56 
HEN SHOW AND HEN FEVER. 
HEN SHOW AND HEN FEVER. 
In my letter of last evening, I promised you 
some further account of the crowing match now 
holding in the great Boston henroost, where I 
have spent the day; and now, after retiring to 
my own room, I will give you my reflections 
upon it. No opportunity was ever before afford¬ 
ed in America, for so extensive an examination 
and comparison of varieties, as are here exhib¬ 
ited. The number, as 1 stated last evening, is 
THE GREAT MALAY FOWL.— FlG. 9. 
variously estimated from 6,000 to 16,000. The 
secretary informs me that three fifths of the 
whole are those overgrown, overpuffed animals 
known as Shanghae, Chittagong, and Cochin- 
China birds, and pretty birds they are. Some 
of the first-named, are the most outlandish, ill- 
THE BANTAM FOWL.—FlG. 10. 
looking, unloveable of all living things I ever 
saw clothed in feathers—the Ardea minor, sand¬ 
hill crane, or turkey buzzard, not excepted. 
Observing a gentleman whom I recognised as 
a distinguished friend of all sorts of agricultural 
improvement, but dead set against humbug, 
busy with pencil and paper by the side, of a 
coop which contained one of these feather-leg¬ 
ged brutes—about the ugliest specimen in the 
whole lot, I took the liberty of introducing 
myself, and peeped over his shoulder while he 
drew the portrait of a fellow, which looked as 
though he might have been the paternal ances¬ 
tor of the original Shanghae family. After hav- 
Red Shanghae Cock.—Fig. 11. 
ing completed the drawing, which had a very life¬ 
like Shang-highish appearance, he gave an extra 
wink with his laughter-loving eye, as much as 
to say “what’s a cock without a name,” and 
wrote underneath the sketch, “ First premium 
Red Shanghae Cock. Weight entire , head , neck, 
legs , spurs and claws included , 11 lbs. .13 oz. Esti¬ 
mated weight, of body, 1 lb. 1£ oz.”!!! 
I enclose the sketch, which I hope you will 
