242 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
and would have convinced even then, they had little to fall back upon save that strong conscious- 
ness of utter difference in habit and character, which they had acquired in their own yards, and which 
they knew to exist, though they did not know how to show it in the pen as is now done. If this 
be considered, it explains much and excuses much ; and now tnat the conflict is practically over, 
it may be hoped that all parties will settle down in the united attempt to keep the good qualities of 
the splendid breed which Miss Croad introduced to us. If her mistakes have somewhat retarded 
its recognition, the work remains hers none the less ; and to her will always belong a dis- 
tinction which is at present unique, of having been the one absolutely known and indisputable 
source through whom has come to us one of the most valuable races of fowls. It is proper to 
mention another fact. If the more ardent Langshan advocates have been very bitter, they have 
in their own personal dealings maintained a standard of honour which we wish were universal. 
Our poultry correspondence and experience of these things has probably been unequalled ; and 
we may say that the Langshan is the only breed concerning which, taking a half-dozen of the best 
known of its breeders, we never heard a complaint of sharp practice in regard to eggs or other 
sales ; while we believe the “ Langshan Society ” to be the only one up to this date amongst special 
Clubs, which insists upon penalty of expulsion for any dishonourable conduct amongst its members. 
Except in the matter of strong language, and extraordinary jealousy of any other people winning 
prizes, there has usually been a sort of aristocratic, “ high-toned ” character about its principal 
supporters, which is rather attractive, and perhaps may account for the odd manner in which 
they “ backed ” each other in paper warfare. 
In breeding Langshans it is not desirable, in our opinion, to keep too near a dead level of 
uniformity ; to do this would necessitate in-breeding and other evils. Thus, there is a perceptible 
difference between Captain Terry’s bird and the outline of the tail-piece, though not a startling 
one. A fair medium average should however be sought, andean always be obtained by mating the 
more rangy fowls with the more compact, giving, however, birds not so long on the leg the 
preference. We are of course writing this for such as receive the views here expressed. All 
would, however, agree that the heavy fluff once seen, should now be stamped out uniformly, and so 
we think should be any deficiency in the breast, the last point being a sine qua non in our opinion, 
and doing more to keep the breed on a straight road than any other point. Size also, while fairly 
studied, ought not to be pushed to excess ; and the present model was chiefly the means of checking 
undue size, which is evidently a remnant of the Cochin or G alius giganteus ancestry.* 
Red and yellow feathers must always be rejected in breeding, or they will give trouble, not 
only in reproduction, but in body-colour also, so long as the present rejection of purple gloss is 
adhered to. While agreeing, however, that green is preferable, we think this is going too far. 
In Black Hamburghs we have a precisely similar case. Purple is a legitimate outcrop of extreme 
gloss, and sometimes its judicious employment is even advisable to keep this up ; but on this 
head we refer for further particulars to the valuable remarks of the Rev. W. Serjeantson on 
breeding Black Hamburghs. 
The chicks often cause disappointment to the beginner ; they frequently have such a lot 
of white in their first feathers, and are in other respects far from ornamental. The primaries are 
often as many white as black, but these generally moult out correct. The down is black on the 
* By a curious inadvertence, Miss Croad has recently written letters warning breeders against the “ present ” propensity to 
judge too much by size. The simple fact is that the movement has been all the other way. In the original “ Langshan Fowl ” 
1877 “ Standard,” it was laid down that “ size must be the first consideration ,” and an adult cock should not weigh less than 10 lbs., 
and in the points for judging, size was given 50 points out of 100 ! Such a proportion was absolutely unheard of in any other breed 
of fowl, even in the Dorking, and would make any judging impossible. In the new standard, it will be seen, size is made only 
“one of the first” considerations, and the points are reduced to 20, and the weight to 9 lbs. We quite approve of that, so far 
as it goes, but it seems desirable to point out that the error was due to the first breeders, and not to the present. 
