y uDGixG Dorkings. 331 



fowl and turkeys, or to give a casting vote between two pens whose comparative merits it appears 

 impossible to decide otherwise. The feet also need attention; birds "possessed of a sound 

 understanding " always being given preference to others suftering from bumble-foot : though we 

 have seen a class in which not one sound-footed old cock was to be found. Perhaps the most 

 difficult point in judging Dorkings, however, is to watch against malformations of the feet which 

 have been fraudulently remov-ed ; for in obedience to a law of nature well understood by florists 

 and pigeon-fanciers (whose experience in variation from normal types is greater than that of 

 perhaps any other classes), that when any structure is once got to vary, there is practically no 

 limit to the extent of the variability — a law well expounded and illustrated by Mr. Darwin — the 

 abnormal structure of the Dorking foot is very apt to run into still more abnormal forms, which 

 disqualify otherwise fine birds for the show-pen. Birds are not unfrequently produced which 

 possess three back toes, or have an extra toe high up the leg ; or, in the case of the cock, with 

 supernumerary spurs, which have been known to grow in every possible direction ; and these 

 abnormal structures are not unfrequently amputated by fraudulent exhibitors. We cannot pretend 

 to any great skill ourselves in detecting such matters, actual experience alone being capable 

 of imparting it ; but we have on two occasions seen prizes awarded to birds which showed 

 unquestionable traces of such amputation, and every judge should give to this point such attention 

 as time and opportunity may allow him ; though we must acknowledge that both are often so 

 scanty as to render detection of any skilful fraud almost impossible. 



As regards the combs of the various breeds, our opinion has always coincided with those of 

 Mr. Hewitt, as kindly expressed in the following remarks. We may add, however, that nearly 

 all judges we are acquainted with consider the rose comb the 07ily proper comb for a White 

 Dorking ; and that our placing single combs in that variety amongst the List of Disqualifications 

 will be found practically borne out by the judging at all important shows. 



"The author of the present work," says Mr. Hewitt, "having requested me to give my opinion 

 as regards the combs of the Dorking families, I comply, but admit willingly they are not entirely 

 concurrent with those of some of the highly-esteemed colleagues with whom I have officiated ; I 

 therefore append my reasons for holding them. In the general class of Grey Dorkings, I consider 

 single or rose-combs equally admissible. In the Silver-grey Dorkings, I myself decidedly prefer 

 the single comb, from the fact that rose-combed birds of either kind usually present a coarseness 

 of character when compared with the others, that except in occasional instances is very conspicuous. 

 In the Silver-grey hens the rose comb deprives them also of that jaunty appearance and high 

 quality for which they are so generally admired. It is but rarely Silver-grey Dorkings with rose 

 combs are now met with ; but a truly-feathered pen of this character took a number of prizes 

 some years back, alike under the decisions of several of our principal poultry-judges, and my own 

 arbitration. In the White Dorkings, I confess, though opposed to the convictions of some whose 

 opinions I highly value, I am not friendly to the single comb, simply because I never yet saw a 

 pen possessing this characteristic that were not at the same time too agile and elastic in their gait 

 and weedy in general conformation to accord with my notions of Dorking character." 



Only one further general remark on judging Dorkings need be made. The Coloured variety 

 has often been stated not to be " birds of colour," and in the " Standard of Excellence " Scale of 

 Points, none for colour are allowed. It is due to that work to acknowledge that, although this does 

 not represent modern judging, such is not owing to original error at the time that scale was drawn 

 up, when Dorkings really tvcre judged with little or no reference to plumage; and that the 

 " Standard " represents the judging of this breed of some eight years back with an accuracy which 

 compares very favourably with its tables for some other varieties. At present, however, dark- 



