DOMESTIC FOWL. 25 



yellow, approaching to an orange red, with black spot or spangle: 

 the silver spangled differs from the preceding, by the ground of 

 the feathers being a silvery white ; both are frequently obtainable 

 in the same clutch. The comb, as in other highly-crested fowl, 

 is diminutive ; wattles small ; hackles gold or silver spangled, ac- 

 cording to plumage ; tail beautifully plumed ; legs blue or white ; 

 skin white ; flesh white and juicy ; eggs a moderate size, and 

 abundant; chickens easily reared. I should wish, from their 

 superior beauty, and usefulness as layers, they were more abun- 

 dant. The slightest cross entirely deteriorates their value ; they 

 may be truly said to be both useful and ornamental; they are 

 just such birds as a lady, of good taste, would wish to see about 

 her lawn ; and she would not be disappointed, if she wished for a 

 fresh egg or omlet daily. 



RED MOONED, OR GOLDEN SPANGLED PHEASANT FOWL. 



These birds, though bred carefully and distinctly as near us as 

 Lancashire, Westmoreland, and Yorkshire, are but little known 

 in Ireland : they take their name, not from any affinity to the true 

 Pheasant, but from their beautiful markings, much resembling the 

 brown Pheasant cock. They are prized by the poultry fanciers for 

 their elegant deportment, as well as superior markings, and poultry 

 clubs are established in the principal towns, through the northern 

 and midland counties of England, for their promotion, the members 

 of which are awarded premiums for breeding and rearing the best 

 specimens, a standard being laid down by the club, as to the points 

 of perfection and markings. Good specimens, even in the locality 

 in which they are bred, from the encouragement given to them, 

 bring high prices; indeed, so much are they valued, in conse- 

 quence of the spirit of competition, that some breeders would not 

 part with their stock for any reasonable sum. I have so frequently 

 experienced the liberality of poultry-fanciers, and having had 

 promises from the first keepers of them, I have always been 

 able to procure fine specimens. I have been told by a gentle- 

 man, who long resided in Russia, that they are common in that 

 country, and some specimens are said to have come here, from 

 that quarter. 



The male bird weighs about 5| Ibs., and the female about 4ilbs.; 

 height of the cock, 19 inches, and of the hen 17 inches ; the ground 

 of the feathers, a fine rich reddish yellow, tipped or spotted with 

 metallic black; comb large, double-rosed, pointed at the back. 



c 



