SlNGL E- C OMB ED ORPINGTONS. 
449 
is noteworthy, in addition to whatever good qualities it may possess, as being the only example 
so far. of any such attempt in England, with perhaps one partial exception. Some years ago 
Mr. Howard exhibited for two years in succession at Birmingham the results of an attempt to 
establish what he called a “farmyard” breed, under the name of “ Tankervilles.” These birds 
were founded on a cross between black-red Game and Partridge Cochins, and the plumage was of 
remarkable beauty ; but though hardy, the birds were not specially good from an economic 
point of view, and have since died out. Mr. Gabb also exhibited a few years since, in the 
Any Variety class, some Langshan cross-breds ; but these were too obviously merely raw crosses, 
and nothing further appeared to have been done with them. The Orpington remains the only 
new race which has been sufficiently bred to fix its properties in some degree, as well as produce 
them in the first place. 
The breed has been named from the little Kentish town which was at the time the residence 
of Mr. W. Cook, its originator, now of Orpington House, St. Mary Cray. The following notes 
are from his pen, and we are also indebted to him for the illustrations. It only seems desirable 
to preface to his own remarks that, according to other articles in various journals, the method 
employed by him in producing the Orpington was first to breed crosses between large Minorca 
cocks and black sports of the Plymouth Rocks (generally hens, as already observed). Selected 
pullets thus produced were bred with clean-legged Langshan cockerels ; and subsequent breeding 
was directed to selection, provision of unrelated strains, and fixing. 
“ These birds,” writes Mr. Cook, “ have become very popular during the three and a half years 
they have been before the public, and classes are now provided for them at all the leading shows : 
the Crystal Palace, Dairy, Birmingham, &c. They are the result of crossing the three best 
breeds which we possess : viz., the Plymouth Rock, Langshan, and Black Minorcas. My endeavour 
was to produce a breed which combines all the good qualities found in these several breeds. The 
Plymouth Rock have yellow skins; unless the stock are selected to avoid this. A yellow cast on 
the skin is only natural to them. They lay brown or tinted eggs, and are winter layers ; but it is 
somewhat difficult to produce true specimens from them, even when the greatest care is be- 
stowed. To breed good-coloured birds it is necessary to have two breeding pens, one for pullet 
and the other for cockerel breeding ;* and this is also the case with several other varieties if well- 
marked fowls are desired, to be fit for exhibition. This makes it very difficult for those who can- 
not afford to keep more than one pen. A fowl which has more than one colour in it is much 
more difficult to breed true than a self-coloured bird. The Black Orpington fills up the vacancy 
there has been in the poultry world. The Plymouth Rock has come the nearest to all-round 
requirements ; but this breed has several disadvantages where the Orpingtons have the advan- 
tage. They have white skin and flesh, the latter being very fine ; they eat much the same as the 
Dorking ; feather and grow faster the first six weeks, and are easier to breed true to colour ; are 
shorter on the legs, lay rather more eggs, and are not so liable to become fat internally ; neither 
are they such inveterate sitters as the Rocks. I have been asked by many to bring out a breed 
which would make a good table fowl and lay brown or tinted eggs, free from feathers on the legs, 
and plumage a colour that will not show the dirt, for town use : one that will stand confinement 
and lay through the winter months. The Orpingtons possess these qualities, and they have been 
found to answer my description in every detail by all who have tried them. 
“ The Americans have been well repaid for their trouble in producing new breeds • the sums 
* Some remarks on this head have been made on p. 436, where it has been shown that this is veiy much the result 
oi English methods. 
