POULTRY. 505 



and rheumatic afflictions. But as this fowl becomes better acclimated, and special pains are 

 taken by breeders to breed only from mature, and perfectly healthy and vigorous birds, we 

 believe this breed will yet become as hardy in our climate as in its own. New blood should 

 be introduced often; breeds that are most rare being liable to be most seriously affected by 

 in-and-in-breeding, owing to the great difficulty of procuring stock for this purpose that is 

 unrelated. 



La Bresse. This breed, though common in France, is rarely imported to this country, 

 as it seerns to possess no distinguishing characteristics to tempt the fancier. Mr. Wright 

 speaks of the La Bresse as &quot;simply a fine, large, and delicate-fleshed race of barn-door or 

 mongrel fowl, formed by judicious breeding,&quot; and also being of various colored plumage, 

 though generally resembling the Dorking, of which it is probably a descendant. 



Merits and Defects of the La Bresse. The chief merit of this fowl has already 

 been alluded to in the previous description, viz., its delicacy of flesh, which so distinguish the 

 French breeds. Its size is always in its favor, and it is also a very fair egg-producer; but as 

 it seems to possess the characteristics of a mongrel fowl, there can be no standard of judging 

 them specified; hence their fine points, as a bird, are lacking to the fancier. It is stated by 

 our best writers on poultry that those varieties of the breed approaching nearest the Dorking 

 are the most valuable. 



BREDAS OR GUELDERS. 



THIS breed is somewhat peculiar in the form of its comb, it being rather a depression 

 than a projection, which, with the exceedingly small tuft of feathers at the top of the 

 head, which can scarcely be called a crest, gives the fowl a very singular appear 

 ance. &quot;With regard to the description of this breed, we take the following from &quot;The 

 Illustrated Book of Poultry, &quot; which is the very best authority on poultry matters of which 

 we have any knowledge: &quot; This cannot be called a fancy breed in any sense of the word, but 

 is a good useful fowl nevertheless; and the only reason it has not been popular in England is, 

 probably, that it is inferior in size to the Houdan, which in general qualities it much 

 resembles. It is a fairly good layer, though not quite as good as the Houdan perhaps, and 

 very hardy; rarely sits; has a round prominent breast, and is consequently a good table 

 fowl. As an exhibition variety it is inferior, and only occasionally takes prizes in the Any 

 Variety class. The breed is really one, but of various colors; the name Guelders being 

 applied to that of a cuckoo or Dominique marking, while another variety, all black, is termed 

 Breda. White fowls are also, but rarely, seen, which are probably sports from the black, and 

 are also called Bredas. 



The general shape is Polish, but the crest, though just perceptible, is only so, being 

 nearly absent; what there is of it is the same color of the body-feathers. The greatest 

 peculiarity is however in the comb, which is absent altogether, only a depression in the red 

 skin being visible, just over the cavernous nostrils, which thus become peculiarly conspicuous, 

 and show, in spite of the deficient crest, the close resemblance to the Polish family. The 

 shanks are, (rather scantily) feathered, the birds being, in addition, vulture-hocked. In 

 America, this breed is more extensively kept and widely known than in England, and we have 

 some reason to think may have entered into the composition of some of Brother Jonathan s 

 new creations. We can thoroughly recommend it as a good and useful fowl, but have not 

 seen a good specimen for some years; in fact not since the dissolution of the National Poul 

 try Company, with whose last manager the Cuckoo or Guelders variety was rather a favorite. 



