12 



THE AMERICAN BREEDS OF POULTRY 



addition to its size, the breed was characterized by standing high upon 

 the legs, being long in neck, and having a cruel expression of head. 

 In his book on poultry, which was first published in London, 1815, 

 Moubray speaks of it as "the largest of all the Gallinaceous tribe." 



Malays were introduced in and around Philadelphia at about that 

 time, and were used to throw size into the native stock, the result 

 being the production of a large mongrel breed which was variously 

 named Chittagong, Bucks County fowl, and even Malay. The Malay 

 also was introduced into that section of New England which lies 

 between the ports of Fall River and New Bedford, and exerted a 

 lasting influence on the breed which this historical poultry district 

 has developed — the Rhode Island Red. In those early days of sailing 

 vessels, fowls for food were carried alive in ships, and, if possible, 

 a particularly fine bird was kept alive for sale at the end of the voyage. 

 The Chinese stock followed the introduction of the Malay. Five 

 principal ports of China were thrown open to commerce in 1843. 

 including that of the city of Shanghai. From thence the "Shanghais" 

 came, and soon there appeared in England and America a type ot 

 fowl that now is known as the Cochin. Some of the cocks weighed 

 twelve to fifteen pounds and, because of their copious plumage, looked 

 even larger. They created a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic. 

 The most ridiculous tales were told respecting them. The roosters 

 were described as being at least big enough to eat off of the top of 



a barrel, and while ordi- 

 nary hens probably could 

 lay one egg a day, these 

 ostrich fowls from China 

 were supposed actually 

 to lay two or three. The 

 birds were said to take 

 to petting kittens, and to 

 be unable to fly ovel a 

 three-foot fence. There 

 resulted a Cochin mania 

 which took the country 

 by storm from 1849 to 

 1854. Money was plenti- 

 ful, and here was to be 

 had a new sort of poul- 

 try far different from the 

 old native stock. 



A surprisingly large 

 number of people want- 

 ed to participate in the 

 ownership and breeding 



A Pair of Shanghais as Shown at the First Poultry °^ *"^ V^?^ ^°wls. In 

 ,Show Held in America, Boston, 1849. acknowledgmg receipt pf 



