502 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



nearly erect and brilliant red in color. The crest and beard are also heavier and fuller than 

 those of the Houdan. The plumage is black with brilliant reflections, including the crest. 

 . The legs are a dark slate or black, and rather short. This breed is the oldest known in 

 England of the French varieties, where it has been improved in general appearance, by 

 breeders there, in producing a larger and fuller crest, than those of the imported fowls. 

 They rarely sit, and are generally classed with the non-sitters. They are quiet and contented 

 in disposition, and bear confinement well, and are tolerable good layers, though not equal to 

 the Houdans. Their eggs are large and white. The chicks grow rapidly and mature early. 

 Blue specimens of this breed are occasionally seen, also pure white, but the latter are very 

 rare, and are probably mere &quot;sports&quot; from the Black, as all black fowls will occasionally 

 produce white chickens, and the reverse, white fowls an occasional black chicken, which are 

 freaks in which Dame Nature occasionally indulges. 



Merits and Defects of Creve Coeurs. Their principal merit is in their fine edible 

 qualities, which, as we have previously stated, are considered by the French to be superior to 

 their other breeds. The ease with which they are fattened, their early maturity, quiet 

 disposition, and indifference with which they bear confinement, all tell in their favor, while the 

 large size of their eggs is certainly an additional merit. They are not as abundant egg- 

 producers as some fowls, though considered by many to be very good in this respect, and 

 in our climate, are inclined to roup; but we believe it is the unanimous testimony of 

 those having had experience in breeding them here, that they improve rapidly in these 

 respects as they become acclimated, and we believe in a few years will be considered as hardy 

 as any of our breeds of longer acquaintance. They are very valuable for crossing with other 

 breeds, having a tendency to engraft their good qualities on inferior stock, the cross being 

 almost without exception very hardy. However, as they arc so large a fowl already, crossing 

 with larger breeds would seem scarcely necessary for their improvement, yet where a farmer 

 wishes to improve his stock that may be inferior to these, and does not object to a mixed 

 breed, they are, as previously stated, very desirable. 



La Fleche. This breed resembles in general appearance the Spanish, having a red 

 face, white ear lobes, and glossy black plumage. It is believed by many of our noted 

 breeders and fanciers to have been derived in part from the Spanish breed. It is however 

 much larger than that breed, the cocks often weighing nine and a half and ten pounds. It is 

 long-bodied, long-legged, and rather gaunt-looking compared with the Houdans and 

 Creve Coeurs, and has a very compact plumage. Its chief peculiarity in appearance is its comb, 

 which is brilliant red and like two horns pointing upwards, giving the bird a very grotesque 

 appearance. The wattles are also brilliant red, very pendulous and rounded; the car lobes 

 large and white. The beak is quite strong, and has in the cock a small knob of red flesh at 

 its junction with the nostrils. It is dark in color, as also are the legs. This breed is being 

 bred more extensively in this country at present than for a few years past, although it is 

 still quite rare and the specimens seen at our exhibitions are few compared with some other 

 breeds; in fact, we are surprised that the French birds are not disseminated more extensively 

 in this country, since they possess so many excellent qualities. 



Merits and Defects of the La Fleche. The flesh of this fowl, like all the other 

 French breeds, is of excellent quality, and in the opinion of Mr. Wright, to whom reference 

 has frequently been made in this department of our work, is more delicate and juicy than 

 that of any other breed of fowls, except the Game. It is highly valued in France, where it 

 is very extensively produced, and always brings a high price in the market. The laying 

 qualities of this breed are very good, the eggs being large and fine flavored. It does not 

 however mature as early as the Houdans or Creve Coeurs, and is rather delicate in constitution, 

 being exceedingly sensitive to cold or dampness, which inclines them, in our climate, to roup 



