Langshans. 
241 
meaning of this was made unmistakable by a statement of Mr. Harrison Weir, that, in his opinion, 
a heavily-feathered bird “shows at once its Cochin cross;” that the true bird was “never vulture- 
hocked,” and that “ the whole wing tucked up represents the Cochin character, and not the 
Langshan.”* Nevertheless, there are tucked-up wings and shorter legs both in the portraits and 
in the original “standard;” while Mr. Housman states, on the point of feather, and in his very 
argument for banishing it from the middle toe, which was done in response to his own appeal, that, 
after breeding Langshans for seven or eight years, he had only found feathers on the middle toes 
in “ one bird that had vulture-hocks? The same gentleman, in another letter ,f states, “I have had 
eggs from Mr. Croacl from time to time, and have found some of the chickens turn out the very type 
of the Cochin , while others are plain-shaped birds with long legs. Any breeder could with care 
and selection breed the Langshans to the Cochin type.” As Mr. Housman himself hatched from 
Miss Croad’s own eggs the magnificent bird whose portrait is here given, we have, on his 
testimony, each of the three types produced by her own yard. 
Such, then, is the Langshan, such, in our opinion, its probable origin, and such its history, 
which demonstrates clearly that it has steadily made way from the date of the appearance 
and gradual recognition of its truest and best model, and only been retarded by, first, the 
repulsive personalities, and, later, the hostility to this type of its professed champions. What 
is the fowl which has now thus finally emerged from the chaos of the controversy ? 
It is a most admirable fowl. The skin is not only white but very thin, and the meat 
extremely white and sapid, of exactly the same character as that of the Houdan — (this might have 
been expected from what has gone before). The chickens are very hardy as regards all conditions 
but damp ; they grow fast, and upon the whole fledge kindly, though not very quickly. They 
are not subject to leg-weakness if bred to the models here shown. They are good foragers if they 
have a chance, and remain about their runs actively searching to the last, there being the same 
difference from Cochins in this respect as in the Brahma. The Langshan has, however, a super- 
added alertness, almost wildness, which is its own, and is a most determined fighter, while its power- 
ful wings give it considerable powers of flight. It is one of the very best layers also of any breed 
known, though the eggs are perhaps rather small. Miss Croad has stated that “the average hovers 
close on either side of 200 ” eggs in a year ; a statement which rather reminds one of the school- 
boy’s definition that “ an average is a thing hens lay on,” and which, if only strictly true, would 
solve all the difficulties about poultry-farming. But there is really no doubt that many fowls 
have laid as many, and that it is very difficult to beat the Langshan in this respect. The tightest- 
plumaged birds are almost invariably the best layers. These qualities, combined with size, and a 
colour that gives the town breeder no trouble in caring for it, are rapidly extending its popularity 
on all sides ; and the general verdict is that it is one of the best, and for many localities the very 
best fowl we have. 
To have added such a fowl to our poultry-yards is a great and lasting service to the community, 
which is under a heavy debt of gratitude to Miss Croad in this respect. Her unwise methods in no 
way cancel this debt, nor should hinder the fullest acknowledgment of it. There was even a large 
element of excuse for the mistakes committed, which ought in justice to be pointed out and borne 
in mind. There was a time which we remember well, when there was danger of the bird being 
bred fixedly to that Cochin type already prevalent and useless, and which was one of its own pro- 
minent forms. The usual authorities — including ourselves — had no knowledge or insight 'which 
could or would have hindered such an absorption and consequent loss. In the absence of sufficient 
knowledge on the part of its early admirers to select the distinct type which has now conquered, 
* Live Stock Journal , May 23, 1884. + Ibid., November 14, 1SS4. 
