Sec. 9.] 



POULTRY. 



129 



which wc append. The most ornamental thing about a yard full of fowls 

 is to have them all of one variety ; for instance, Dominiques, all looking so 

 much alike that individuals would be liardly distinguishable. 



Tiie J'hcamnt-21alay is the name given to a variety of imjjorted fowls, 

 wliich are esteemed by some as quite desirable, particularly as ornamental 

 stock. They arc called good layers, good sitters, and good mothers. Tlie 

 cocks have black tails, and black on tlie neck and wings. Full-sized eggs 

 weigh two ounces each. The newly hatched chicks are yellow, with a black 

 mark down the back. Some of the hens are described as of a pheasant 

 color, with long velvety black necks. 



Guddcrland fowls is the name of another variety ; they arc jet black in 

 the plumage, witliout combs, and small wattles ; bodies short and plump ; 

 legs long and feathered ; eggs large, white, oval-shaped, and rich. Tlie 

 hens arc not esteemed good layers nor sitters. This variety comes from the 

 north of Holland. 



The DorJciiKjs. — This, in our opinion, is one of, if not the, best varieties we 

 have in this country for the cvcry-day purposes of farmers. It is tlio sort 

 mostly used for caponizing in England. There are white, gray, and brown 

 Dorkings. The legs are white or flesh-colored, smooth, and terminate in 

 five toes. They feed well, to a good size, and the flesh is considered partic- 

 ularly delicate. The cock's comb is large and erect, and deep serrated, free 

 from to]i-knot ; wattles, large. Tliey are noted for hardiness ; are prolific, 

 and chickens casil}' raised. The eggs arc large, pure white, very round, and 

 nearly equal in size at the ends. The chicks are brownish yollow, with a 

 broad stripe down the middle of the back, and a narrower one on each side ; 

 feet and legs yellow. 



Black Spanish is the name of a variety of very ornamental as well as 

 useful fowls. The plumage is glossy black ; the combs of both cocks and 

 hens large and red ; and their general appearance spirited and handsome. 

 Tliey have a singular mark, which distinguishes the variety — it is a wliito 

 mark on each cheek, not of feathers, but a fleshy substance, which in the 

 cocks is very cons])icuons. The hens are great layers, but not inclined to 

 sit. Tlie eggs are large and white, and so is their skin and flesh, which is 

 tender and juicy. The chicks are black, with a white sjiot on the breast, 

 and are long in getting feathered ; so none but early spring chickens should 

 be attempted, and these must be obtained bysetting hens of another variety 

 upon the Spanish eggs. 



Game Fowls. — There arc several distinctly marked sorts of game fowls — 

 black, white, gray, and brown, all having the same general cliaractcristics, 

 the most marked of wliich is pugnaciousness. The general size is 3^- to 5 J 

 lbs. The eggs arc smaller than the eggs of the most common fowls, uni- 

 formly shaped, and cook rich and delicate. In form the game fowl is tliD 

 handsomest of the race. The head is thin and long; eyes large and full; 

 beak stout and crooked ; long neck ; body compact, short, and round in the 

 breast ; thighs thick, stout, handsome, taper-siiapcd ; legs long and thick 







