Colour of Dorking He nr. 
n n T 
1 
should be avoided as far as possible, as we have several times seen that blemish, though it 
would not weigh in most cases, give the “ casting vote ” in a close competition. 
Almost the only other colour of hens which can be shown with success against the very 
dark just described, is a plumage which resembles all over that of the feather from flat . of 
wing in Fig. 74, but of a still lighter brownish-grey in the centre, and showing the dark lacing 
round the edges rather more sharply. This latter colour is very rich and pleasing to the eye, 
and not long since was rather a favourite type, while it still competes successfully, and we 
Flat of Wing. 
Wing Covert. 
Hackle. 
Fig. 75. — Feathers of Medium-coloured Dorking Hen. 
are inclined to think sometimes produces quite as heavy weights. The cocks of this coloured 
strain have generally rather clearer coloured hackles than the last, though with a much more 
brilliant black stripe in each feather, and are not quite so subject to white in the tail, hence 
they make very handsome and striking-looking birds ; but it is a singular fact, that while, as 
we have just remarked, we have often observed very large hens of this coloured strain, most of 
the cocks, according to our observation, are hardly equal in size to the darker birds. In Fig. 75 are 
carefully represented feathers from a splendid hen of this variety which has won numerous prizes, 
and often competed successfully with the darker colour. 
We have occasionally seen birds win of a lighter colour; the feathers still resembling in 
character those shown in Fig. 75, but of a yet paler shade, and the black lacing much narrower, 
or on some birds scarcely discernible. This colour approaches very nearly to the Silver-grey 
