POULTRY 



531 



FRIZZLED FOWLS, 



THE term &quot; Frizzled &quot; is applied to fowls the plumage of which has a tendency to curl 

 backward, &quot;as if the bird had been stroked the wrong way,&quot; as some have described 

 it, and not only that, but to curl up at the ends, especially in the hackle and saddle 

 feathers. This feature is most prominent, though the plumage throughout is involved. This 

 is not true of the tail feathers, although the webs even of these are loose and disconnected. 

 They are of diverse colors, though the white and black varieties are the most common. The 

 chicks feather slowly, and show a tendency for the curling plumage as soon as it is perceptible. 

 The combs are generally rose, though sometimes single. They breed true to feather, seem 

 ing to possess peculiar power to reproduce the frizzled plumage. In form they are long- 



FRIZZLED FOWLS. 



bodied, square and plump, with a prominent, wide breast and broad back. The neck is rather 

 short and well curved ; the tail of medium size, and carried rather upright. The legs are of 

 medium length; the carriage quite sprightly and animated. This fowl is common throughout 

 Southern Asia, Java, Sumatra, the Philippines, and Ceylon. It is also found in the West 

 Indies. 



Merits and Defects of Frizzled Fowls, These fowls attract great attention at 

 poultry shows on account of their very singular appearance, and are probably bred more for 

 their extreme oddity, than any other reason, although they possess some very excellent quali 

 ties as fowls. They are very early layers, as they are usually through the moulting process 

 sooner than other breeds. They are said, by those who breed them, to be also very good 



