100 
THE POULTRY BOOK. 
wlieuever a large bird is found with a concave back, a straight instead of a full 
breast, with large yellow legs, and a short instead of a flowing tail, you may 
strongly suspect a trace of Cochin blood; the legs should be white, of proportionate 
length, and a fair distance apart, to allow of a good broad breast ; each foot should 
have five claws, the fifth being as distinct as any of the rest. The attitude should 
be erect and bold, the bird lively in its motion and appearing full of spirit. 
In breeding white Dorkings, one thing is essential to success, namely, a dry soil; 
if this is present, and they receive an ordinary amount of care, they will be found 
very prolific, fast growers, and easy to rear ; they are small eaters, good layers, 
and, though not laying to the same extent as the Cochins, their eggs are finer and 
more delicate ; as mothers they are excellent, taking great care of the young- 
chickens, and not forsaking them at so early an age as the Cochins. Their supe- 
riority for the table is so well, known, that it will be unnecessary to enlarge on that 
point.” 
With reference to the White Dorking as an exhibition bird, Mr. Hewitt 
remarks : — ‘‘ It is quite indispensable that the whole of the plumage throughout 
should be perfectly white, without any admixture whatever. The cocks often show 
a light lemon-coloured tinge on the neck-hackles, shoulders, and saddle-feathers ; 
but it is decidedly objectionable in an exhibition bird. They ought not to com- 
pete with Grey Dorkings in one class for premiums at our poultry shows, as 
they are generally far inferior in size to the darker varieties ; nor can I call to 
mind a single instance in which (both varieties being good) the supremacy was 
ever yet awarded to the White ones. Separate classes to each kind are therefore 
advisable. 
“ As to the combs of White Dorkings, I am myself a decided advocate for the 
so-called rosy or double comb, as being the only correct one ; although I am 
perfectly aware I differ from some few highly respected poultry judges in this 
particular. I have taken much trouble to ascertain the descent of two different 
lots of the flat or single combed ones that have come under my observation ; and 
in both instances found them obtained by an intermixture with the White Gam(^, 
although still retaining the additional posterior toe. I do not for a moment 
say this is always their derivation ; but the decreased size of the so-called 
* Dorking toe ’ in most of our White Dorkings, as exhibited in the present day, 
combined with the general change in character and conformation to that of a much 
more sparely built fowl than the coloured variety, favours strongly the conclusion. 
This cross improves the constitution of the offspring, but quite destroys their 
general character as White Dorkings.” 
The other crosses of the White Dorking do not call for any particular remark : 
the delicacy during chickenhood which is usually alleged against them might 
perhaps be equally well obviated by crossing with the White Cochin, and then 
carefully breeding back again to the Dorking for several generations, avoiding all 
blood relationship. This cross breeding, which has been extensively carried out in 
the case of the Coloured Dorking, would increase the size and hardihood ; but 
