THE COMMON FOWL. 57 



fowl is of large size, and rounded contour ; 

 and furnished with one or more additional but 

 imperfect toes ; the legs are short, and the 

 plumage white. The breed has been of late 

 years much crossed with the ordinary dung- 

 hiU fowl, and with the Sussex race, without 

 any deterioration. The flesh is remarkable 

 for whiteness, and delicacy of flavour. Vast 

 numbers of these fowls are regularly sent to 

 the London markets. 



A breed of fowls often seen around Loudon 

 is termed the Spanish. These fowls are of a 

 very large size, and the hens lay enormous 

 eggs, but do not sit well. The plumage is 

 black, the comb large, and often pendulous, 

 and the naked skin behind the ears white. 

 There is also a black Poland or Hamburg 

 breed, with a large top-knot of long white 

 feathers. Two breeds remarkable for beauty 

 of plumage, are the gold-spangled and silver- 

 spangled Polands. These have small combs 

 on the forehead, and a full top-knot of feathers 

 on the crown. Fine fowls of these breeds are 

 highly valued. 



From Persia, it would appear, is derived 

 the rumpless or Persian breed, in which not 

 only are the tail-feathers wanting, but the tail 



