78 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
perfect in all other traits of character. Malays are especially prone to quarrel 
among themselves if closely confined, for which reason they not unfrequently prove 
most troublesome when penned for purposes of exhibition ; indeed, there are 
but few among our poultry- show committees who cannot look back with feelings of 
horror to the torn and mangled state of some pens thus entrusted to their care, 
although previously to their confinement the fowls were the best of friends, and 
sent in the first instance quite uninjured. From this peculiarity, and the fact 
that few entries are generally made in the Malay classes, some poultry exhibitions 
have been held where they have been altogether excluded from competition. But 
it is greatly to be regretted that prizes should be withheld from a variety of fowls 
that, despite some failings, are certainly not without many truly good qualities, 
besides being a perfectly distinct variety. 
^‘When full grown, Malays are unusually hardy fowls; and the quality of 
their eggs is very superior; they are, however, small in comparison to the 
size of the bird itself, and the extreme strength of the shell is remarkable. 
True-bred Malay chickens are very long in attaining their first feathers, from 
which cause they are somewhat easily chilled, and consequently are apt to become 
stunted and deformed, more particularly in the feet and legs. Although extremely 
long in the legs and thighs, these birds possess breasts, wings, and merry thoughts 
that surpass those of most fowls in the amount of flesh on them, and when 
the birds are killed at an early age the meat is of good flavour. But the chief 
advantage of the Malays is to be obtained by using them for cross-breeding with any 
other of our large varieties. The produce of the Malay and Grey Dorking is a 
most extraordinary table-fowl, carrying incredible quantities of flesh, principally 
in those parts most esteemed. The pullets of this cross lay far more freely than 
Malays, but the chickens (to maintain their gigantic proportions) must be confined 
strictly to the first cross. Chickens thus obtained feather quickly, are hardy, and 
very easily reared. The best cross is for the female parent to be the Dorking, as 
the body of the fowl thus bred is far larger, better covered with flesh, the colour of 
the skin is whiter, and the flavour superior. 
The cross-bred birds between the Malay and Cochin are not by any means so 
good for the table ; but excel the pure-bred Malays in the quantity of eggs they 
produce. 
There are many varieties of Malays, among which one of the most beautiful 
I have yet met with is the purely white. They possess all the characteristics of 
their darker-coloured associates ; but the striking contrast between their clear 
unsullied plumage, and intensely yellow beak and legs, brings them into very advan- 
tageous notice. I am told — although it is contrary to the general rule — that they are 
more easily reared than the dark-coloured ones. A most beautiful breed of Bed 
Piles is obtained by crossing the black-breasted red and the wdiite : their plumage 
is extraordinarily good, and by some amateurs they are highly esteemed. The 
bird called the Kulm fowl is simply a grey variety of Malay ; whilst the fowls that 
have frequently appeared of late at our poultry shows under the title of ‘ Indian 
