SELECTING A BREED TO KEEP : ‘21 
ters. It is a characteristic of Houdan eggs that 
they are unusually fertile, while the chicks feather 
out rapidly and come to maturity very early. Hou- 
dans have one peculiarity in the form of a fifth toe, 
like a very old English breed, the Dorking. The 
Hamburgs and the Polish in several varieties com- 
prise two classes very popular with fanciers. 
The Games and Bantams in various breeds are 
freely bred by fanciers and afford much pleasure to 
their owners. Many of the Bantams are pocket 
editions of larger breeds, as, for example, the white, 
black and buff Cochins and the Light and Dark 
Brahmas. Probably Buff Cochin Bantams are 
bred more widely than any of the others, but all 
of those named, as well as several other kinds, will 
afford their owners no little pleasure. Most of 
these Bantams lay a considerable number of eggs, 
especially in the Spring, and the eggs, although small, 
are rich. Three are equivalent, as a rule, to two 
eggs from ordinary hens. The breeds mentioned 
are large enough to dress for the table. Bantams 
can hardly be surpassed as pets for children, when 
the latter are old enough to care for them. A pack- 
ing box is large enough to house a small flock and 
the amount of food consumed is very small. 
