450 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



each foot, but had each tremendous muffs and beards, but no sign of crest. The colour of one was 

 the orthodox dark marking, or nearly so, and of the other, the old-fashioned "red-speckle;" 

 the size large and fine, each bird weighing nearly eight pounds. The cock had been killed, and 

 the efforts we then made failed iii getting another, so that nothing came of the speculation. These 

 birds were very moderate layers, but the eggs were very large ; they however appeared aged, so 

 that no sound opinion as to their real laying qualities could be formed. 



SCOTCH GREYS. — This is a very useful breed of fowls, closely resembling the American 

 Dominique in shape and plumage, and, in fact, only differing from it in having an upright single 

 comb instead of rose, and pinky-white instead of yellow legs. It is hardly so good a layer, perhaps, 

 as the American fowl, but very satisfactory and hardy. The average weights may be taken as 

 about seven to eight pounds for the cocks and six pounds for the hens. 



Mr. T. Raines, of Stirling, a well-known Scotch fancier, writes as follows of this breed : — 



" Scotch Greys are verj' profitable and hardy birds. They are chiefly bred in the upper part 

 of Lanarkshire, where they are great favourites. They have a straight single comb, red ear-lobes, 

 and are of a well-dappled grey colour, with rather a light ground. I have found a great many very 

 mossy, not distinct enough in the mottle ; we also find them ^\■ith brassy hackles, which is very 

 much against them. They should have a good tail, the same colour as the body; but a great many 

 are shown with white feathers, which is not generally considered a disqualification if other points 

 are good. The legs are of rather a dark slaty colour, and the mottle can be plainly seen in the 

 upper part of the leg in a well-bred bird." 



The feathers of the Scotch Grey may be seen exactly represented in the engravings of the 

 Dominique feathers at page 433, and the same remarks as are there given will apply as to breeding 

 the birds free from those faults of plumage which Mr. Raines alludes to. The breed is often called 

 the " Scotch Dorking," resembling the Cuckoo Dorking in all but the fifth toe. Some English 

 judges do not, in fact, seem aware of the difference ; for at the Birmingham Show on one occasion 

 we remember seeing a prize in a class for "any other variety of Dorkings" (than Coloured or 

 Silver-Grey) awarded to a pen of Scotch Greys. 



This fowl, like the Cuckoo Dorking and the Dominique, can be thoroughly recommended as a 

 most useful one ; laying, sitting, and eating being all good. Were it more largely bred, it might be 

 improved in size and beauty with very little trouble. Many shows in Scotland have a class for this 

 breed, and we should be glad to see it sufficiently cultivated to claim the same right in more 

 southern localities. 



SILKY FOWLS. — The peculiar appearance of the Silky fowl would naturally attract 

 attention from a very early date, and we accordingly find various old naturalists, besides our 

 never-failing Aldrovandus, who describe fowls which, instead of feathers, are covered with wool, 

 or, as others express it, " with hair like cats." Later on these accounts were thought fictitious, 

 and Willoughby and Ray expressly declare them to be unworthy of credence ; but it is somewhat 

 singular to remark how many of the so-called " incredible " tales of old travellers and naturalists 

 have been vindicated by a little more knowledge from the supercilious aspersions of even the most 

 learned men, who have taken upon them to reject all alleged facts which did not fall within their 

 own limited experience, or were contrary to their pet theories. Such a remark may have its moral 

 even in the present day. 



Yet truly the Silky is a strange fowl. The soft and flossy appearance of the plumage, which 

 fully justifies the old descriptions which have come down to us, are not the only points of difiercnce. 



