THE POULTRY BOOK. 
85 
were both situate midway up the leg (between the knee and foot) , although the toes 
themselves were perfect. Grossly enlarged toes or feet are decided imperfections, 
and should be avoided in competition, although sometimes present in particularly 
good stock-birds. The dark greys are generally the most weighty hens in the hand, 
but from being more closely feathered deceive the eye ; my own conviction re- 
specting them is that they are naturally the most hardy in constitution. Abundant 
plumage tells favourably on Dorkings for exhibition, adding greatly to their ‘ square- 
ness ’ of appearance and size at first sight ; but, to be fairly judged, Dorkings 
must be handled. These fowls should not have heavy clumsy heads, but neat 
compact combs, moderate in size, whether rose or single; wattles neither 
coarse — loose, nor flabby ; the combs should stand well on the top of the 
head — a lounging heavy comb looking very unsightly, although too often (by far) 
seen among our first-class competitors. Condition is really all-important with Grey 
Dorkings for exhibition ; unless that is tolerably good, few fowls look so very 
disadvantageously as they do, nor do any, more generally disappoint the antici- 
pations of their owners. If frequently competing, they mostly lose both health 
and weight very rapidly, as they endure close confinement but indifferently. In the 
present day, when weight is considered a great desideratum, many Dorkings have 
been irretrievably spoiled from over-feeding, so as to be quite unserviceable after- 
wards for general and useful brood stock. 
In this state of undue obesity they cannot breed well. It should not, 
therefore, be encouraged by parties who wish rather to increase their stock than 
to make idle boast of the attainment of great weights in isolated individuals. 
Mention is often carefully withheld of the comparatively numerous instances in 
which apoplexy has been induced by over-feeding, and the folly of the owners has 
been repaid by the sudden death of highly valued specimens. No doubt the 
extreme delicacy of constitution now so universally complained of among 
Dorking chickens whilst young, is mainly attributable to the weakened stamina 
of their progenitors; and in support of this opinion I have invariably found 
that the less artificially they are reared, and the more generally the parent 
fowls are allow^ed to take their own course, the more rude health has been 
displayed by the offspring, and the quantity surviving has been increased in due 
proportion. 
Much controversy has been maintained respecting the most approved confor- 
mation of the combs in Grey Dorkings as exhibition fowls ; nor have either the rose 
or single combed specimens lacked strenuous supporters. Being essentially, beyond 
all others, the fowl for the table, I willingly acknowledge I have not any prejudice 
whatever in favour of either variety as regards this particular feature ; and will 
confine myself altogether to my own individual experience as to a striking difference, 
at once perceivable, in the generality of cases that have been placed before me at 
our various public poultry shows. 
The rose-combed fowls almost invariably maintain a superiority for strength 
of build and massive proportions ; but unfortunately this has, in the generality of 
