THE POULTRY BOOK. 
57 
London News contained a spirited original picture of seven of the nine Grey 
Shanghae fowls which I had the honour to forward to Queen Victoria. The 
drawing was made by permission of the Queen, at the royal poultry-house, from 
life, by the celebrated artist Harrison Weir, and the engraving was admirably 
executed by Smytlie, of London. The effect in the picture was capital, and the 
likenesses very truthful. In reference to these birds, the Illustrated London 
News has the following : — 
“ ‘ Grey Shanghae Fowls for Her Majesty. — In the Illustrated London 
News for January 22nd, we described a cage of very choice domestic fowls, bred 
from stock imported by Mr. George P. Burnham, of Boston, Mass., direct from 
China, and presented by him to Her Majesty. We now engrave, by permission, 
these beautiful birds. They very closely resemble the breed of Cochin-Chinas 
already introduced into this country, the head and neck being the same ; the legs 
are yellow and feathered ; the carriage very similar, but the tail being more up- 
right than in the generality of Cochins. The colour is creamy white, slightly 
splashed with light straw-colour, with the exception of the tail, which is black, 
and the hackles, which are pencilled with black. The egg is the same colour 
and form as that of the Cochins hitherto naturalized in this country. These fowls 
are very good layers, and have been supplying the royal table since their reception 
at the poultry-house, at Windsor.” 
We have to express our obligation to the proprietors of the Illustrated London 
News for the permission to reproduce this engraving. 
The receipt of these birds was graciously acknowledged by the following 
letter : — 
Buckingham Palace, March 15, 1853. 
Dear Sir : I have received the commands of Her Majesty the Queen, to 
assure you of Her Majesty’s high appreciation for the kind motives which prompted 
you to forward for her acceptance the magnificent ‘ Grey Shanghae ’ fowls which 
have Deen so much admired at Her Majesty’s aviary at Windsor. 
“ Her Majesty has accepted, with great pleasure, such a mark of respect and 
regard, from a citizen of the United States, 
“ I have, by Her Majesty’s command, shipped in the ‘ George Carl,’ to your 
address, a case containing a portrait of Her Majesty, of which the Queen has 
directed me to request your acceptance. 
** I have the honour to be, 
** Sir, your ob’t and humble servant, 
** C. B. Phipps. 
“ To Geo. P. Burnham, Esq., 
Boston, U. S. A.” 
The portrait thus sent was that of Her Majesty in the robes of the Order of the 
Garter, and it was reproduced by Mr. George Burnham as the frontispiece to his 
book, in a style that was especially creditable to the Transatlantic wood engravers. 
