234 
THE POULTKY BOOK, 
they proved invariably silver-hackled ; the body, too, had a somewhat freckled 
appearance, and they were not feather-legged ; the colour of the legs was 
white. It was, therefore, next to impossible to detect their actual lineage by 
the eye, more particularly as they stood somewhat higher on the legs than 
the old Cochin mother. In the other case the Dumpy was crossed with a very 
superior darkly- feathered robin-breasted Gray Dorking hen. This cross was 
exceedingly satisfactory ; the chickens were very neat, cleanly-looking birds, 
no way reduced in actual size from that of their Dorking parent, but rendered 
much lower on the leg ; from their extraordinary dumpiness, they did not 
look as heavy as they really were, but an appeal to the scales told immensely 
to their advantage. Many possessed the additional Dorking toe, and showed 
a very close approach to the most form of this variety, but they lacked apparent 
size ; it was on handling that their great weight became evident. Their 
plumage was an irregularly speckled, and even the second cross with the 
Dorking did not materially diminish this eyesore. They did not lay any- 
thing like so well, nor did they prove of the strong rude health that cha- 
racterized the half-bred Cochins. They laid but very little better than Dorkings. 
Divested of their feathers they were specimens worthy of any board, and this 
characteristic constituted their great advantage.” 
A few years since, Dumpies very frequently made their appearance in the 
‘‘Variety Class” at the poultry shows, but lately they have gone out of fashion, at 
least in England, and we have not seen a good pen exhibited for some time. 
BED CAPS. 
At some of the shows in the North of England, prizes are offered for Kedcaps, 
in addition to those for Golden- spangled Hamburghs, with w^hich the Eedcaps are 
often said to be identical. In some localities these birds are highly valued as 
profitable fowls and abundant egg producers, and we have seen nearly thirty pens 
entered for competition at a Yorkshire show. 
The chief points in which Redcaps differ from Spangled Hamburghs are in 
size, in combs, and in markings. In size they very greatly excel the usual 
Hamburghs, being as large and compact as ordinary Dorkings ; and in markings 
they want the regularity and beauty of spangle so characteristic of Golden 
Mooney and Pheasant fowls, being much darker on the breast and other parts. 
The most striking difference, however, is in the extraordinary development of comb ; 
this is increased in size to so great a degree, that the combs of the hens are much 
larger than those of the ordinary Hamburgh cocks, even when at their greatest 
size. So enormous are they, that it is almost impossible for them to balance on 
the skull, and they constantly lop over to One side. This, however, is not 
regarded as a serious defect by the amateurs of the breed, their aim being to 
produce combs that are of extreme size, square in front, well spiked, and peaked 
behind ; in fact, a rose comb, immensely magnified. The cocks not unfrequently 
possess combs upwards of three inches in breadth at the front, and more than four 
