DOMESTIC POULTKT. 



thrive and grow well ; but otherwise, as they are ' erj 

 delicate, no success with this breed can be attained. The 

 constitution of the Dorking is more incidental to disease than 

 many other varieties, more especially is it subject to crowp. 

 The remedy usually prescribed in the latter case is to mix the 

 fowl's food with ale or beer, and a small quantity of cayenne 

 pepper. Of this species there are two kinds, — the white 

 Dorking and the coloured. The former is the favourite bird of 

 old fanciers, and a writer in the Poultry Chronicle makes the 

 following remarks on this breed : — " The old Dorking, the pmre 

 Dorking, the only Dorking, is the White Dorking. It is of 

 good size, compact and plump form, with short neck, short 

 white legs, fine toes, a full comb, a large breast, and a pltuuage 

 of spotless white. The practice of crossing with a game cock 

 was much in vogue with the old breeders, to improve a worn- 

 out stock (which, however, would have been better accom- 

 plished by procuring a fresh bird of the same kind, but not 

 related) ; this cross shows itself in single combs, loss of a claw, 

 or an occasional red feather, but, what is still more objection- 1 

 able, in pale yellow legs, and a yellow circle about the beak, 

 which also indicate a yellowish skin : these, then, are faults 

 *« be avoided. As regards size, the white Dorking is gene-| 

 rally inferior to the Sussex fowl (or 'coloured Dorking'), 

 but in this respect it only requires attention and careful 

 breeding." 



Another good authority says, — " I find the white Dorkings 

 hardy — quite as prolific as the coloured : they lay well, and are 

 excellent sitters and mothers." The coloured Dorking is a 

 handsome bird, and in high esteem at all exhibitions of poultry. 

 Of their breed, the writer before quoted (the champion of the 

 white species) remarks, — " To the breeders and admirers of the 

 so-called ' coloured Dorkings ' I would say, continue to improve 

 the fowl of your choice, but let bim be known by his right title ; 

 do not support him on another's fame, nor yet deny that the 

 rose comb or fifth toe is essential to a Dorking, because your 

 favourites are not constant to those poiuts. The absence of the 

 fifth claw to the Dorking would be a great defect, but to 

 the Sussex fowl (erroneously called a ' coloured Dorking ') it is 

 my opinion it would be an improvement, provided the leg did 

 not get longer with the loss." 



The real Spanish Fowl is recognized by its uniformly black 

 colour, burnished with tints of green ; its peculiar white face, 

 and the large development of its comb and wattle. The 



