Scotch Greys. 
457 
SCOTCH GREYS.— This is a very useful breed of fowls, closely resembling the American 
Dominique in shape and plumage, and, in fact, only differing from it in having an upright single 
comb instead of rose, and mottled pinky-white instead of yellow legs. It is hardly so good a layer, 
perhaps, as the American fowl, but very satisfactory and hardy. The average weights may betaken 
as about eight to nine pounds for the cocks and six or seven pounds for the hens. 
The breed is often called the “ Scotch Dorking,” resembling the Cuckoo Dorking in all but 
the fifth toe. It can be thoroughly recommended as a most useful breed, being exceedingly hardy, 
laying well, sitting closely about once in a season, and the meat being good. When comparing this 
fowl with the Dorking, however, a trained eye will see clear differences in formation. While the 
Dorking is heavy and massive, the Scotch Grey is of much more light and sprightly contour, with 
something of the (old-fashioned) Gamey style about it. Scotch fanciers attach much importance to 
the preservation of this, the “ true type,” as distinguished from the Dorking model, and state that 
such birds are always much hardier, which is likely. 
The plumage of the Scotch Grey should resemble that already described of the Plymouth 
Rock, and with the same remarks as to evenness of marking all over, the tail of the cock especially 
being free from white, brassy, and black feathers. There is a similar tendency to run rather more 
dark and cloudy in the hens, though not to the same extent, owing to the absence of any recent 
black blood ; and owing to this, we think, on the whole, that the plumage of some Scotch Greys we 
have seen approaches nearer to the ideal. The cock’s comb is large and single, the hen’s usually 
falls over; the deaf-ears should be brilliant red, no exception being allowed. The legs are white, 
more or less mottled with dark colour, somewhat as in a Houdan. There have been some attempts 
to insist on the legs being all white as in Dorkings, but this is not really natural to the breed, and 
has been so far successfully resisted. Plumage, size, and symmetry are the main points in judging. 
Considerable improvement has taken place in all these points of late years. At one time white 
feathers were frequently seen in birds exhibited at Scotch shows, but these would be discarded 
now, while the birds have also gained perceptibly in size and symmetry. 
The Scotch Grey is a most useful fowl, especially for cold situations, being extremely hardy. 
It does not rank amongst the first-rate layers in point of numbers, its average being probably 
about ioo eggs per annum, at least in its cold northern home ; these eggs are, however, of 
decidedly above the average size. It is a very moderate eater, and altogether a good and profitable 
fowl for the farm in exposed situations. It is not at all adapted for confinement, and when penned 
up is rather addicted to feather-eating. For its own circumstances, and where both eggs and 
chickens are desired, the Scotch Grey is probably unrivalled. 
SILKY FOWLS. — The peculiar appearance of the Silky fowl would naturally attract 
attention from a very early date, and we accordingly find various old naturalists, besides our 
never-failing Aldrovandus, who describe fowls which, instead of feathers, are covered with wool, 
or, as others express it, " with hair like cats.” Later on these accounts were thought fictitious, 
and Willoughby and Ray expressly declare them to be unworthy of credence ; but it is somewhat 
singular to remark how many of the so-called “incredible” tales of old travellers and naturalists 
have been vindicated by a Little more knowledge from the supercilious aspersions of even the most 
learned men, who have taken upon them to reject all alleged facts which did not fall within their 
own limited experience, or were contrary to their pet theories. Such a remark may have its moral 
even in the present day. 
Yet truly the Silky is a strange fowl. The soft and flossy appearance of the plumage, which 
fudy justifies the oid descriptions which have come down to us, are not the only points of difference. 
2 N 
