102 BREEDS. 



This breed has now attained a size quite mar- 

 vellous, and in point of rich colouring, is un- 

 rivalled; it is a truly English bird, and follows 

 up its resemblance to the character of a Briton 

 in its love of liberty. 



The old coarse breed is now unseen in the ex- 

 hibition room, and is indeed nearly extinct even 

 in market, being replaced by more refined but 

 equally heavy birds. 



Delicate white flesh (that sine qud non), sym- 

 metrical shape, and equal distribution of fat, 

 mark the Dorking, as it at present exists, to be 

 the bird, par excellence, of our table poultry. 



There are several varieties, but only two dis- 

 tinct classes — the white and the coloured. 



All Dorkings are delicate until full-feathered, 

 when I consider them as hardy as any other 

 kind of fowl. 



