Qualities of Plymouth Rocks. 437 



chickens were grown rejected the black ones, and those with double comb, reserving to 

 breed from only the single-comb birds which retained the Dominique colour or near it. They 

 '. -ere usually of darker plumage than the Dominique, the legs sometimes resembled the Java — 

 dark with yellow feet — but were mostly yellow, or yellow with a slight streak of dark on the 

 front of the leg, which with the feet are free from feathers. We received some eggs of this cross 

 from Mr. S. as a present, and purchased some fowls of him. Of the first produce, one hen weighed 

 over eight pounds, and another reached nine pounds and three-quarters. We soon had a fine 

 flock of them. The fowls were spread around the neighbourhood, and were much sought after, 

 but had as yet no name. A gentleman asked me what I called them .' Not knowing that any 

 of Bennett's were now in existence — I had not seen any of them for years — I said, 'Plymouth 

 Rock! The name passed from one to another, and they were soon generally known by that name. 

 Our opinion of the fowl is, that when bred pure, as it came from the hands of Mr. Spaulding, it has 

 few equals and less superiors. True, they will now and then throw a black chick, resembling those 

 we had twenty-five or thirty years since, but we find they grow fewer each year, and doubtless will 

 soon disappear altogether." 



The Black Java fowl referred to in the above extract is evidently an Asiatic bird (either pure 

 or cross-bred), containing a great deal of the Malay. We have made inquiries of other American 

 sources ; and while some affirm the Cochin cross to have been employed, cvc7y correspondent 

 without exception states that one of the parents was the Dominique fowl. Our own strong opinion 

 is, that the Dominique and also the Asiatic races being very common in America, many cases 

 of crossing have occurred, and that thus the same fowl — half Asiatic and half Dominique — has 

 probably been produced in various quarters, and not in any one alone ; but however this may be, 

 the facts of Dr. Bennett's birds being extinct, and that the modern fowl was originally a half-bred 

 Dominique, are absolutely certain. 



Only one or two importations of Plymouth Rocks have yet reached this country; one of 

 which, sent over by Mr. W. Simpson, arrived in time for the Birmingham Show of November, 1872, 

 and took honours in the "Any Variety " class. The variety, as now brought to something like 

 perfection, almost precisely resembles a Cuckoo Cochin with smooth legs, but has a considerably 

 larger tail, and a very full and prominent breast, derived from the Dominique ancestry. The 

 head and comb are unmistakably Cochin. As regards the flesh, the Dominique seems to 

 predominate, the fowl being juicy and good for the table. It is a moderate sitter, about equal 

 to average Brahmas as regards frequency of incubation ; grows fast, and is a capital layer. In all 

 its economic qualities, in fact, it very closely resembles the Brahma, and even in its habits, being 

 an active forager ; but does not generally stay up nearly so late from roost. The colour being 

 well adapted for wear, we must pronounce the Plymouth Rock a capital fowl, giving all the good 

 qualities of the Cochin without its principal drawbacks, and likely to suit the many who desire a 

 large noble-looking bird, but whose taste does not incline to the feathered legs and fluffy pro- 

 portions of the Asiatics, and who dread the delicacy of the Dorking. 



In breeding this fowl, as in all othe^js^of cuckoo colour, the chief point is to preserve the pure 

 bluish-grey, and carefully to avoid pure white, black, or especially red feathers. Some little 

 uncertainty in this respect will be found at first* in all imported birds, but, by care in choosing 

 breeding-stock from the progeny, may readily be checked, as i>o. colour is easier to breed "true" 

 than this Dominique marking, with a little judicious selection." The combs will require the same 

 careful breeding, and the same precautions against premature showing^vhich we have already 

 treated of in Cochins. 'w 



The hitherto published American " Standard of Excellence" we have already seen to be very 



