38 
erated race compared with the improved Sussex breed. The feature in 
which this bird is most popular is its table qualities. The flesh is white 
and very delicate in texture. It is claimed by many to equal if not 
excel the French varieties. The broad, deep, and projecting breast of 
the Dorking admirably fits it for table purposes, and in this respect it 
is conceded by some to rival the Indian Games. As layers the Dork¬ 
ings are good, and are careful sitters and attentive mothers. They 
are profitable and splendid fowls for the farm. 
There are three varieties of Dorkings—the White, Silver Gray, and 
Colored. The White Dorking is really the purest blooded of the three, 
as for years this was the only variety which produced invariably the 
fifth toe, although the Colored and Silver Gray varieties seldom fail to 
breed this peculiarity. In color the White Dorking is of clear, unblem¬ 
ished, glossy white. The comb and wattles are a bright scarlet red : 
the legs are either white or a delicate flesh color. 
Silver Gray Dorkings are beautiful in plumage. The head of the cock 
is silvery white; hackle, silvery white, as free from stripes as possible; 
comb, face, ear lobes, and wattles, bright red; beak, horn color or 
white; eye, orange; breast, thigh, and under parts, black; back, 
shoulder coverts, saddle, and wing bow, pure silvery white; coverts, 
greenish black; primaries, black, edged with white; secondaries, part 
of outer web forming wing bay, white; remainder of feathers forming 
wing butt, black; tail, greenish glossy black; legs, feet, and toe nails, 
white. Tlie eye, beak, comb, face, wattles, legs, feet, and toe nails of 
the hen are the same as in the cock; head, silvery white, with slight 
gray markings; hackle, silvery white, clearly striped with black; breast, 
rich robin red or salmon red, shading off to gray in the lower parts; back, 
shoulder coverts, saddle, wing bow, and wing coverts, bright silver 
gray, with minute pencilings of darker gray on each feather, the shafts 
ot' the feathers, white; primaries, gray or black; secondaries, gray; 
tail, gray, of a darker shade than body; quill feathers, black. 
Colored Dorkings differ from the others only in color, the general 
color of the male being black and straw color, while the female is 
marked with black and mixed gray, with breast of dark salmon edged 
with black. The combs of Dorkings differ in the three varieties; the 
White has a rose comb, Silver Grays have single combs, and Colored 
Dorkings may have either single or rose combs, but single is preferred. 
The standard weights for Dorkings differ. The weights for Whites 
are: Cocks, pounds; hens, G pounds; cockerels, G£ pounds; and 
pullets, 5 pounds. Silver Grays: Cocks, 8 pounds; liens, GJ pounds; 
cockerels, 7 pounds; and pullets, pounds. Colored: Cocks, 9 
pounds; hens, 7 pounds; cockerels, 8 pounds; and pullets, G pounds. 
PIT GAMES. 
The Game fowl is one of the most interesting varieties of domestic 
poultry. Its origin and history are seemingly linked with all topics 
concerning poultry and its origin, and even to this day the Game 
