492 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



perfectly formed, as well as desirable colored crests, should always be selected for the show- 

 pen, or breeding purposes. A cock with an inferior crest is more apt to stamp this defect 

 upon his progeny than a hen with a similar defect, but it is always safest and best to select 

 those of both sexes having a large, perfectly-formed crest, since the result will be more satis 

 factory. 



There is always a tendency to breed a little lighter; therefore for breeding purposes the 

 darkest-colored birds should be selected, and the marking should be very distinct. They 

 should be kept in dry soil, and always give more satisfactory results with plenty of range, 

 though they bear restriction in this respect tolerably well. They never sit, consequently 

 some other small fowl, like the Game, should be kept for incubating purposes. The young 

 chicks should not make their appearance before the early part or middle of April, as they are 

 rather delicate. 



Bearded Golden Polish. These are similar to those previously described, with the 

 exception of the beard, which is a golden-bay, laced with black, making a black border 

 .around each feather; the feathers being small, give the beard of the cock a darker appear 

 ance than the rest of the plumage. It is full and heavy, and extends in a curve back of the 

 eyes. This variety is said to be more difficult to breed true to all the points than the non- 

 bearded. They are very docile and fond of being petted, like all the Polish varieties. The 

 weight of the cock is from five to six and a half pounds; that of the hen from four to five 

 and a half pounds. The best bearded strains of these fowls have neither comb nor wattles. 

 The crest of the bearded Polish is generally larger than the non-bearded. 



Within the last five or six years the bearded varieties have grown in popularity in this 

 country, and will in time, we think, entirely supplant the non-bearded. In England they are 

 altogether more popular than the latter (which are now seldom seen), from whence importa 

 tions are frequently being made by our poultry fanciers, and there is little doubt that this 

 beautiful variety will soon become equally common in our own country. 



Silver Polish. In this variety the marking is the same in every respect as the Golden 

 Polish, previously described, except that the ground color in this variety is silvery white, 

 instead of golden-bay. The general form, size, etc., are also similar to that variety. The 

 crest is a silvery white, tipped or laced with black, but as the birds grow older the crest- 

 feathers grow lighter, and in very old birds sometimes appear nearly white. The hackle is 

 also a silvery white, laced with black, which is the uniform marking of the plumage of the 

 body. The marking of the wings in two distinct black bars is also the same as previously 

 described in the Golden Polish. 



The tail is silvery white, with a black spot at the end of each feather. In many birds 

 the feathers of the tail have a lacing or border of black around the edge, aside from the spot 

 at the end, similar to the wing-coverts, and we think this marking adds much to their beauty. 

 As in the Golden variety, the more distinct the marking, and dark the plumage, the better for 

 breeding purposes, since the lighter marked birds produce chickens marked too light for 

 beauty or desirability for the show pen. The beak is horn-colored ; the legs, like all the other 

 members of the Polish family, are a slaty blue. 



The crest should be large and globular; that of the hen should be round as a ball, with 

 no parting whatever in the middle. As the crest- feathers of the cock are longer and narrower 

 than those of the hen, they will not be quite as compact, but should be globular in general 

 outline. 



Bearded Silver Polish. This variety is precisely like the Bearded Golden in 

 marking and general characteristics, except in the ground color of the plumage, which is a 

 silvery white, laced with black. The marking in all good birds is distinct and uniform. 

 The beard should be full and dark, every feather of which should be tipped with black, like 



