86 
THE POULTBY BOOK. 
cases, been combined with a uniform coarseness of character, that told fearfully 
against them on the prize-lists. Still, this serious drawback is not universally 
prevalent ; the rose-combed birds readily produce single ones, and vice versa ; but 
the desired character may be pretty closely perpetuated by carefully breeding for 
successive generations from either one of these varieties exclusively. For the reason 
before assigned, the rose-combed Grey Dorkings show to most advantage during 
their first year, compared with their condition when advanced in age. For the 
guidance of any inexperienced exhibitor, it is well to mention that the rule is 
strictly imperative that all the fowls in the same pen must be alike as to combs ; 
for unless this be so, however good in other respects, their defeat is certain and 
inevitable.” 
Some few years since, the exhibitors of coloured Dorkings were startled by the 
remarkable size and character of the birds of this variety bred by Mr. Douglas, 
at the Wolseley Aviaries. At the present time Mr. Douglas is in charge of the 
aviaries of the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber ; and we have lately visited that 
establishment in order to ascertain the method of management which formerly 
resulted in so great a measure of success. Mr. Douglas, who is universally 
recognized as one of the highest authorities on this breed, has kindly favoured us 
with the following notes on the characters and general management of this 
variety : — 
In selecting my brood stock, I look for massiveness in all quarters rather than 
for a neat head or short beak, choosing birds with strong backs, and long straight 
deep breast-bones ; considering Dorkings entirely as table-fowl, I think it is 
more important that they should have straight breasts than any other variety 
shown. Looking at Dorkings from this point, there ought to be as much 
difi’erence in point of shape between them and game-fowl, as there is betw^een a 
cart-horse, with his large head, deep loins, and capacious chest, and a race- 
horse, with fine neat frame and slender limbs. The colour in Dorkings, except 
in the silver grey variety, is not material ; but I have found the dark colour 
the most hardy and heaviest fleshed, having once had a cock of that colour 
weighing 14 Jib. at two years, and several hens 111b. each. With regard to 
the general characters of the brood stock, I will describe those of the two 
sexes separately, beginning with the male. The cocks may be either single or 
rose combed. The single comb should be erect ; but a slight lop at the upper 
part is not so great a drawback as in a Spanish ; therefore, if all other points are 
well developed, I consider it but a slight defect. The rose-combed cocks should 
have their combs well and firmly set on their heads, square in front, level in 
the spikes, and forming a peak or point at the back of the head. The head in 
the Dorking, though not coarse, should be large, to correspond with the size of the 
body. The wattles should be broad and fine, and neatly rounded on the lower side. 
The neck should be long, stout, and profusely hackled with long feathers, but there 
should not be any thickness commencing a few inches from the head and forming a 
sort of shoulder in about the middle of the hackle. The breast should be very 
