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The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
midway in size between the White and Coloured Dorkings, is very hardy, and a fair layer ; and, 
though comparatively very little known, is, from its hardiness, best adapted of all the Dorking 
bieeds for general farm purposes. Various attempts have been made to encourage this breed, a 
special class being provided at the Crystal Palace shows in 1871 and 1872, but the result was 
only four entries the first year and eleven the second. In other instances similar efforts have been 
tewarded by no better success; and hence, in spite of the considerable increase on the second 
occasion, it appears as if the variety were more likely to be valued by producers than by fanciers. 
It is our firm conviction that the origin of this variety was the crossing of the White and Coloured 
breeds, which Mr. Martin has already stated to produce in the first instance the identical colour ; 
and the truth of this hypothesis is rendered almost certain by the superior hardiness of the fowl 
under discussion, which is constantly proved to result from the crossing of distinct or long-separated 
races. Were it not so, in fact, the small number of breeders and stocks would almost inevitably 
cause unusual delicacy of constitution, as in other similar cases. It is true that colours which owe 
their origin to crossing usually give extreme trouble to preserve them ; but Mr. Darwin has 
conclusively proved the marking in question to have a strong, or, as he calls it, “ prepotent,” 
tendency to transmit itself, as well as to be produced by crossing, which strongly tends tc show 
that it belonged formerly to some progenitor of the poultry races, and entirely removes such a 
difficulty in the present instance. 
In breeding Cuckoo Dorkings for show, the chief fault to guard against is the occurrence of 
reddish or golden feathers in the hackle or saddle of the cock. The cuckoo colour should be pure 
all over. White in the tail is also rather apt to occur, and must be avoided with equal care. Birds 
thus bred are not by any means destitute of attraction for the show-pen, and fashion changes 
so much even in poultry, that we should not be surprised to see them yet becoming popular. 
It will be seen further on how closely allied this breed is both to the Scotch Greys and to the 
American Dominique. On one occasion, in fact, we observed a prize given at Birmingham for 
“ Dorkings ” to a pen which, on inspection, proved to be Scotch Greys ; almost the only difference 
between that variety and the present being the absence of the fifth toe. It is somewhat singular 
that in three different quarters a fowl should have been produced, in each case of the same cuckoo 
colour, and evidently of nearly-related blood ; and in each case also highly valued by homely 
producers for its good qualities, while little prized by mere “fanciers” of fowls. 
In exhibiting any variety of Dorkings, it is particularly needful to guard against both over- 
feeding and over-showing, as this breed succumbs to either much sooner than most others. The 
temptation to “feed up ” is of course great, Dorkings being, even now, so greatly judged by size or 
weight ; but the invariable result is to make the plumage “ loose ” and ragged, and give the birds a 
peculiar “ knocked-about ” appearance, which no fowl can so ill bear. We could number up at 
least a dozen pens of Coloured Dorkings we have seen ticketed with honours at various shows, and 
which we have known from various sources to have died within short periods after, from the 
combined effects of over-feeding and over-work ; and this still occurs occasionally, though it gives 
us pleasure to acknowledge that the best judges have for some years past shown themselves 
thoroughly alive to the evil, and, by passing over pens of birds whose lives could evidently be 
accepted by no insurance company, fine as they undoubtedly were, done much to check the 
fattening which used to prevail, and, even when it was not fatal, rendered practically useless some 
of the best birds which have ever been bred. Another caution must however be given, against 
breeding from birds which are being exhibited. We would not of course affirm that a fine cock 
and hen may not be picked up off their run, if in perfect health, and shown on any single occasion 
