Judging Dorkings. 
fowl and turkeys, or to give a casting vote between two pens whose comparative merits it appears 
impossible to decide otherwise. The feet also need attention; birds “possessed of a sound 
understanding ” always being given preference to others suffering from bumble-foot : though we 
have seen a class in which not one sound-footed old cock was to be found. Perhaps the most 
difficult point in judging Dorkings, however, is to watch against malformations of the feet which 
have been fraudulently removed ; for in obedience to a law of nature well understood by florists 
and pigeon-fanciers (whose experience in variation from normal types is greater than that of 
perhaps any other classes), that when any structure is once got to vary, there is practically no 
limit to the extent of the variability — a law well expounded and illustrated by Mr. Darwin — the 
abnormal structure of the Dorking foot is very apt to run into still more abnormal forms, which 
disqualify otherwise fine birds for the show-pen. Birds are not unfrequently produced which 
possess three back toes, or have an extra toe high up the leg ; or, in the case of the cock, with 
supernumerary spurs, which have been known to grow in every possible direction ; and these 
abnormal structures are not unfrequently amputated by fraudulent exhibitors. We cannot pretend 
to any great skill ourselves in detecting such matters, actual experience alone being capable 
of imparting it ; but we have on two occasions seen prizes awarded to birds which showed 
unquestionable traces of such amputation, and every judge should give to this point such attention 
as time and opportunity may allow him ; though we must acknowledge that both are often so 
scanty as to render detection of any skilful fraud almost impossible. 
As regards the combs of the various breeds, our opinion has always coincided with those of 
Mr. Hewitt, as kindly expressed in the following remarks. We may add, however, that nearly 
all judges we are acquainted with consider the rose comb the only proper comb for a White 
Dorking ; and that our placing single combs in that variety amongst the List of Disqualifications 
will be found practically borne out by the judging at all important shows. 
“The author of the present work,” says Mr. Hewitt, “having requested me to give my opinion 
as regards the combs of the Dorking families, I comply, but admit willingly they are not entirely 
concurrent with those of some of the highly-esteemed colleagues with whom I have officiated ; I 
therefore append my reasons for holding them. In the general class of Grey Dorkings, I consider 
single or rose-combs equally admissible. In the Silver-grey Dorkings, I myself decidedly prefer 
the single comb, from the fact that rose-combed birds of either kind usually present a coarseness 
of character when compared with the others, that except in occasional instances is very conspicuous. 
In the Silver-grey hens the rose comb deprives them also of that jaunty appearance and high 
quality for which they are so generally admired. It is but rarely Silver-grey Dorkings with rose 
combs are now met with ; but a truly-feathered pen of this character took a number of prizes 
v some years back, alike under the decisions of several of our principal poultry -judges, and my own 
arbitration. In the White Dorkings, I confess, though opposed to the convictions of some whose 
opinions I highly value, I am not friendly to the single comb, simply because I never yet saw a 
pen possessing this characteristic that were not at the same time too agile and elastic in their gait 
and weedy in general conformation to accord with my notions of Dorking character.” 
Only one further general remark on judging Dorkings need be made. The Coloured variety 
has often been stated not to be a “ bird of colour,” and in Mr. Tegetmeier’s “ Standard ” many years 
ago none for colour were allowed. Later, when the earlier editions of this work were published, the 
dark colour had become almost imperative, and carried off most of the prizes. So far as colour 
alone had caused this preference, we always regretted it. It would be a distinct gain if even one 
breed could be judged, not by fancy points, but purely by table value, could such a standard only 
be maintained. But the history of the judging of Dorkings furnishes a somewhat curious comment 
