166 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 



color, except in the sunlight, when the golden-green re- 

 flections from the plumage make them very brilliant; but 

 this peculiarity is only brought out in a favorable light. 

 They are much more rarely seen than the Houdans, al- 

 though as producers of eggs, and for non-sitting as well 

 as for early maturity, and whiteness and sweetness of 

 flesh, they surpass these. They are not winter layers, 

 which is an objection; but when the cock is crossed upon 

 Brahma hens, the eggs produce table birds of heavy 

 weight, excellent quality, and in time for early market- 

 ing. They suffer nothing from confinement, and a 

 dozen can be easily kept in a yard twenty feet square. 

 They are very tame and friendly when petted. They 

 excel as table birds, notwithstanding their black legs, 

 which may be objected to by the marketmen or the 

 cooks; this feature has no ill effect upon the color, flavor, 

 or tenderness of the flesh, which is very white and of de- 

 licious flavor. Young birds will fatten when three months 

 old, and have been made to weigh four pounds at that age, 

 and at six months, with two weeks' fattening, have weighed 

 seven pounds. The Crevecceur cock should be a heavy, 

 compact bird, mounted upon short, thick legs; the thighs, 

 being well feathered, tend to give the birds a heavier 

 and more solid build. The back is broad and flat, giv- 

 ing a robustness to the figure, and slopes but slightly 

 towards the tail, which is carried high. The general 

 carriage is dignified, their sedateness being somewhat 

 heightened by their somber coloring. The comb is two- 

 horned or "antlered," and the crest is formed of lancet- 

 shaped feathers, which fall backwards and do not 

 straggle wildly in all directions, as in the Houdan The 

 chicks are hardy when properly cared for, but early 

 chicks of this breed are rare, on account of the late habits 

 of the hen. The breast is full; the hackle is long and 

 sweeps gracefully down the neck; the beard and muffle 

 are full and low on the throat, and the plumage, as pre- 



