76 BREEDS OF POULTRY 



6. The Hamhurgs are of one breed represented by six varieties. 

 They are noted for their extremely fancy plumage and peculiar 

 carriage. They are supposed to have been originally imported 

 from Hamburg, and hence are often spoken of as " Dutch " breed. 

 They were probably developed in England by crossing them with 

 other varieties with fancy plumage for show purposes. These 

 birds have not attained any great degree of popularity in America. 



7. The French breeds are represented in America by only the 

 Houdan, Crevecoeur, and La Fleche. There is another breed very 

 popular in France, namely, the Faverolle. All these breeds are 

 raised very extensively in France, and are used largely for table 

 poultry. There is said to be Polish blood in their make-up. 



The La Fleche most nearly corresponds to our egg type of 

 birds. The other three French breeds are heavier meat breeds, 

 and correspond more or less to the Asiatic type, having a peculiar 

 pinkish-white skin and flesh. France is noted for its extensive 

 market-poultry industry. The four breeds mentioned have not 

 attained any great degree of popularity in America, as they are 

 not considered superior to the Asiatic breeds for meat purposes. 



8. Games and Game Bantams. — The game fowl represents a 

 distinct type in regard to shape. This type has been in existence 

 as long as poultry has been known. Legends say that game fowls 

 were in existence in India previous to the existence of any authentic 

 record. There are eight well-defined varieties, all of which are 

 fairly uniform as to shape. The type bred in America is very 

 similar to that bred in England. This group of birds is character- 

 ized by a very erect carriage, the result of years of careful selection 

 and mating with the original Pit Game type. Their commercial 

 possibilities are very limited; therefore they are excluded from 

 the average poultry farm. Each of the varieties of Game Bantams 

 has the identical type of the standard-size varieties, but is much 

 smaller. 



9. The Orientals. — The four breeds of birds in this class are 

 the Cornish, Sumatra, Malay, and Malay Bantam, all of which 

 are of the game type. Their main difference in appearance from 

 the ordinary game type is a much heavier body, short neck, and 

 strong shanks. The Sumatra and Malay are said to have originated 

 in Oriental countries. It is said that the Cornish fowl, as we know 

 it t©-day, originated in Cornwall, England, as a result of crossing 

 the Black-breasted Red Game upon Aseel birds imported from 

 India: and later Sumatra blood was introduced. The effect of this 



