98 



tb:s complete poultry book. 



Aa wiU be Been from our iUu.tration, the Langshans have larger tails than the 

 Coohins, th^y are also distinguished by showing a pinkish tinge between the 



Owing to their great popularity, and the ease with which the deoeption could 

 be praotioed, the langshans have been largely crossed upon the Black Coahins, 

 and the produce sold as lyire Langshans. This hreed is not yet recognized in 

 I Stcmdard. (See illustration, page 75.) 



This breed of fowls has never become popular in America, nor to any great 

 extent in England, where they made their appearance a few years previous to 

 the introduction of the Cochins. 



In appearance and disposition the Malays bear more resemblance to. the Games 

 than to the Cochins ; although in stature they" far exceed the Games, the cooks 

 weighing from nine to eleven and a half pounds, and standing, when, full grown, 

 from two feet nine inches to three feet high, and the hens weighing from seven 

 and a haU to ten pounds. 



The date of the first introduction of the Malays into England is not known; 

 but they were frequently brought home by the stewards of English vessels trad- 

 ing to and from India, and sold to dealers in the neighborhood of the docks in 

 the east of London. The colors of these imported birds were not uniform, but 

 by selection English breeders produced several distinctly marked vaiiBties. The 

 breed is thus described by Tegetmeier : 



" In carriage and form Malaya are strikingly distinguished from all othei va- 

 rieties of domestic poultry. The cocks are exceeding long in the neck and legs ; 

 their carriage is particularly upright, the back being almost always, at, an angle 

 of forty-five degrees, except when they are eating ; the wings are carried very 

 high, and firmly closed. Malays are very bulky across the shoulders, and from 

 the closeness of the plumage, the fore part of the wing stands away irom the 

 body, as it does in the carrier pigeon. The body narrows very rapidly indeed 

 toward the tail, which is very small, and droops in the cock so as to fof m nearly 

 a straight line with the back. The thighs are long, strong, and well developed. 

 The longer and stronger the legs the better, if length be combined with an easy 

 gait in walking. The head is carried very high, and, from the short and very 

 scanty nature of the hackle feathers, the neck looks much longer than in any 

 other variety of fowl. The form and carriage of the hen are generally similar 

 to those of the cock; but from the hackles being still shorter the extreme prom- 

 inence of the wings is even more visible. 



"The plumage in Malays is short and close, but extremely brilliant and glossy. 

 Every feather is peculiarly narrow, and possesses far less down towards the root 

 than do the feathers of any other known variety ; and, consequently, should the 

 bird be taken in hand, it always proves more weighty than is antioipa.ted. ■ The 

 extraordinary lustre of the entire plumage in well-bred and high-conditioned birds 

 is remarkable. 



"The head in the Malay is long and snaky, the brow projecting over the eye 

 so as to give a peculiarly hard expression to the face. The eyes should be bright, 

 fiery red, as according best with the vindictive expression of the face ; but pearl 



