POULTRY, from the French poulet. The term includes all the domesticated birds reared for the table ; fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, and Guinea fowls.
Powls.—" The strong and ambulatorial feet of the gallinaceous birds adapted to the region where they chiefly resort for their food and the purposes of incubation ; their toes and nails peculiarly formed for scratching up the grains and seeds which constitute the main part of their subsistence ; their short wings and the weakness of their pectoral muscles, which cause the heaviness of their flight, a deficiency which is counterbalanced by the strength of those muscles of the thighs and legs that contribute to their powers of running; their gregarious, and, generally speaking, polygamous habits : the ease with which they are domesticated; their wholesome flesh ; together with many striking peculiarities in their anatomy, serve equally to distinguish them." (Vigors, Linnean Transactions,' p. 402.) Some foreign varieties have not even the rudiment of a tail, while others are distinguished by it. The game cock, which is probably a native of India, though for many centuries established in England, has an unusual length of spur, his natural weapon of combat. The flesh of this variety is delicately white and of the finest flavour, the plumage brilliant, and the form symmetrical ; but from their pugnacious temper there is great difficulty in rearing even those of the same brood; and for companionship with the general inmates of the fowl-yard they are very exceptionable for the same cause. So pugnacious however are the males of almost every variety, that they will spur even before their spurs are grown. For the natural history and peculiarities of the various varieties, we refer to PlIASIANID/E, Gallus, in NAT. HIST. DIV. : we shall merely notice in this place the kinds suited to the purposes of the farmer.
The best breed of the gallinaceous fowls is the produce of the Dorking (Surrey) cock and the common dunghill fowl. This cress is larger and plumper, and more hardy than the pure Dorking, without losing delicacy of flavour or whiteness of flesh.
The characteristics of the pure Dorking are, that it is white-feathered, short-legged, large-bodied, and a fair layer. The peculiarity of this
established variety, which has frequently five claws perfectly articulated (with sometimes a sixth springing laterally from the fifth, but always imperfect), is well known. The crossing with the Sussex fowl has however greatly diminished the monstrosity in the Surrey pentadactylus variety. But though the true Dorking, which is white, is much esteemed, that colour is rare, and prized for the ornament of the poultry-yard : speckled colours are most generally seen with the higgler.
The Poland breed, which is bluck-feathered, with white topknots, lays well, and is highly desirable where the production of eggs for the table is the principal object ; but they seldom sit, though they cannot be considered long-legged.
The Chittagong, or Malay, which is a very large Indian variety, is generally long-legged, with yellow body and coarse yellow flesh.
Fanciers used to like them for their fine appearance and their large eggs ; but as their long legs incapacitate them from steady sitting, they are not general favourites. One of our practical acquaintances recom mends the male produce of the Poland and Chittagong as a good cross with the common dunghill hen, as their progeny will sit.
The Cochin China fowl, brown or buff coloured, is a large shorter legged bird, a constant layer, and brought largely into use of late years : its eggs are small. The Spanish or black fowl is also a constant layer of large eggs. The following ou the characteristics of poultry is from the pen of a writer in a journal which has now ceased to exist, the ` Poultry Chronicle : ' 1. Game Powls.—Elegant and compact in appearance, hardy in con stitution, excellent caterers for themselves, good layers of delicious eggs, excellent mothers and rearers of progeny, chickens unsurpassed in flavour when dressed. The solo drawback to this prince of breeds is their disposition to fight ; but I cannot say that this amounts to much, as during the time I kept them, I lost but four or five chickens from this cause.