280 THE POLAND, OR POLISH FOWL. 



ochre and dark brown ; tail darker ; large golden and brown 

 crest, falling back over the neck ; but little comb and wattles. 

 The Hen is richly laced with dark brown or black on an ochro 

 ground ; dark-spotted crest ; legs' light-blue, very cleanly 

 made, and displaying a small web between the toes, almost as 

 proportionally large as that in some of the waders. They are 

 good layers, and produce fair-sized Eggs. Many of them make 

 excellent mothers, although you cannot always get them to sit 

 early in the season. The Chicks are rather clumsy-looking 

 little animals, of a dingy brown, with some dashes of ochre 

 ab6ut the head, breast, and^ wings. They are sometimes a little 

 apt to die in the first week of their existence, but afterwards 

 get tolerably hardy, although liable to make a stand-still when 

 about half-grown. 



It has been observed as a peculiarity in the temper of this 

 breed, that if you catch one of them, or if one is attacked by 

 any animal, the rest, whether Cocks or Hens, will instantly 

 attack the aggressor with fury, and endeavour to rescue their 

 unfortunate companion. 



THE SILVER POLANDS are similar to the preceding in shape 

 and markings, except that white, black, and gray, are ex- 

 changed for ochre or yellow, and various shades of brown. 

 They are even more delicate in their constitution, more liable 

 to remain "fixed" at a certain point of their adolescence, and 

 still more require and will repay extra care and accommodation. 

 Their top-knots are not perhaps in general so large ; but they 

 retain the same neat bluish legs and slightly-webbed feet. It 

 is curious that a bird which is quite incapable of swimming 

 should have webs on its feet, while the Gallinule, which swims 

 and dives well, has none. The Hens of the Silver Polands 

 are much more ornamental than the Cocks ; though even they 

 are sure to attract notice. They may certainly be ranked 

 among the choicest of Fowls, whether we consider their beauty 

 or their rarity. They lay moderate-sized, French-white Eggs, 



