THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 43 



very white nor brown ; the shape varies considerably. 

 The ohioks are of a yellowish color, with sometimes 

 two brown stripes down the back and a few specks 

 about the head, , but more usually without either. 

 They have, however, invariably the hinder part of the 

 back of an intenser or browner yellow, almost amount- 

 ing to a warm fawn-color. ***** My male 

 birds have a very peculiar feathering on the neck — the 

 neck feathers being very long and full, dark-red, and 

 black at the tips, but the under part of a downy white. 

 The consequence is, an appearance of mixed dark-red 

 and white about the neok, whioh is the more peculiar 

 from its being so particularly at variance with the 

 glossy-black neck feathering of the female. The 

 feathering of the back and wings is rather scanty, and 

 the tail is not very full. The bird has a good, erect 

 carriage. ***** The chickens of this breed 

 are very small at first, and but scantily supplied with 

 down. As they begin to grow, they have a very naked 

 appearance from the slow development of their feathers, 

 and this renders them very susceptible of cold. At 

 six weeks old, they are not above half the size of Dork- 

 ings of the same age, but after two months, they grow 

 very fast, and the pullets feather well and show indi- 

 cations of their permanent color. The cocks are ragged 

 in appearance until five months old, after which they 

 get their permanent plumage, and grow fast. As a 

 sort of profitable growth, I cannot recommend them, but 

 the ornamental figure and color of the hens, I think, 

 is beyond question. The flesh, at table, is extremely 

 good and white; and they lay abundantly, though 

 late. I have a strong suspicion, from various pecu- 

 liarities, that they are of comparatively recent intro- 

 duction into this country, from a much warmer 

 climate. ***** Baker, of London and 

 Chelsea, (one of the best fancy dealers,) told me that 

 they were a breed from Calcutta. They are certainly 

 tender, and are apt to die in the moulting." 



