130 DOMESTIC ANIMALS. [Chap. I. 



and colored like the beak ; feet thin, broad, strong, with .very long claws. 

 The cock walks with a proud, defiant courage, and ai)pears always ready for 

 a fight. It is a good variety to breed from for domestic purposes, if care is 

 taken not to allow cocks of any other 6ort upon the premises, and not to 

 allow cocks ever to be ])irted against each otiier. 



The Mexicans appear to have a variety of game fowls quite distinct from 

 the Englisii varieties. It was first introduced into the United States in 1844, 

 by General "Waddy Thompson, of South Carolina. The cocks and hens have 

 but few marks to distinguish one from the other. The original t^tock are 

 pheasant-colored, .nnd in some of those bred in South Carolina, black tail 

 featliers, and a tendency to gray or light yellow plumage. Tiiis variety are 

 great fighters ; they have strong, muscular frames, and are quick and firm 

 in action. The cocks have large lustrous eyes and strong bills and upright 

 combs. The hens arc good layers and sitters, and good nurses. This is the 

 breed of game-cocks ]iUiroaized by General Santa Anna, who was the great- 

 est cock-fighter in Mexico. 



The Java foirl is a very large variety, of black color, said to be found, 

 thougli probably not pure, on Long Island, and around riiiladelphia. Tiiey 

 are sometimes called Saddle-backs, on account of being so broad across the 

 rump. 



The Jersey Blue is tlie name of a variety quite common in New Jersey, 

 the excellence of which is so great, that anything particularly good is figura- 

 tively spoken of as " one of the old blue hen's chickens." The color is light 

 blue, sometimes approaching a dun ; legs generally dark, and sometimes 

 lightly feathered. Cocks weigh 7 to 9 lbs. ; and hens, G to 8 lbs. 



The Poland fmcls take their name, not from Poland, but from a resem- 

 blance to the tuft of white feathers worn ,by Polish soldiers. They are 

 glossy black, except the top-\not, which resembles a full, white rose. Like 

 the Black Spanish, the Polands are great layers and bad sitters. The skin 

 and flesh are white, and good for the table. The cocks weigh 4 to 4} lbs., and 

 hens, 3 to 3i lbs. Their form is plump, and legs not ver}- long, being well- 

 proportioned and handsome-shaped, and they are particularly ornamental 

 to a country seat. The eggs are of good size, and white, but though abun- 

 dant, are not as rich as some others. 



Another variety of the so-called Poland fowls are white, with black top- 

 knots ; and another sort are gold-spangled. These are exceedingly orna- 

 mental ; the crest being large, golden, and brown ; legs, light blue, and 

 toes partially webbed. 



The Silver Polands are spangled with silver instead of gold, and the hons 

 are the most ornamental. Even the chicks of this variety are pretty. 



The Poland variety of fowls are only fit for neat places, where they can 

 run upon grassy yards or lawns. In dirty pens the crest becomes loaded 

 with dirt, and blinds the jioor birds. Where they can run at large abound 

 the house, even if the hens were not, as they are, such good layers, they 

 might well be kept for ornament alone. 



