102 THE HISTOKY OJF 



breed, and the very close similarity that is shown 

 amumgst them ; the whole of these birds being almost 

 precisely alike, in form, plumage and general charac- 

 teristics. They are said to be the most prolific of all the 

 Chinese fovrls. At the time of their shipment, these birds 

 weighed about twenty pounds the pair." 



This was a very good beginning. In another place (see 

 page 88) I have given a copy of the letter fflom Hon. Col. 

 Phipps, her Majesty's Secretary of the Privy Purse, 

 acknowledging the receipt of this present. A few weeks 

 afterward, the London News contained a spirited original 

 picture of seven of the nine Grey Shanghae fowls which I 

 had the honor to forward to Queen Victoria. The draw- 

 ing was made by permission of the Queen, at the royal 

 poultry-house, from life, by the celebrated Weir, and the 

 engraving was admirably executed by Smythe, of London. 

 The e%ct in the picture was capital, and the likenesses 

 very truthful. In reference to these birds, the News has 

 the following : 



"Gret Shanghae Fowls for HERMAJtBSTT.^Inthe 

 London Illustrated News for- January 22d, we described a 

 cage of very choice domestic fowls, bred from stock imported 

 by Mr. George P. Bumham, of Boston, Mass., direct from 

 ' China, and .presented by him to Her Majesty. We now 

 engrave, by permission, these beautiful birds. They very 

 closely resemble the breed of Cochin- Chinas already 

 introduced into this country, the head arid neck being the 

 same ; the legs are yellow and feathered ; the carriage very 

 similar, but tiie tail being more upright than in the gener- 



