320 
1 he Illustrated Bools of Poultry. 
Utds in any pen must match. The two strains have been so inter-bred, that often both rose 
and single combs have been known to proceed from the very same parents; but it is in the 
power of any breeder very speedily to correct this irregularity, and fix either feature in his 
own strain. The rose-combed birds have a great tendency to become very coarse about the 
head in their second year, which detracts greatly from their good looks as exhibition birds ; 
tnis, too, however, may be eradicated by careful attention to fine “quality” of head and face, 
and we have seen several very “ old stagers which, after several years of successful competition, 
still looked high-bred and aristocratic fowls. 
The geneial points to be sought in breeding stock have been well described by Mr. Martin. 
VVe append in Fig. /4 a repiesentation of the dark plumage he alludes to as preferred by himself 
Hackle. 
(and also by the judges) for Dorking hens. The breast is salmon-red, each feather tipped 
with dark grey or black ; the wing-feathers black round the edges, with a rich brown centre, 
pencilled or shaded with black, and the back and saddle almost black ; all the feathers except 
the breast showing the white shaft very distinctly. With regard to breeding for this or any 
other colour, it is impossible to put the matter in a better or more simple manner than he 
has done, viz., to take care that the cock is descended from the same coloured stock as the 
hens you have selected. It is said, indeed, in all the older works on poultry that Grey Dorkings 
are not “birds of colour,” but judged solely by size, weight, shape, condition, &c. It used 
to be so; but of late there has been such a marked preference shown by judges for the “dark” 
colour described by Mr. Martin, and figured above, or failing that, for the richest and most hand- 
some appearance, that colour can no longer be ignored. To breed the dark colour in question, 
cocks with very black hackles will be found necessary ; and we may add that white in the tail 
Breast 
Flat of Wing;. 
Saddle. 
Fig. 74.— Feathers of Dark-coloured Dorking Hen. 
