Sec. 9.1 rOULTRY. 131 



The Spangled Ilamhurg fowls are another ornamental variety, with top- 

 knots and beautiful plumage, both guld anil silver spangled. The weiglit 

 of male birds is about 4:^ or 5 lbs., and the hens, 3 or 3 j lbs. The coek 

 stands twenty inches high, and hen eighteen inches. 



The Bolton Gray is another ornamental variety, and also a very useful 

 one, the hens being c.Kcellent layers. They are said to have eouie from 

 Holland to Bolton, England. The color is remarkable ; the ground work 

 pure white, delicately penciled with black over the body. Tlie neck is 

 wliite, and heads surmounted witii large, red, serrated combs. The weight 

 of cocks may be 4 to -ti lbs., and hens, 3 to 3^ lbs. They belong to the 

 small-sized varieties, but are the most perfect patterns of neatness and sym- 

 metrical beauty of the domestic fowl family. The chicks arc white, excej^t 

 a dark streak on the head and back of the neck, which seems curious, as, 

 when grown, tlie necks arc white and bodies marked with black. The 

 chicks are rather hard to raise. The eggs are small, tapering at one end, 

 and pure white. 



The SllJiij fowls arc also classed among the ornamental, and comprise sev- 

 eral varieties, originating in India. Some have white ])lumage, with dark 

 skin and bones. The combs of some are black, with black plumage and 

 black boncB ; and the feathers are so unlike feathers, the hens get the name 

 of silky. They are not considered a valuable bird. 



The Frizzled fowls is anotiicr variety, but not one tiiat we can recommend 

 any one to cultivate. This sort may be known by the description given to 

 us when wc first saw any of the kind in our boyhood, and asked the reason 

 of tiieir singular appearance, and were told that the chickens got turned in 

 tlie shell in an earthcpiake, which upset things generally and turned the 

 chickens' fiiatliers wrong end foremost. Tliat is tiie appearance of the pure 

 breed. Every feather looks as though it had been curled and turned wrong 

 end foremost with a j)air of such curling-tongs as the girls used to frizzle 

 their hair with in olden time. To our mind, the Frizzles are ugly beasts, 

 not wortli raising on account of any good qualities, and only to be indulged 

 in liy those who can ati'ord to keep curiosities. 



Tiic Cuckoo fold is a variety found in some English farm-yards, and per- 

 haps in this country. It has a barred plumage, tomewiiat reseml)ling the 

 breast of a cuckoo. The general color is a slate blue, tinged with white ; the 

 comb is small ; the iris of the eyes, bright orange ; feet and legs, light flesh 

 color ; 60 that it will be seen that the In-eed is rather an ornamental one. 

 Tlie birds grow to a largo size ; the eggs are very white, smotith, and about 

 two ounces weight. 



The Blue Dun fuels originated in Dorsetshire, England, and are rather an 

 ornamental variety, under size, slender maile, witii high, deeply serrated, 

 single combs. Sometimes the 131uo Dun cock is gold or scarlet spangled, 

 and very pretty. The liens arc good layers, and make good ]>ets. The 

 cocks are rather gamy. Tlie hens are good mothers, and the chicks are real 

 little curiosities. This variety is esteemed for the table. 



