to some extent for the very 

 perceptible difference in general outline between the White and Coloured races. 



The following notes on this beautiful breed have been kindly furnished us by Miss Fairhurst, 

 of Woodlands, Ormsklrk, whose long attachment to it, and success both as a breeder and exhibitor, 

 need no further endorsement at our hands : — 



" White Dorkings," writes Miss Fairhurst, " are certainly my favourite breed, and I look upon 

 them as quite amongst the aristocracy of fowls. The elegance of their carriage, the gloss and purity 

 of their plumage, and a certain indescribable something in the way they advance to meet those 

 in whom they have confidence, seems at once to say, 'I belong to the upper rank; '-and their dress 

 of pure white satin, with its red coral ornaments, is a\regal court suit in which they are fit for 

 presentation to their sovereign any day, on the grassy banks of whose mansion no more lovely 

 ornament could be placed. They are equally to be desired for the country villa, wherever a green 

 run can be secured in front of the garden, protected by wire or a sunk fence, so that they can be 

 seen along with the flowers, giving life and beauty to the scene. Their natural disposition seems 

 more tame than that of other fowls, and they soon learn to eat from the hand ; indeed, I wish any 

 lady would notice, as I have often done, the peculiar grace and dignity with which a White Dorking 

 pullet will advance toward her to be fed from her hand. They are of all things essentially fit' to 

 be considered as ' ladies' pets.' 



" With all this, they are often quite ignored at poultry-shows ; only a few give a class for 

 them, and the breeding of them is thus discouraged. Why this should be I cannot say. Of all 

 oriiaincntal fowls they are the largest on the table ; they are good layers, if generously fed, and kept 

 in dry, clean houses ; and even continue to lay in the winter better than the Coloured Dorkings. 

 Their eggs are peculiarly delicate, the shells being of a pinky or French white shade, and of a good 

 size, fully half as large again as any of the Hamburghs — indeed, excepting Spanish, I do not know 

 any finer, if the hens are eighteen months or two years old. 



" A dry soil is indispensable to these birds ; and to do them justice they require, like all 

 Dorkings, an extensive range. In a confined space their plumage would become dirty, and I never 

 find them healthy when such is the case. In a well-ordered, clean farmyard they do very well, and 

 in such circumstances never soil themselves more than a bath of clean white sand will put right. 

 Of course before showing they must be washed, and 1 think the bath does them good. Some 

 common soda melted, and a little nice white soap, is all I ever have used to cleanse their feathers, 

 after which they are rinsed from it most thoroughly in tepid water from a spring. Some use 

 ammonia, but on several occasions when I have tried this it has made the birds quite a canary colour; 

 it may have been used too strong, but I find soda better without it. A clean, airy room, littered 

 with straw and with a low perch at one side, will enable them to plume their feathers in a day or 

 two, but long confinement would not improve them in any way for exhibition. 



" With regard to size, I can see no reason why White Dorkings should not be brought up to as 

 high a standard as the Coloured ones, if the same encouragement were given at poultry-shows, to 

 cause equal emulation amongst breeders of them to bring to perfection every point. Instead of this 

 being the case, when on several occasions I have tried White ones in a class where no colour was 

 specified, but only Dorkings, invariably the birds have had no notice. This has not been the case, as 

 might be supposed, for want of size or quality ; for on one occasion I remember, at the Kendal show, 

 in 1869, I had two pens of young birds — one White Dorkings, the other Coloured — both of the same 

 age; but though the White cock was nearly one pound heavier than the Coloured, he had no notice, 



