4S6 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



recognised as the correct type. We could under- 

 stand deliberate preference for really good 

 round spangling ; but the marking here referred 

 to has not been that ; it has been very poor, 

 irregular, imperfect tipping of the feathers, not 

 even a regular crescentic spangling, and every 

 breeder whom we have asked, has admitted it 

 as a fault. No doubt this has partly been due 

 to lack of breeders, and consequently of blood, 

 and of any encouragement at poultry shows. 

 But the reason is far more to be found in the 

 too great disregard of marking, and practically 

 matching birds together solely for crest. This 

 may have been a necessity, since crest has been 

 the chief point in judging. But good lacing 

 is never an easy marking to breed ; and if it be 

 really neglected in competition with some other 

 point, it must inevitably suffer, as it has done 

 here. The need of care, and the evil which 

 may follow any return to a bad spangling, is 

 curiously illustrated by an experience related in 

 a letter to us from the Rev. G. J. Horner. The 

 Golden Polish that came to him from his father, 

 the late Dr. Horner, were spangled. Dr. Horner 

 preferring that style. These birds soon gave 

 him offspring devoid of all marking, so that 

 he had some difficulty in breeding the stock up 

 again. Such a result shows clearly the necessity 

 for keeping up a really good and correctly 

 laced marking. 



Good crests must of course be selected, 

 especially in the cocks, and crest may also be 

 cultivated to some extent by breeding only from 

 old birds on both sides, a plan pursued by 

 the late Mr. Sylvester. But if Spangled Polish 

 are ever to reach again even the standard of 

 marking formerly attained, more care nmst be 

 bestowed upon lacing in comparison with crest ; 

 the standard of perfection being the Chamois 

 variety next mentioned, which in accuracy and 

 beauty of marking is far superior. Birds must 

 be selected whose lacing is sharp and cleanly 

 cut, and as even as possible all round the 

 feather; and in particular, cocks whose breast- 

 feathers do not run out of lacing up the sides. 

 Slightly dark markings are generally to be 

 preferred, as in other cases, except that birds 

 with the narrowest tipping in proportion to the 

 lacing at the sides of the feather, should be 

 specially valued. As a rule a cock with rather 

 grey or peppered tail, breeds better laced 

 chickens than a white-tailed one. There is 

 no necessity for mating up two pens. While 

 old birds on both sides generally breed the 

 largest crests, a cockerel very often breeds the 

 largest and most vigorous chickens. 



Newly hatched chickens of the Spangled 

 breeds are a smudgy grey or smudgy brown 



respectively, the darker ones being usually the 

 best marked when moulted out. The first or 

 chicken feathers are very indistinct and patchy, 

 and it is only in the full plumage that the 

 character and beauty of the marking can be 

 seen. Except in the gradual appearance of 

 more white in the crests, the plumage generally 

 improves with age for at least several years. 



Another most beautiful variety, obviously 

 allied to the Golden in the same way as 

 Piles are allied to Black-breasted Red Game, 



and probably produced originally, 

 Chuoois or though generations ago, by crossing 

 Polish. Golden Spangled with White, is 



known as the Chamois or Buff 

 Laced Polish, in which the black lacing is re- 

 placed by white, but of much greater sharpness 

 and perfection. In regard to the points and 

 breeding of this variety we need add nothing to 

 the following article, kindly contributed by 

 Mr. R. Gordon, Cheviot Cottage, Leven, N.B., 

 but we would call special attention to what is 

 there stated regarding its hardiness. This is 

 a striking proof of the difference between 

 strong foreign blood, nourished by stock widely 

 prevalent, and some present worn-out strains 

 of Polish. The beauty and perfection of 

 the lacing is also a proof that care for all the 

 points, instead of breeding for crest alone, 

 produces the best result in the end, even from 

 a fancier's point of view. 



" All varieties of Polish are beautiful, but 

 the Buff-laces are truly visions of loveliness. 

 Imagine the cock, a noble upstanding bird, 

 crowned with a voluminous but symmetrical 

 crest, and with ample muffling on cheeks and 

 throat ; a well-curved neck clad with lustrous 

 plumage of orange-buff hue ; back and wing-bow 

 a shade deeper in colour, and saddle matching 

 the hackles of the neck. Side hangers and 

 tail rich buff, each feather sharply margined 

 with white. Breast, wing-bars, and fluffy feathers 

 at side of thigh all rich buff, every feather 

 narrowly but most distinctly laced with pure 

 white. The whole plumage of the hen is one 

 uniform shade of orange-buff, every feather from 

 crest to tail being laced with white. In the cock 

 the crest is solid buff, but in the hen is fully 

 laced, and is always at its best the first year. 

 Comb and wattles are almost rudimentary in 

 both sexes. Legs are clear blue, and beaks of a 

 light skin colour. Add to this a sprightly gaiety 

 of movement which seems to characterise these 

 fowls when at liberty, and it can well be imagined 

 that when disporting themselves on a green- 

 sward a picture of surpassing lovelicess is pre- 

 sented to the beholder. 



