DOMESTIC POULTRY. 
We Lave here a group of the British Domestic Poultry, all of which are 
supposed to have descended from the Bankiva Jungle-fowl. 
Towards the top, and on the left hand, may be seen some examples of the 
famous Cochin Eowl, whose enormous size and ungainly appearance took England 
so completely by storm some few years ago. 
In the centre are a pair of the well-known game birds, formerly trained for 
fighting, but were kept on account of its good qualities as a domestic fowl. Even 
without training, it is very quarrelsome, and can attack and defend better than 
any other kind of fowl. So superior is it to the ordinary breeds in these respects, 
that I have seen a little old one-eyed Game-cock cut down, as if with a sword, a 
great swaggering barn-door cock that looked as if it could have killed its puny 
antagonist with a blow, and eaten him afterwards. 
There seem to be no limits to the courage of the Game-cock, which will attack 
not only his own kind, but any other creature that may offend him. 
Just below the game bird is seen an odd-looking fowl, with a head so covered 
with a monstrous plume of drooping feathers that its features are not more dis- 
cernable than those of a skye-terrier under his thick hair. This wealth of plumage 
seems, however, to impoverish the brain, for the large-crested Polish fowls are 
generally stupid birds, and apt to meet with accidents which might easily be 
avoided. 
On the opposite side of the plate is the Spanish fowl, a very fine variety, glossy 
black, with a very large comb, and notable for the white naked skin below the 
ear. It is a very large breed, coming next in size to the Cochin China, and very 
far surpasses that large but upcouth bird in the symmetry of its form. The flesh 
of this breed is excellent, and as the hens are regular layers, these birds are 
deservedly favourites among poultry owners. 
On the foreground of the plate are some examples of those birds whose many 
excellencies have rendered a town famous. These are the Dorking Eowls, short- 
legged, round-bodied, plump -fleshed, and remarkable for having at least one, and 
sometimes two supplementary toes. These useful birds are mostly to be found in 
Surrey and Kent, the northern and marshy districts not suiting them. The 
Dorking Eowls are excellent for the table, their flesh being peculiarly plump and 
white, and the hens are remarkably prolific layers. 
Lastly comes the odd, quaint, opiniated little Bantam, with its feathered legs, 
full breast, and bold fearless carriage. This minikin member of the poultry tribe 
is, despite his small dimensions, as bold as any of them, and if he thinks himself 
aggrieved will attack a great Cochin China or Spanish cock with spirited audacity. 
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