328 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



midway in size between the White and Coloured Dorkings, is very hardy, and a fair layer ; and, 

 though comparatively very little known, is, from its hardiness, best adapted of all the Dorking 

 breeds for general farm purposes. Various attempts have been made to encourage this breed, a 

 special class being provided at the Crystal Palace shows in 187 1 and 1872, but the result was 

 only four entries the first year and eleven the second. In other instances similar efforts have been 

 rewarded by no better success ; and hence, in spite of the considerable increase on the second 

 occasion, it appears as if the variety were more likely to be valued by producers than by fanciers. 

 It is our firm conviction that the origin of this variety was the crossing of the White and Coloured 

 breeds, which Mr. Martin has already stated to produce in the first instance the identical colour; 

 and the truth of this hypothesis is rendered almost certain by the superior hardiness of the fowl 

 under discussion, which is constantly proved to result from the crossing of distinct or long-separated 

 races. Were it not so, in fact, the small number of breeders and stocks would almost inevitably 

 cause unusual delicacy of constitution, as in other similar cases. It is true that colours which owe 

 their origin to crossing usually give extreme trouble to preserve them ; but Mr. Darwin has 

 conclusively proved the marking in question to have a strong, or, as he calls it, " prepotent," 

 tendency to transmit itself, as well as to be produced by crossing, which strongly tends to show 

 that it belonged formerly to some progenitor of the poultry races, and entirely removes such a 

 difficulty in the present instance. 



In breeding Cuckoo Dorkings for show, the chief fault to guard against is the occurrence of 

 reddish or golden feathers in the hackle or saddle of the cock. The cuckoo colour should be pure 

 all over. White in the tail is also rather apt to occur, and must be avoided with equal care. Birds 

 thus bred are not by any means destitute of attraction for the show-pen, and fashion changes 

 so much even in poultry, that we should not be surprised to see them yet becoming popular. 



It will be seen further on how closely allied this breed is both to the Scotch Greys and to the 

 American Dominique. On one occasion, in fact, we -observed a prize given at Birmingham for 

 "Dorkings " to a pen which, on inspection, proved to be Scotch Greys ; almost the only diff'erence 

 between that variety and the present being the absence of the fifth toe. It is somewhat singular 

 that in three different quarters a fowl should have been produced, in each case of the same cuckoo 

 colour, and evidently of nearly-related blood ; and in each case also highly valued by homely 

 producers for its good qualities, while little prized by mere "fanciers" of fowls. 



In exhibiting any variety of Dorkings, it is particularly needful to guard against both over- 

 feeding and over-showing, as this breed succumbs to either much sooner than most others. The 

 temptation to " feed up " is of course great, Dorkings being, even now, so greatly judged by size or 

 weight ; but the invariable result is to make the plumage " loose " and ragged, and give the birds a 

 peculiar " knocked-about " appearance, which no fowl can so ill bear. We could number up at 

 least a dozen pens of Coloured Dorkings we have seen ticketed with honours at various shows, and 

 which we have known from various sources to have died within short periods after, from the 

 combined effects of over-feeding and over-work ; and this still occurs occasionally, though it gives 

 us pleasure to acknowledge that the best judges have for some years past shown themselves 

 thoroughly alive to the evil, and, by passing over pens of birds whose lives could evidently be 

 accepted by no insurance company, fine as they undoubtedly were, done much to check the 

 fattening which used to prevail, and, even when it was not fatal, rendered practically useless some 

 of the best birds which have ever been bred. Another caution must however be given, against 

 breeding from birds which are being exhibited. We would not of course afiirm that a fine cock 

 and hen may not be picked up off their run, if in perfect health, and shown on any single occasion 



