THE HISTORY OF THE HEN FEVER. '99 



broke their own backs, and were compelled to retire from 

 the field , while " the people " grinned, and comforted them 

 with the friendly assurance that it " sarved 'em right." 



At the Fitchburg Depot Show, in 1850, my original 

 " Grey Chittagongs " (already described) were in the pos- 

 session of G. W. George, Esq., of Haverhill, to whom they 

 had been sold by the party to whom I had previously sold 

 them. Nobody thought well of them ; but they took a 

 first prize there, and the " Chittagongs " (so entered at the 

 same time) of Mr. Hatch, of Connecticut, also took a prize. 

 My friend the Doctor then insisted that these were also 

 " Burrampooters ; " but, as nobody but himself could pro- 

 nounce this jaw-cracking name, it was taken little notice of 

 at that time. > 



Mr. Hatch had a large quantity of the Greys at this 

 show, which sold readily at fl2 to $20 the pair; and 

 immediately after this exhibition the demand for " Grey 

 Chittagongs " was very active. I watched the current of 

 the stream, and I beheld with earnest sympathy the now 

 alarming symptoms of the fever. " The people " had suf- 

 fered a relapse in the disease, and the ravages now promised 

 to become frightfiil — for a time ! 



An ambitious sea-captain arrived at New York from 

 Shanghae, bringing with him about a hundred China fowls, 

 of all colors, grades, and proportions. Out of this lot I 

 selected a few grey birds, that were very large, and (con- 



