230 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



will serve to ward off gapes and roup ; which, if they once enter a Dorkhig yard, are particularly 

 difficult to stamp out again. 



The " bumble-foot " to which Dorkings are so subject, has often puzzled breeders. The 

 affection has been almost always ascribed to high and small perches, the feet being supposed to be 

 injured by the weight of the bird when flying to the ground, or by stepping on some sharp stone. 

 Such may very possibly be the immediate exciting cause of many cases, just as a slight blow or 

 strain may be said to be the exciting cause of a severe case of cancer ; but in both cases other and 

 more deeply-seated causes of disease must be sought for, since we have known many instances of 

 the worst form of bumble-foot in yards where the birds had only turf to walk upon, and were not 

 allowed to roost at all, but bedded upon straw. Again, the equally heavy Brahma or Cochin does 

 not suffer in this way, being only subject to abscess in the foot in the case of some actual irritation, 

 such as the entrance of a thorn or small piece of glass ; on the removal of which, and proper 

 treatment, the tumour speedily disappears. We have, therefore, years ago been forced to the 

 conclusion that the cause of this tiresome disease must be sought in the law long since discovered 

 by physiologists, that any abnormal excess in the structure of any part of the body is frequently 

 accompanied by what may be called ivcakness of function ; and that when the abnormal excess, by 

 breeding or otherwise, becomes constant, the tendency to weakness almost invariably becomes 

 constant too. We shall have occasion to mention a confirmation of this view in the case of 

 Houdans ; and hence it would appear that the difficulty is inseparably connected with the fifth toe 

 which is so dear to the heart of Dorking breeders. If they will have it, they must take the 

 consequences. The absurdity of insisting upon a feature which has such actually injurious 

 results is singularly aggravated in the present case by the fact that Dorkings were, till very lately, 

 always strongly affirmed not to be birds " of colour," but the sole breed of poultry which was not 

 only bred for exclusively table or practical purposes, but even judged in the same way. Yet here 

 is a point which is more arbitrary than any standard of mere feather can be ; can be shown to 

 produce inevitable evils; and yet retains its place in \\\\s. par excellence "practical" breed ! We are, 

 of course, perfectly aware of the utter impossibility of changing views now so deeply rooted as that 

 of " the fancy" upon this point ; but it is none the less a duty to point out the simple state of the 

 case, having done which both our duty and responsibility ceases. 



The most useful crosses of the Dorking fowl have been already treated of in discussing 

 Brahmas and Cochins, and we need not go over the same ground again. The cross with the Game 

 is perhaps the next most frequently employed, but, as we recently remarked, possesses no merits to 

 recommend it, greatly diminishing both size and squareness of form, without any compensating 

 advantage, the supposed gain in constitution being very trifling. The only other cross calling for 

 special mention is that with the Houdan cock. This cross possesses no beauty to make it desirable, 

 and the plumage varies greatly ; but the chickens produced are very hardy, almost always lay well, 

 and in early maturity surpass the Dorking itself, while the flesh is of most excellent quality. To 

 those who wish to increase the hardiness of the Dorking, but object to Asiatic crosses on account of 

 the feathered legs and yellow skin, or who wish to preserve the " five claws " which are such a 

 passport to the good opinion of a London salesman, this cross may be safely recommended as 

 likely to answer the purpose. 



JUDGING DORKINGS.— The need of special watchfulness against prejudicial or unhealthy 

 fat in judging this breed — the Coloured variety more especially — will have been gathered from our 

 preceding remarks. Time was when the scales often decided which were the prize-winners ; but 

 these aids to critical observation are now rarely used by good judges, except in the case of water- 



