The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-06
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Origin ofihe Different breeds of ID o.
mestic Fowls.

mestic Fowls.
1t is well known that different countries
have their peculiar breeds, which generally
take their name from the place they inhabit,
or from which they were imported. or from
some peculiar appendage, formation or char
acteristic of them; as the Dorkings, from
Dorking, in England; the Houdains. (pro-
nounced Houdans), from Houdain, in France;
the Black Spanish, or, as they are called, ev-
erlasting layers, from Spain; the Polands,
from Poland the Shanghas. in China: the
Buff and the Partridge Cochin Chinas. from
Cochin China; the Siberia or Russian fowls.
from Russia. the Malays or Chitigongs, from
the Malay Islands, the Javas, from the Is.
land OF Java; the Columbians, from Columb-
ia, in South America: the Barbarys, from
Barbary the Dutch fowls, or everyday lay
ers, from Holland-so named from their per-
sistency in laying and disinclination to set;
the Bolton grays and bays, from Bolton, in
England, the former known also as the Chit
teprats Tor Chiterprats) or Moonies the Sus-
sex fowls, from Sussex county, in Eug'aad;
Guelders from the province of Guelder-
land, in Holland, and from Belgium the friz-
zled fowls, from Java and Eastern Asia; the
Shakebag, sometimes called Shakbag, or
Duke Of. Leeds towl-a large parti.colored
fowl with black crest, supposed to be a
cross with a game fowl. They were cele-
cock-pits, where their owners shook the bag
containing them as banter to the owners OF
the other fighting fowls and hence thew
were nicknamed Shakebags. The negro fowl
from Africa, distinguished for its black comb,
wattles, skin, bones, and feathers, though
the flesh is white and tender, but being I'M
calmly in appearance and without profitable
qualities cross between it and other fowls is
deteriorating, and hence they are not desir-
able inmates in the poultry yard; the barn
yard or dunghill fowls are the offspring of
promiscuous crossings of the Malay, Dorking,
Poland, Spanish, and other fowls. DR..
Bechstein enumerated eight distinct varieties
of them, viz, the small-combed, the crown
ed, silver colored, chamois. colored, slate blue,
ermine like, widow, with tearlike spots on
black ground, fire and stone colored. Cross
ings with more recently imported breeds have
added to these varieties. The Dominique or
Dominica fowls, are supposed so be from the
Island of Dominica, in the West Indies, but
are ranked with our native breeds and are
superior breeders; Leghorns, from Leghorn.
in Italy Creve Occurs, from France; silky
fowls, from China and Japan-remarkable
for the silky texture of their plumage; Ham,
burgs, from Hamburg, in Germany, with
number OF varieties, including gold and silver
penciled Hamburgs; Brahmas, or Bramah
Pootra or Burranpootra river there; pleas
ant Malay fowls, from the Malay Islands,
are said 10 be cross. between the pheasant Of
the woods and the domestic fowls, but never
reach second generation; creepers, very
small variety Of the bantams, with short legs;
the creepy is probably cross with the Siber-
ian or Russia fowl, which has also short legs;
the jumper, mentioned by Button, is another
Of those diminutive races, and are so short
legged that they are compelled to PROCESS by
jumping instead of stepping. Pumpkins, or
tailless fowls, are supposed to be a distinct
species, and are acknowledged to have dse-
cended from the wild breed OF Ceylon.-Gen.
G. W. Patton, in ElnairG Husbandnaan.