Langshans. 
233 
to persistently exhibit birds of such types as made belief in their distinctiveness difficult or 
impossible ; to support a vehement assertion of their total distinctness from Cochins with 
arguments simply ridiculous ; and to attack all who could not see a distinction so urged 
with a variety of offensive imputations and reckless assertions, which had never been 
approached in poultry history, and which could but retard, as it did retard for years, the 
very object desired by those who indulged in it. 
We are obliged, however reluctantly, to make this clear, because it has been assiduously 
asserted for years past, even up to the time we write these lines, that zve were the “greatest 
opponent and enemy ” of the Langshan, though it is significant that the assertion was never 
made while the controversy was actually raging, quite other parties being accused then , as 
may be seen in the early pamphlets. The position we uniformly took up, and which was 
practically the general one amongst fanciers, may be shortly stated in the following words 
penned by us in the Live Stock Journal of March 22, 1878. It was very often so stated in 
nearly the same words, and it may be said at once that, as regards economic merit , wherever we 
placed Langshans in comparison with Cochins, we gave preference to the Langshans. The only 
question was as to being, or not being, essentially different fowls. 
In the first place, no one, we believe, now disputes, and we certainly never have disputed, that the Langshans qame from 
the part of China alleged, and that they come to us with all the usual marks of a pure race — i.e., a race which breeds fairly true 
to its characteristics. Neither do we dispute that, as thus reaching us, the fowl is a better layer and carries better flesh than the 
fowls now known among us as Cochins. What is contended is simply — i. That seeing them in pens by the side of Cochins, they 
present to the eye all the main points of that race, especially as earlier known to us, 'and not one point that can be said to 
distinguish them. 2. That as Cochins also reached us from North China, this conclusion is so far corroborated. 3. That the 
superiority alleged is the usual mark of an “ unimproved,” or, if preferred, unspoiled race (that is, one never bred to fixed points, 
which it is now admitted the Langshan does not possess), and the white skin and meat so much lauded being the usual accompani- 
ments of black plumage. On the other hand, our Langshan friends contend for distinctness of race , to which w r e must beg that any 
further discussion be confined.” 
We must now see by what means the claim to distinctness was supported. The first, and 
throughout the chief weapon in the controversy, was the coarsest imputation of bad motives to 
all who differed. The following is a mild specimen 
The mere recital of its merits and a description of the bird, accompanied by illustrations, roused the ire of the so-called 
“ fancy,” and so powerful was and is the influence of this fraternity, and so great are the pecuniary interests that they have at stake 
in keeping out fresh claimants to popular favour, that the most unsparing and unqualified abuse was heaped alike upon the Langshan 
and its friends.* 
There was simply no justification for this, and it will only excite a smile when read in these 
pages ; but it must be remembered that it was not known till years afterwards that a great part ot 
these effusions were written by a lady. Had this been known at the time, much good-natured 
allowance would have been made for it by those attacked ; but people did not know it, and were 
little disposed to accept claims urged in this temper and without any obvious proofs. All 
arguments that we were able to find were as follows : — 
It was first said that the fowls were considered in their own locality distinct from all others, 
and to be “allied to the wild Turkey,” and it was remarked how the birds resembled these on the 
table. It was impossible that some people should not meet this theory with a little good-natured 
ridicule, when it was averred that such was given simply as the opinion of the Chinese themselves ! 
forgetting that, except as a rare European importation, the Turkey is an unknown bird in China. 
Again, it was written : t — 
There is in this breed perfect freedom from that essentially Cochin disease, “Elephantiasis,” or scrofula, which accumulates 
in such masses upon the legs of Cochin fowls as to make them, as they advance in years, perfectly loathsome. This merit of 
the Langshan is of itself a very conclusive answer to those who seek to confound the two breeds, and as a consequence none of our 
opponents have ventured to say anything about it. 
* “ The Langshan Fowl,” p. 6. 
t Ibid., p. 30. 
