152 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
really culls, no matter how excellent their other points may be. A Black Langshan should have dense black 
under feathering, while all the parts exposed to the sun should be of a rich metallic beetle-green shade. 
This ' sheen ' should be even throughout, and entirely free from that objectionable purple tint often 
noticeable. I have seen several especially good-coloured birds in which the ' sheen ' extended even down the 
fluff and hocks. Where birds are required for Exhibition purposes, their colour can be greatly improved by 
keeping them for two or three weeks in a dark place. This practice has its drawbacks, as it causes the combs 
to grow beyond their normal size, besides being detrimental to the bird's health. 4th. Neat Combs.— Ma.ny 
■ an otherwise good specimen is rendered useless as a Show bird by reason of its bad comb. Langshans — 
the cocks especially — seem liable to come with side sprigs on the comb. Like produces like ; and so, even 
if these sprigs are cut off a bird, yet it is more than likely that his progeny will possess the same fault. 
Especial care must be taken, when selecting the breeding pens, that none of the birds have twisted or folded 
combs, as many of the pullets produced by such a pen would have lopped combs, and the cockerels' combs 
would have a tendency to twist. The Club Standard gives us an excellent type of bird, although, perhaps, k 
would be improved by one or two minor alterations. For instance. Shanks — ' fine in bone,' might be 
replaced by ' stout, but not coarse,' for, as I have said before, this fine bone theory has been overdone. 
Then, again, in the craze for tightness of feather several defects have resulted, to the detriment of the 
appearance of the breed ; Straight Hocks, which give the bird a stilty appearance ; Pinched Tails, and 
consequent loss of that beautiful concave sweep of the back to the tail. Unscrupulous breeders have often 
crossed their Langshans with various breeds with a view of gaining certain points, and then palmed off the 
result as true Langshans. A keen observer can, however, detect signs of such crosses at a glance. Thus : 
Minorca Cross. — By size and shape of comb, and also is usually accompanied by a trace of white in ear-lobe. 
Indian Game Cross. — The result of this cross is a beautiful colour, the sheen coming out in a marked degree, but 
if the feathers are closely examined a distinct lacing of a darker shade of green is visible, instead of the feather 
being a solid colour. Birds of this cross usually have exceptionally broad skulk and scanty wattle. Cochin 
Cross. — Coarse bone, heavy fluff, and a sure sign by the bottoms of the feet being yellow. Although the 
Langshan is a prime favourite with Fanciers, and a great attraction as an Exhibition bird, yet' it owes its 
popularity to its economic qualities. As a table fowl it ranks high, possessing as it does size, alxundance of white 
meat, and a thin white skin. As a winter layer it perhaps surpasses all the other breeds, producing eggs during 
the cold winter months, when other varieties refuse to shell out. Although the Mediterranean varieties will, no 
doubt, aggregate more eggs in the year, yet, if the total value were considered, it would be found that the 
Langshan would come out on top, for the winter eggs are the high-priced ones. Then, again, the Langshan is 
an extremely hardy bird, both chicks and adults thriving in whatever situation it is their fortune to be placed. 
In cold New Zealand, in tropical Queensland, and throughout the length and breadth of Australasia, the 
Langshan is found prospering. Add to all these good qualities its extremely docile temperament and its 
handsome appearance, whit wonder is it that the most popular fowl of to-day is the lordly Langshan ?" 
The following notes, contributed by Mr. D. F. Laurie, of Adelaide (S.A.), also fully corroborate the 
facts stated by Mr. W. H. M'Keown, Mr. W. Skelton, Mr. W. F. Weeks, and Mr. G. M. Duncan as to the 
economic qualities of the Langshan. Mr. Laurie states : — 
" I have a great admiration for this splendid breed, and I am only too pleased to gather, in a more or 
less connected statement, what I know, and have read of it. I have read much of the great controversy in 
the English papers, as I have taken Poultry for about twelve years, and for some time the old Live Stock 
Journal, the two papers in which the letters were published. Miss Croad's book gives a most accurate 
description of the breed and its history. Her victory is a grand one, when we remember that Mr. Lewis 
Wright was her chief opponent. Only those who remember how he was venerated as an infallible authority, 
even a few years ago, can gauge her pluck and true Fancier's spirit. Mr. Lewis Wright has had to eat the 
leek ; the process of assimilation was very protracted, but his latest edition acknowledges the breed fully, 
although he has not grasped the true significance of its discovery. It would not appear improbable to any 
scientist, that a breed of fowls peculiar to one district only, should be the parent stock of others which while 
