THE POLAND, CR POLISH FOWL. 281 



much pointed at one end, in tolerable abundance, and, when 

 they sit, acquit themselves respectably. 



The new-hatched Chicks are very pretty ; gray, with black 

 eyes, light lead-coloured legs, and a swelling of down on the 

 crown of the head, indicative of the future top-knot, which is 

 exactly the colour of a powdered wig, and indeed gives the 

 Chick the appearance of wearing one. They are easily enough 

 reared for the first six weeks or two months ; the critical time 

 with them being the interval between that age and their reach- 

 ing their fifth or six month. At a very early age they acquire 

 their peculiar distinctive features, and are then the most ele- 

 gant little miniature Fowls it is possible to imagine. The 

 distinction of sex is not very manifest till they are nearly full 

 grown ; the first observable indication being in the tail. That 

 of the Pullet is carried uprightly, as it ought to be, but in the 

 Cockerel it remains depressed, awaiting the growth of the 

 sickle feathers. The top-knot in the Cockerels is more pendent 

 backwards than in the Pullets. It is remarkable that the 

 Golden Polish Cock brings as true Silver Chicks, and those 

 stronger, with the Silver Polish Hen, as the Silver Polish 

 Cock would. 



The Silver Polands have all the habits of their Golden com- 

 panions ; the main difference being the silvery ground, instead 

 of the golden. The* Silver variety will sometimes even make 

 its appearance if you breed merely the Golden sort, exactly as 

 the Black Polish produce now and then some pure White 

 Chicks that ma'ke very elegant birds. An attempt has been 

 made to obtain the black top-knotted White Polish from these, 

 by acting on the imagination of the parents. The experiment 

 failed, though similar schemes have been said to succeed with 

 animals ; it proved, however, one thing namely, that it will 

 not do to breed from the White Polish as a separate breed. 

 Being Albinos, the Chicks come very weakly, and few survive. 



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