Langshans. 
159 
They make good mothers, but are not prone to sit. The smallest hens should be selected for this purpose, 
heavy birds may crush the chicks. The cocks are very vigorous, and may be allowed a good number of 
hens — seven or eight, or more. Pullets intended for breeding and showing should be prevented from laying 
too early, as it often retards their growth, and spoils the shape and appearance. The cockerels should also be 
allowed to fully mature before being used in the breeding pens. If kept in cockerel runs they seldom fight. 
A mob of well-bred young Langshans of the true type when in full feather is a grand sight. The majestic 
shape and appearance, red comb, face and wattles, flowing tail, and brilliant beetle-green lustre of the 
plumage make this Fowl one of the handsomest of all breeds. Anyone can breed good Langshans, with a 
little care and attention given to mating. A large mob of typical birds may result, and even include some 
' cracks.' Every Langshan, however pure, cannot be a prize-winner, any more than in any other breed. 
" In giving the Australian Standard, and also the English (Miss Croad's) ditto, at the close of this 
Chapter, I think the former a good one, except on the point as regards length of shank. It says, ' rather 
long.' Now, I think that the shank should be proportioned to the size of the bird, and on no account tdo 
long or approaching a stilty appearance. In a cock, 4^ to 5^ inches will be about the proper length. 
" In Plumage, I prefer Miss Croad's definition as more descriptive, ' smooth and close in surface.' The 
term ' tight-feathered ' is apt to lead to 'hard-feathered.' Again, I would award 20 points to symmetry 
rather than colour, as being a more useful point. At the same time I insist that in no point should any 
marked deficiency be permitted, as the further one strays from the Standard the worse for the future of 
the breed. 
" In Deductions, I would take five points off each ' short shanks ' and ' heavy feathering on legs and 
toes,' and add to 'want of breast meat' and make crooked breast' a disqualification. By short shanks I 
mean under 47 inches for a full-grown cockerel. Of course, if a bird is feathered on legs and toes like a 
Cochin, I should include such a defect in the ' requested to pass' clause, to which I would also add those birds 
having a lumpy Cochiny appearance, as well as diseased birds, although most Show regulations 'bar' the latter. 
" Nothing is said in either Standard of the shape of the comb, which should be a graceful arch, and 
following the shape of the head, not running away at right angles to the neck, as I have often seen. All the 
best drawings and photographs of celebrated birds show this feature. In the hen the back of the comb 
should only be of medium development, and should lie close, and not spring up. One hears the terms 
' rangy,' ' reachy,' and ' tall,' and in many cases these are all taken to be ' long-legged,' even if the bird has 
a short, thick neck. This term applies more to the general reach of the body and neck when in an upright 
position, and a short-legged bird may have all these terms applied quite correctly. As before stated, the 
term ' short-legged ' is not used in reference to a dumpy-legged bird, but in contradistinction to a very 
long-legged one, with a shank, say, over 5^ inches. Miss Croad states in her work and elsewhere that she 
breeds both types, the tall and the short-legged birds. She admires both, but states that, although she thinks 
Fanciers will incline more to the tall bird — that is, the long-legged — the shorter-legged is the more valuable 
of the two, especially to Farmers, as it matures earlier. Now, there is no doubt this is a most important 
consideration. 
"Is this valuable breed to figure in future merely as a 'Fancy bird,' of comparatively little use as a Table 
Fowl, pure or crossed, or are we to keep to the Standard striven for by Messrs. Weir, Tegetmeier, and others, 
and preserve the useful and handsome bird as is intended ? I have no objections against two classes, the 
same as there are for Old English and Modern Games ; but let Farmers and others know that one is the 
most useful, pure breed obtainable, and the other one of the most useless. For, unless breeders of these 
long-legged birds are prepared to take the same trouble, and give the expensive food that some Fanciers 
give, the progeny will all be in-kneed weaklings, and a dead loss to the grower. Many people have strong 
prejudices against pure-bred Fowls, but the true Langshan (medium type) is one that would reverse those 
prejudices, while the other type would certainly increase them," 
