MALAYS AND BLACK JAVAS. 99 



eyes are found in good specimens. The beak is very strong and hooked. The 

 comb is yery small, low, and flat, and isattached closely tb the head, without any 

 tendency to fall over to either side. It should be covered over with small, warty 

 prominences, and end abruptly over the eye, not projecting in a peak, 



" Malays are remarkably characterized by the very slight development of wat- 

 tles and ear-lobes ; but the skin of the face and upper part of the throat is red, 

 and from the scanty nature of the plumage, this redness becomes a marked 

 feature of the breed. The countenance has been justly described as very 

 skinny. 



" In color Malays vary considerably. The varieties exhibited generally par- 

 take of the celor of black and brown breasted red Game. In these the hackle 

 and saddle in the cock should be dark, glossy red; the breast black, or 

 black slightly mottled with brown. The back and shoulder coverts are deep, 

 rich maroon; the bar across the wings wide and well marked with a bright me- 

 tallic or purplish green-black tint. 



"The flight feathers, or quiUs, should be dark red, and the tail feathers small; 

 others black, and glossy to an extreme degree, being resplendent with purple and 

 green metallic reflections, as the light plays upon them in the movements of the 

 bird. 



" J'he legs in both sexes should be characterized by strength and size ; in color 

 they should be brilliant yellow, and without a vestige of feathers appearing on 

 the sides. 



"The general plumage of the hens in this variety is reddish brown, verging 

 into that <A wetted cinnamon in the darker breeds. 



"In the PUe Malays, now seldom seen, the hackles in the cock are red and 

 white, the breasts white or mottled, and the general plumage of the hens white, 

 mottled with chestnut red. 



"The plumage of the White Malaya is soon described. The face, comb, and 

 naked skin of the throat should be bright red, the feet and legs bright yellow, 

 and the feathers purely white." 



The Malays bear the reputation of being the most savage in disposition of all 

 varieties of fowls, even literally tearing their opponents to pieces; they are 

 further especially subject to the disagreeable habit of feather eating. They are 

 very hardy in constitution, and on this account, as well as on account of their 

 superior size, they have been used in certain crosses where it was desired to in- 

 fuse greater size and vigor into a degenerating breed, and upon this fact, chiefly, 

 depends their interest to American fanciers. According to some authorities the 

 old "Chittagong" fowl of the-TJnited States was a large variety of Malay, and 

 Malays are thought to be the parent stock of the breeds known as Black Java, 

 St. Jago, India, Bucks County, and Ostrich fowls. 



BLACK JAVAS. 



This breed is chiefly of interest from its supposed connection with the origin 

 of the Plymouth Eocks. In the Poultiry World for September, 1879, appears 

 the following letter with regard to it: 



"H, H. Stopdabd, ;»■.•— This fowl was exhibited in January, 1879, attheshpw 



