COCMINS, on SHANQHJSS. 85 



are one and the same. One thing is certain — the breed you have in this 

 country as Coohin-Chinas are plentiful about Shanghse. They were discovered 

 there after the war, and were frequently brought to this country, and taken to 

 India by captains of trading vessels. Was not this the date of their introduc- 

 tion to England ? And what grounds has any one for supposing the {owls ever 

 saw Cochin-China?' It may be thought that thi^ variety might have been 

 earlier known, owing to our long-established commerce with Macao and Canton, 

 but Mr. Fortune says that it is a breed but little known in those warmer parts 

 oC China, and that, 'in fac^ the southern Chinese were as much struck with the 

 size of the breed as we were.' He adds, 'The Shanghte breed seems to be more 

 common about Shanghse than anywhere else in the north,' but I found it over 

 all the low country of that part of China. The southern breeds have long been 

 well known to ship-captains and English residents, but there is nothing very 

 marked in their character, 



"Having stated the date of introduction and the place from whence they were 

 derived, Mr. Fortune informs us as follows, respecting the characteristics and 

 treatment of the<fcirds as they occur at Shanghse itself: 'The Shanghse breed 

 occurs both with feathered and unfeathered legs, but more fuequently un- 

 feathered. The most admired kinds there are the game-colored ones. However, 

 I am safe in saying that the Chinese do not attach so much importance as we do 

 to purity of color ; large size and large eggs are what they most admire and 

 prize.' 



"Although It is certain that the Shanghse fowl is frequently met with in its 

 native district with unfeathered legs, even more frequently than with feathered 

 or booted legs, nevertheless, in our country, fashion has decided most impera- 

 tively in favor of the feather-legged birds, to whi<;h alone prizes are now 

 awarded at our poultry shows« < 



"In accordance with the facts that these birds were imported from Shanghse, 

 and were comparatively unknown in Cochin-China, it has been thought by 

 some writers desirable to endeavor to correct the popular but erroneous name 

 of Cochins, and to substitute that of the poet from whence they were originally 

 obtained ; but the efibrt has not been crowned with success, and to the large 

 majority of poultry breeders they are known only as Cochins. In the United 

 States both names are employed; those birds that are feather-legged being 

 termed Shanghses, while the clean-legged specimens are known as Cochins." 



The Cochins are divided into several sub-varieties, according to color and 

 size. The general characteristics applicable to the whole breed, are given by 

 Mr. Wright as follows : 



"The cock ought noi to weigh less than ten or eleven pounds, and a very fine 

 one will reach thirteen ; the hens from eight to nine or ten pounds. The larger 

 the better, if form and general make be good. 



"The breast in both sexes should be as broad and full as possible, the general 

 want of breast being the greatest defect in this breed. The neck can hardly be 

 too short in either sex, so that it does not look clumsy; and the back must be 

 short from head to tail, and very broad. The legs should be short and set ■ 

 widely apart, and the general make as full, wide and deep as possible. 



"The shanks are profusely feathered down to the toes, and the thighs should 



