domestic state generation after generation for several thousand years, in one country or another, should have branched out into many varieties, will not be surprising-perhaps rather it is surprising that it has not undergone more changes. The varieties, however, are sufficiently numerous, every country having some peculiar to itself, and every breeder founding crosses according to his own fancy-to say nothing of those resulting from accidental intermixture in Europe and in our own country. It is to the principal of these varieties only, in their

VALUE IN AN ECONOMICAL POINT OF VIEW,

that I shall pay any further attention; nor from the limits of this little treatise, shall I be able to dwell at much length upon them at that.

In the size of our domestic fowls; in the color and quality of their skin and plumage; in the form of the tail, or its utter absence; in the form of the comb; in the presence or absence of a plume or crest on the head; in the number of the toes; in disposition; and in the qualities of the hens as layers or sitters, differences more or less striking are universally to be found. Yet, amidst all these modifications, the characters of the genus are rigidly preserved.

Let us take, then, the serrated upright fleshy comb, to be the typical distinction of the cock-a feature which Aristotle has pointedly indicated, as well as Columella and others of more modern date. The sickle feathers of the tail are perhaps equally characteristic of the genus, but they differ little in the respective varieties. Neither mark nor distinction has, it is true, any functional office in the organization of the animal; but it would be difficult to find one which had. In the Spanish fowl, the comb is more developed than in any other breed; we will therefore take that bird as our type, and suggest, with diffidence, the following pro tempore arrangement :

SYNONYMES.-Gallus gallinaceus, of Naturalists; Gallo andaluz, of the Spaniards; Minorcas, in North Devon, in England Portugal Fowl, Spanish Fowl, Bluck Spanish Fowl, of the English and Anglo-Americans.

This is a noble race of fowls, possessing many great merits; of spirited and animated appearance, of considerable size, excellent for the table, both in whiteness of flesh and skin, and also in flavor, being juicy and tender, and laying exceedingly large eggs, in considerable numbers. Amongst birds of its own breed, it is not deficient in courage; though it yields without showing much fight to those which have a dash of game blood in their veins. It should be a general favorite in all large cities, for the additional advantage that no soil of smoke or dirt is apparent on its plumage.

The thorough-bred birds of the fancy should be entirely black, as far as feathers are concerned, and when in high condition display a greenish metallic lustre. The combs of both cock and hen are exceed

ingly large, of a vivid and most brilliant scarlet, that of the hen drooping over on one side. Their most singular feature is a large white patch, or ear lobe, on the cheek, of a fleshy substance, similar to the wattles, which are small in the hens, but large and very conspicuous in the cocks. This marked contrast of black, bright-red, and white, makes the head of the Spanish cock as handsome as that of any other variety; and in the genuine breed, the whole form is equally good; but the scraggy, long-legged, mis-shapen mongrels are often met with enough to throw discredit on the whole race. Some birds are occasionly produced handsomely streaked with red on the hackles and back. This is no proof of bad breeding, if other points are right.

Spanish hens are also of large size and good figure, and are celebrated as good layers, producing very large, quite white eggs, of a peculiar shape, being very thick at both ends, and yet tapering off a little at each. They are by no means good mothers of families, even when they do sit, which they will not often condescend to do, proving very careless, and frequently trampling half their brood underfoot. But the inconveniences of this habit are easily obviated by causing the eggs to be hatched by some more motherly hen.

It has been noticed that this variety of fowl frequently loses nearly all the feathers on the body, besides the usual quantity on the neck, wings, and tail; and if they moult late, and the weather is severe, they feel it much. Nothing else can reasonably be expected to take place with an "everlasting layer." It often happens to the Guinea fowl; and the reason of it is plain. If the system of a bird is exhausted by the unremitting production of eggs, it cannot contain within itself the wherewithal to supply the growth of feathers. The stream that will fill but one channel cannot be made to keep two at high-water mark; and therefore, Mr. Leonard Barber, an English author, justly observes: "With regard to an anxiety about

their constant laying, in my opinion nature ought not to be forced, as it requires a rest.” But some people think it cannot be right if their hens do not lay every day.

It is doubtful whether they would readily become acclimatized in the northern part of the United States, for continued frost, at any time, much injures their combs; frequently causing mortification in the end, which has terminated in death. A warm poultry house, high feeding, and care that the birds do not remain too long exposed to severe weather, are the best means of preventing this disfigurement.

The chicks are large, as would be expected from such eggs, entirely shining black, except a pinafore of white on the breast, and a slight sprinkling under the chin, with sometimes also a little white round the beak and eyes; legs and feet black. They do not get perfectly feathered till they are three fourths grown; and, therefore, to have these birds come to perfection, it is preferable to have them hatched early in spring, so that they may get well covered with plumage before the cold autumnal rains.

The black, however, is not the only valuable race of Spanish fowls, although certain London dealers, who have no right to offer an opinion, if they do not choose to give information on the subject, presume to affirm that there can be no such breed as 66 speckled Spanish," it being characteristic of that breed to be perfectly black. Still there are some breeds, in Spain, closely allied to these, which are of a blue, grey, or a slaty color. Their growth is so rapid, and their eventual size so large, that they are remarkably slow in obtaining their feathers. Although well covered with down when first hatched, they look almost naked when half-grown, and should, therefore, be hatched as early in the spring as possible.

The cross between the pheasant-Malay and the Spanish produces a particularly handsome fowl, and probably very much resembling the old Hispanic type.

SYNONYMES.-Gallus pentadactylus (?), Temminck; Le Coq et la Poule à cinq doigts (?), of Buffon; Das Funfzehiger Huhn (?), of Bechstein; Dorkings, Speckled Dorkings, of the English and Anglo-Americans.

For those who wish to stock their poultry yards with fowls of most desirable shape and size, clothed in rich and variegated plumage, and, not expecting perfection, are willing to overlook one or two other points, the Dorkings are the breed, above all others to be selected. They are larger-bodied, and of better proportions, according to their size, than any other variety I have yet seen, their bodies being rather long, plump, and well-fleshed; and the breeder, as well as the housewife, generally beholds with delight their short legs, full, broad breasts, little waste in offal, and the

* So called from Dorking, a town in Surrey, England, which brought them into modern repute.