DUTCH FOWLS. 



foot. The plumage is similar to that of Black- 

 red Game in the cocks, but very dark in hens. 

 The head is strong, with a small single comb, 

 e}-e red, and face covered with fine feathers. 

 Although these birds are small-medium in size, 

 they are said to have excellent flesh qualities, 

 but the meat is hard and the birds require to be 

 well hung after they are killed. As egg pro- 

 ducers the hens are moderate so far as number 

 is concerned, but these are of a fair size and 

 said to be excellent in flavour. The Ardenne 

 fowls are wild in temperament, and demand 

 freedom of range. 



BRAB.\NTS 



Throughout the Netherlands, that is Hol- 

 land and Belgium, this type of fowl is found 

 to a considerable extent, but it is only within 

 recent years that it has received special atten- 

 tion. Without being heavy in bone the body 

 is large and roomy, showing considerable 

 posterior development with medium length of 

 neck and legs, and indicative of good laying 

 quality. The Brabanconne is a crested race, 

 which crest is often more developed in cocks 

 than in hens. The crest, however, is not globu- 

 lar as in other breeds with which we are 

 familiar, but somewhat flat, and the beard or 

 muffs are also small. The comb is small and 

 single. The majority of these fowls are black 

 in plumage, though in some an admixture of 

 red is found. The legs and feet are slate 

 blue. The main quality is egg production, 

 these being large in size and white in shell, 

 and the hens are non-sitters. They are largely 

 found in the Walloon districts of southern 

 Belgium. 



Other Belgian races are the Herve, a small 

 active breed found on the high tableland of 

 that name, and excellent la}-ers ; the Huttegem, 

 a heavy fowl used much for hatching duck- 

 lings, as they are early and determined sitters ; 

 and the Antwerp Brahma, evidently due to a 

 cross with the Shanghai or native races. Bantams 

 are also largely kept in Belgium both for 

 their ornamental and practical qualities. 



DUTCH FOWLS 

 In Holland several breeds of fowls exist 

 which have, with one exception, been unknown 

 to breeders in other countries, and even in the 

 Netherlands have not received much attention 

 until recent years. The exception is that to 

 which the name is applied in England of the 

 White-crested Black Polish, though it is not a 

 variety of the Polish or Poland fowl. The name 

 given to it upon the Continent is Hollandais, 

 which correctly reveals the country of origin. 



483 



That breed is dealt with elsewhere. Further, 

 it is of interest to note tliat the Pencilled Ham- 

 burghs undoubtedly first came from North 

 Holland, where there is a breed called Fries- 

 land, which is identical as to comb and plumage 

 with the Hamburgh, but larger in size of body. 

 With that it is unnecessary to do more than 

 make this mention, as later observations have 

 shown its relationship to the Pencilled Ham- 

 burgh. Probably the original spangled Ham- 

 burghs were due to an earlier importation from 

 Holland. The chief breeds other than those 

 mentioned are briefly referred to below. 



BREDA 



At one period this breed, which takes its 

 name from a Dutch town, was widely distri- 

 buted in south Holland. A large fowl, full 

 in breast, somewhat long in leg, and on broad 

 lines, it has considerable affinity with Asiatic 

 types. There are four varieties, namely, 

 Cuckoo, Black, White and Blue. The pecu- 

 liar features are that it has a small almost 

 rudimentary comb, behind which is a small 

 crest of short leathers falling backwards, 

 white earlobes, and full hackles. The legs 

 and feet are slaty blue, and the flesh white. It 

 is very hardy and suitable for lowlying lands ; 

 the hens are prolific layers of large eggs, poor 

 sitters and mothers, and being slow growers 

 are found useful for winter birds, as they 

 fatten well. They can be kept successfully in 

 confinement, and are further referred to on 

 p. 481. 



OWL-BEARDED 



The native name is Uilebaard. It would 

 appear that this race is closely allied to a Ger- 

 man breed known as the Bearded Thuringian, 

 kept in the Hartz Mountains. They are small 

 in size of bod}', which is full and round, with 

 short back and full tail. The comb is small 

 and horned, and the wattles are also small. 

 The cheeks and throat are covered with a 

 thick, full black beard. The legs are medium 

 in length, and the beak and toenails white. 

 A good forager, it is a capital layer, and 

 carries a fair amount of white flesh. There 

 are several varieties, namely, Black, White, 

 Gold-laced, and Silver-laced. 



DRENTE 

 Only one other breed need be named, the 

 Drentishe fowl, found in the Dutch sandy pro- 

 vince of that name. It is small in size, but 

 very long in body, an excellent layer, and by 

 its foraging qualities eminently suited to a poor 

 country. There are several varieties, but these 

 are unfixed and uncertain. 



