Description of White Cochins. 
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direct testimony, that it has been in at least some cases acquired by a cross with the Dark 
Brahma ; but it bids fair to remain the fashionable colour. With it has come an utter loss of 
shape and Cochin character, which will, however, be remedied by degrees, when the effect will 
be more pleasing : meantime, between this demand for black pencilling on the one hand, and long 
backs and tails on the other, judging has been, and is likely to be for some time, erratic and 
unsatisfactory ; and almost every visitor to a show remarks upon the fact that good shape and 
Cochin character are confined to the “old-fashioned ” hens. 
WHITE COCHINS. — The number of persons who can keep any breed of white fowls must 
always be limited, or no breed of Cochins would have more enthusiastic admirers than this. We 
have often wondered that it is not more kept, simply as an ornament , by the proprietors of country 
mansions, for nothing can be more indescribably beautiful than half a dozen White Cochins dotted 
over the rich green of a lawn; while they usually do little or no harm in the way of scratching, even 
to the flower beds, and easily become so tame that children may take them up in their arms. It is 
rather singular that whilst the White Cochin cock is rarely quite equal to his “ Buff brother” In the 
peculiar Cochin carriage and style, particularly as regards the saddle and tail, which last is 
generally too long, the hen not unfrequently surpasses all other varieties in the grand points of 
width, cushion, fluff, and feather. We think it is probable, however, that this is in some degree 
owing to the constant washing white fowls require, which has a natural tendency to puff out 
and make the most of any soft and fluffy plumage, such as distinguishes the Cochin varieties. 
The plumage of this variety may be simply and shortly described as a pure and perfect white all 
over, and breeding them is therefore comparatively a simple matter, though, owing to the purity of 
colour requisite to success, we cannot say it is more easy than in the case of other varieties, a 
yellow or straw-coloured shade being particularly difficult to avoid in all the male birds. This 
purity of colour, in fact, is the most difficult point ; besides which, White Cochins, if at all heavily 
feathered, are peculiarly liable to vulture-hocks. Owing to this tendency many almost bare legs used 
to be shown ; but so very bad and out of taste appears a bare-legged White Cochin, of all 
breeds, that we would infinitely rather see even heavy hocks in this case than such an unsightly 
type of bird. By mating heavily-hocked cocks with scantily-feathered hens, however, in a large 
number of cases good hocks may be secured ; but the heavy hocks now so general certainly look 
less out of place in White Cochins than in any other variety. Regarding other points, they will be 
found sufficiently treated of in the following notes, furnished at our request by Mr. Elijah Smith, 
who has few competitors as a breeder and exhibitor of this variety, and under whose care the birds 
we have portrayed achieved most of their well-earned triumphs : — 
“ In choosing your breeding stock, be very careful to select those that are the purest white. 
There are several shades of white in Cochins, so that it is very essential to select the richest white, 
and especially such birds as have retained their white plumage after they have moulted ; for there 
are a great many go yellow on the back and wings after moulting, and you will sometimes see this 
even in cockerels. You should avoid breeding from such birds if you have others to choose from — 
as to be successful in exhibiting White Cochins the rich and dear white plumage is the great point 
to be aimed at — or you will be disappointed, as the young stock will generally take after the parent 
in this respect. The hens are not so subject to this change of colour as the cock, but still you will 
see a difference even in them upon close examination; and always select the best and cleanest 
coloured ones, and you may depend upon it that it will repay you for the trouble in your young stock. 
“ Your male bird should have plenty of quality, viz., good straight comb, not too large, but 
smooth, well serrated, and very firm on the head ; good large deaf ears, quite red, and large wattles ; 
