CHAPTER XV. 
EUROPEAN BREEDS.. 
DORKINGS. 
Speaking of this breed, a well-known authority says: 
Looking back into the dim past, to find any record of 
any pure-bred fowls is ulmost useless. But few peculiari- 
ties were noted in ancient records; perhaps the Dorking 
and Polish fowls are the only ones that can claim any 
great antiquity. In ancient paintings hens with crests 
are often seen resembling our Polish birds, and from 
which the latter are probably descended; and Columella, 
au old Roman writer, gives directions for the selecting 
of poultry to breed from, “‘such as five claws, square 
frames,” etc. Such birds have been bred in England for 
centuries, but varying in color; the probability is that 
they were imported by the Romans while Britain was a 
Roman colony, for they took most of their luxuries along 
with them. At any rate, these fowls have been so long 
known in England that they are called an English 
breed; they have been bred mottled, gray, splashed, 
cuckoo or dominique colored, white, and silver-gray, which 
is the last fashion in color. 
A fine Silver-gray Dorking cock is a well-shaped, 
noble bird, of about eight or nine pounds weight, with 
fall silver hackle and graceful flowing tail; he certainly 
makes a show that few birds can match; his face and 
comb are bright-red, beak strongly arched; suddle, back, 
and hackle fine silvery white, wing coverts the same; 
breast, thighs, and tail black when complying with the 
Standard, bunt the thighs of young birds are nearlv 
always a little grayish if the bird is any size, and birag 
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