536 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



straight back, broad at the shoulders, and narrowing rapidly to the 

 tail; large and closely folded wings; a large, well-expanded tail, 

 which in the cock is furnished with an abundance of tail coverts 

 and sickle feathers; shanks of a blue or slaty-blue color in all vari- 

 eties but the White-crested Black, in which they are of blue or dark 

 leaden blue ; and, above all, a large crest and a small V-shaped comb. 



Polish chickens are bred extensively in this country and by 

 some are considered practical for general purposes; but, while some 

 breeders may secure good results, the Polish is not to be fully recom- 

 mended as a general-purpose fowl. They are considered more as 

 fancy birds and are generally bred for pleasure and the showroom. 

 Their large crests are against them, hindering their vision and 

 causing them to become listless, inactive, and suspicious. Extra 

 care must be given to be fairly successful in raising them, and their 

 houses and coops must be kept absolutely dry; the least water in 

 their crests is likely to result fatally .to them. They are fairly good 

 layers of medium-sized eggs and are nonsitters. For table purposes 

 they are considered good, their flesh being fine-grained, tender, and 

 sweet. . 



Of the varieties of the Polish, the White-crested Black is the 

 most popular. The color of the plumage of this variety is a rich, 

 glossy black throughout, with the exception of the crest, which is 

 pure white; a narrow band of black feathers at the base of the crest 

 in front is allowable, but the fewer the better. The shanks and toes 

 are blue or dark leaden blue ; comb and wattles are bright red, and 

 ear lobes are white. 



The Golden and Silver varieties are beautifully marked in 

 plumage. In the Golden the feathers are marked with rich golden 

 bay and laced with black. The feathers of the Silver are silvery 

 white, instead of the golden bay, and are laced w r ith black. The 

 White Polish is pure white throughout the plumage. The feathers 

 of the Buff Laced should be of a rich buff color with a narrow white 

 lacing. 



There are two distinct subbreeds of Polish, the plain (non- 

 bearded) and the bearded. The latter has a thick, full beard, run- 

 ning back of the eye in a handsome curve, and in color correspond- 

 ing with the balance of the plumage. The eight varieties of Polish 

 are: White-crested Black, Bearded Golden, Bearded Silver, Bearded 

 White, Buff Laced, Nonbearded Golden, Nonbearded Silver, and 

 Nonbearded White. No standard weight is given for Polish; they 

 are of medium size, about that of Leghorns. 



CrevecoBurs. This variety is not so generally known in this 

 country as the Houdans, but in France, their native country, they 

 are bred extensively for market purposes. They are considered of 

 superior quality for the table, their flesh being white and delicately 

 flavored. They are of gentle disposition and do well in confine- 

 ment. They have weak constitutions and require extra care and 

 attention. As layers they are only fair, and are nonsitters. They 

 are a crested variety, have a leaf comb like the letter V in shape, 

 and in plumage are a rich, glossy black throughout. The standard 



