THBIB, OKIGIN IN BElTAHf. 



took no notice of the tiny fledgeling ; but, when the anxiooB 

 mother ventured in to fetch out the truant, with a growl the 

 dog woke, and nearly snapped her asunder in his great jaws. 

 The cock bird saw the tragic fate of his partner ; but, nothing 

 daunted, flew at the dog with a fierce cry, and pecked sava,gely 

 at its face. The odds, however, were too great; and, when 

 the terrier had sufficiently recovered from the astonishnent 

 caused by the sudden and unexpected attack, he seized the au- 

 dacious bantam, and shook him to death ; and, in five minutes, 

 the devoted couple were entombed in Pincher's capacious maw. 



There are now several varieties of the bantam fowls, many 

 of which are but slight improvements upon the original ; and 

 some have certainly degenerated in the attempt to improve the 

 stock. In the selection of these we shaU presently give the 

 reader some useful information. 



The origin of the Dorking Fowl has been the subject of 

 much discussion and controversy. Some supposed that the 

 Poland fowl could lay claim to its parentage ; on the other 

 hand, the men of Sussex stoutly maintained that the bird be- 

 longed to them, and that it was a distinct species ; and in proof 

 thereof, produced several birds indigenous to their weald, which 

 possessed all the fine points and peculiarities of the Dorking. 

 It takes its name firom that of a town in Surrey, and it is 

 commonly believed that this branch of poultry was found at 

 Dorking as long ago as the Boman era. 



The Brahma Pootra fowl was, it is said, introduced into 

 England, somewhere about nine or ten years ago. Of its origin 

 little or nothing is positively known. It was brought to this 

 country from America, and to the latter country from India. 

 They were brought to New York by some sailors, and immediately 

 created a great sensation, and fetched large prices. Some have 

 reported them to have come from the neighbourhood of the 

 river in India, fi:om which their name is taken ; another au- 

 thority states that he saw the birds in Ceylon. When they 

 were first introduced, it was supposed by some to be only 

 another variety of the Cochin- China fowl, but as there is a 

 total dissimilarity between the two, both in their structure and 

 habits, this ill-founded conclusion has been abandoned. StiU 

 their origin is as much a matter of doubt as formerly. Perhaps, 

 it suffices that the bird is a hardy, useful fowl, and more easily 

 reared than many others, and that its native home is a matter 

 of little consequence so long as we have obtained so important 

 on addition to our dpmestic poultry. 



