STANDARD BUFF COCHINS. 



Their Introduction and Development in America— A Description of Standard Shape and Color of 



Each Section— The Defects Found When Judging and the Penalty for Each— Selecting 



and Mating to Produce Exhibition Specimens. 



By 1. K. Pbloh, Associate Editor Eeliable Poultry Journal. 



DF ANY breed in America deserves to stand at the head 

 of the list of fowls this breed does; for it was in its 

 crude beginning, under the name of Cochin China, 

 the means of awakening the American fancier farmer 

 and breeder to the importance of poultry culture. While 

 1S49 may be said to be the first year of studied effort in the 

 importations of Chinese fowls to America, for several' years 

 previous there were many foreign specimens that came in as 

 surplus stock left over in ships' cabins that were called 

 China fowls, more from the fact that they were found on 

 ships employed in the China trade. The "Hen Fever" be- 

 tween '49 and '55, however, was the incentive for studied 

 importations of these large Asiatic fowls that were brought 

 from Shanghai, China, the white, grouse and buff specimen, 

 the latter in number predominating. The improvement of 

 these Buff Gigantus have resulted in the improved product 

 we now call Buff Cochins. Yet their importance and real 

 benefit to the nation were in a very large measure achieved 

 under other names as above. Previous to 1850 our birds 

 were small; but such was the influence of the Cochin blood 

 upon our native stock that the average weight of the speci- 

 men upon the poulterer's tables in 1852 was found to be 

 fully one and one-half pounds more per fowl than ever be- 

 fore. That this race gave to our native stock renewed life 

 and productive merit none can deny, and to it must all the 

 buff races we now have in our best breeds date back for 

 their color and ancestry- Thus in a collateral way are they 

 the progenitors of merit and utility, while in their present 

 condition do they present and hold a premier position as 

 one of the grandest of exhibition breeds, that have de- 

 manded the very highest prices known among fowls. 



The development of the Buff Cochin has been erratic, 

 yet remarkable; it has at times held the favored esteem of 

 nearly all the poultry loving nations of the globe. The 

 pride of possession in the fanciers has carried the prices to 

 the remarkable sum of $300 for a single specimen, $500 for 

 pairs, with current and repeated sales at $100 each, and by 

 the trios hundreds of them at that sum until at the present 

 writing we can truthfully say of the Buff Cochin, that they 

 are the pride of the Cochin family, the source from which 

 emanates that gem of all colors seen in fowls, convexed 

 lines of beauty which give that shape to the breed's sec- 

 tions so in harmony with their color that as a whole makes 

 the breed hold the gazer spellbound, forcing him or her to 

 exclaim in viewing them, "Perfection of color!" 



The six months' old pullet, with her full, broad, rounded 

 development of breast, with length of back sufficient to se- 

 cure that full curved outline from cape to tail, with full 

 thigh fluff, broad, full body fluff, with tail proper nicely 

 folded to a point beneath the ample cushion and coverts, 

 this with lower thigh plumage hanging full in front, as well 

 as rear and about the hock joint in soft flexible feathering, 

 meeting the shank and foot plumage in a smooth outward 

 sweep, covering completely the feet; such a plumage col- 



ored in a rich orange, ocherous shade; then do we have per- 

 fect harmony in shape and color, which puts to rout the 

 assertion that shape has nothing to do with color in poultry 

 culture. 



But we say each is dependent up on the other, this har- 

 mony essential for the fullest and best effect, and this breed 

 our most able witness for the position we take that shape 

 and color shall receive equal consideration in adjudicating 

 for prizes. It is this very harmony that has enabled the 

 breed to hold its position as one of the strongest and most 

 popular exhibition varieties and secured for it the high 

 prices. 



We have many breeds of which the same color is de- 

 manded, but do they present the same strength and perfec- 

 tion found in this ocherous shading of the Cochin? 



When practical useful merit is coupled with pure color 

 then do we see such breeds meet 'the popular demand, for 

 then the poor and middle classes will buy and propagate 

 them and the breed no longer is dependent upon the rich 

 and those who prize them solely for exhibition purposes. 

 It is exhibition quality that brings the fabulous prices, 

 practical merit that makes any breed popular and secures 

 for them satisfactory prices year after year, and as there 

 is nothing that stands exclusive and alone, thus we see the 

 advantage of massing the plumage in pure convexed lines 

 upon which to display a pure orange ocherous color. No 

 other satisfies. The feather itself must be convexed from 

 base to tip and from edge to edge of its fiber, which aids in 

 producing this desired outline. 



But let us begin at the beginning as we trace its history 

 and completion as a breed in America. 



From 1846 to 1852 there were many Chinese fowls re- 

 ceived in America. They must be called chance receipts, 

 for, as I remarked above, they were the unused cabin sup- 

 plies found upon ships in our foreign trade, usually called 

 Cochin China or often named for captains of ships upon 

 which they were found. Not until the year '49 or '50 were 

 there many if any special importations. The specimens in 

 the two shades of brown plumage were called marsh fowls, 

 later Grouse Cochins, and finally they assumed the shape, 

 color and name of Partridge Cochins; others came into the 

 country white and buff in plumage, but all classed as 

 Shanghais. 



As a boy I came into possession of a Black Red male 

 and Buff pullet that weighed ten pounds. Will I ever for- 

 get her magnificent proportions? You who to-day gaze 

 upon the general flock can have no conception of the differ- 

 ence in sizes experienced in 1849. When we consider the 

 fact that fowls are marketed at about two-thirds their full 

 grown weight, and understand that in thirty months the 

 average market weight was raised one and one-half pounds, 

 you may understand the surprise of those who saw the 

 effects of this pair upon my flock of native fowls. 



The prevailing colors in the progeny, however, were 



