feathers — sickles they can 

 Half-bred birds of this kind 



BAKIAUS: SOBEINGa. 



training, is very smaJl, with nnfeathered legs, and a rose comb 



and short hackles. The plumage is gold or silver, spangled, 



every feather being of a golden orange, or of a silver white, 



wiUi a glossy jet-black margin; the cocks have the tail folded 



like that of the hen, with the sickle feathers shortened straight, 



or nearly so, and broader than usual. The term hen-cneka is, 



in consequence, often appUed to 



them; but, although the sickle 



feathers are thus modified, no 



bird possesses higher courage, 



or a more gallant carriage'. 



The attitude of the cock is, in 



truth, singularly proud; and 



he is often seen to bear himself 



so haughtily, that his head, 



thrown back as if in disdain, 



nearly touches the two upper 



scarcely be called — of his taU. 



are not uncommon, but birds of the pure breed are not to be 



obtained without trouble and expense ; indeed, some time ago, 



it was almost impossible to procure either a fowl or an egg. 



"The finest we have ever seen," says the writer whom we have 



consulted as to this breed, " were in Sir John's poultry -yard, 



adjacent to Tumham-Green Common, in the byroad leading 



to Acton." 



We have already alluded to the mystery which enshrouds 

 the origin of the Dorking fowl ; that we do possess so useful a 

 member of the poultry-yard is, perhaps, sufficient to satisfy 

 most people, without diving into musty records to trace the 

 worthy bird's pedigree, for 

 the purpose of finding what 

 kind of animal his progeni- 

 tor was. It has good claim 

 to be considered a gennine 

 British bird, and displays its 

 nationality by its great love 

 of liberty. Consequently, it 

 is essential that the keepers 

 of Dorkings must provide 

 a good long rim for the doekinqs. 



chickens, which must be 



on clay or gravel soil, but never on wooden or brick floors. 

 If this particular is carefully attended to, the chickens will 



