CAMPINES 



479 



The English type of Campine inckides both 

 Brackcl and Campine of Belgium, ignoring 

 their differences. It might be more accurate to 

 say we are producing a composite bird out of 

 these two, and in America they intend to do the 

 same, modifying our type slightly. 



The cockerel has a medium sized, even comb 

 with about five serrations, and the tip slightly 

 following but standing clear of the nape of the 

 neck. It should be fine, even, and upright 

 without a thumb-mark in front, wide enough to 

 be well set, and yet not so beefy as to appear 

 ugly or to interfere with the comfort of th, 

 bird. The wattles are medium-sized and ol 

 fine texture. The earlobe satin white, smooth, 

 not wrinkled, of moderate size ; the beak 

 should be horn colour and the eye black 

 (though the iris is often dark brown). The neck 

 hackle is silvery white, and should be as full 

 and flowing as possible. The rest of the boch' 

 is barred ; the black bar should be about three 

 times at least as wide as the white ground 

 colour, the latter being wide enough to be seen 

 at a distance, and not a cobweblike markiiiL: 

 visible only when handled. The black should 

 be pure black, free from grey and covered with 

 a beautiful green sheen, which makes the bird 

 (of a naturally gay carriage) look resplendent 

 in the sunshine. The idea is that the markings 

 should suggest rings round the body, the geo- 

 metrical regularity being broken by the 

 rounded white bar at the end of the feather. 

 In the hen the comb may fall over, but 

 should not be so large as to interfere with the 

 bird's comfort. At the base of the comb of the 

 female there is often a bluish zone. This is 

 due to a pigment termed "negresse," and which 

 is responsible for the delicate flavour of the 

 Campine. The colour of the legs is leaden 

 blue with horn toenails. 



In England we have only the Silver and 

 Gold Campines, but in Belgium they have some 

 other varieties. The description of the Silver 

 applies to the Gold, substituting gold ground 

 colour for white. 



Qualities. — The Campine is primarily a pro- 

 lific layer of a large white egg, and it is more 

 an " all the year round " layer than one who 

 lays heavily at a certain season. As a table 

 bird it is excellent in quality, and it has the 

 merit of carrying the greater part of its flesh 

 on the breast. It is small in bone, and conse- 

 quently the ratio of flesh to offal is higher than 

 in any other breed. Judged by weight only, 

 it is not big enough for a table bird ; but weight 

 should not be the only consideration, as two 

 Campine cockerels weighing 8 lbs. would feed 

 more people and more satisfactorily than an 



8 lb. cockerel, as weight means bone, which is 

 expensive to build and useless on the table. 



Campine cockerels are useful for crossing, 

 as they improve the number and size of eggs, 

 the quality of the flesh and the amount of 

 meat on the breast. They also improve the 

 hardiness of the progeny and the quickness 

 with which they mature for market. 



The weight of the c%'g is not less than 2 

 ozs., and ranges between 2 ozs. and 2 J ozs. 

 The colour is pure white and the flavour is 

 delicate. Mr. Edward Brown in his " Report 



Silver Campine Hen. 



on the Poultry Industry in Belgium," says (on 

 page 38), " The claim is made, however, that 

 eighteen Braekel eggs give equal results in 

 cake-making to twenty-two from any other 

 breed." 



Campines are non-sitters. They are excel- 

 lent foragers and find a great deal of their 

 living on a free range. They are small eaters. 

 They are tame birds, not at all shy or wild, 

 they crowd round the attendant and impede his 

 progress ; if frightened they certainly can fly, 

 but don't do so as a rule. 



The chickens hatch out strong and are easily 

 reared and feather quickly. They are very 

 active. Care should be taken not to allow them 



