18 DOKKIHG FOWL. 



The Cockerels may be brought to considerable weight, and the 

 flavor and appearance of the meat are inferior to none. They 

 are only fair layers, but at due and convenient intervals mani- 

 fest the desire of sitting. Having short, compact legs, they are 

 well formed for incubation. The 'Dorkings are not well suited for 

 damp soils, by reason of the shoi:tnesS of-their legs. They are 

 also distinguished for breadth Of body, the somewhat partridge 

 form, and a,l6Q, in the poultry phraze^ for being clean headed. 

 Though they possess great similarity of form, there is much vari- 

 ety of color; but they are generally distinguished as white, grey 

 or speckled, and also by the character of the comb — viz, as single 

 and double, or rose combed; and classed accordingly at the poul- 

 try shows. 



The fifth or supernumerary toe is the peculiar mark distinctive of 

 the whole breed under consideration. Though, the Creator has 

 not designed anything without its appropriative piirpose, this 

 additional member must rather be deemed a distinctive than a 

 useful one, just as the absence of a tail, or the color fmd size of 

 a comb may distinguish an individual race of fowls. These over- 

 furnished claws have been denounced as sources of danger and 

 annoyance to young chicks when first issuing frpm the shell, 

 rendering the mother's movements hazardous to them. I have 

 'never seen them do so, and even if they did'how is the hen to be 

 employed when the sitting fit comes on, for they are perseverii^ 

 sitters, and as neither worrying, nor whipping, nor fettering, nor 

 physicking, or the cold shower bath, will subdue their natural 

 instinct to set, they should be allowed to follow their instinct, - 

 -and incubate in peace. 



The Dorkings are a very heavy fowl when fat, as their frame 

 work is not of that lengthy, incompact structure wbich it is so 

 difScult to fill up with flesh and fat; they" much sooner become 

 tempting figures for trussing and skewering than other fowls. 

 Thpy have a great aptitude for fattening when rendered capons. 



