OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



much used for decorating 

 ladies' hats, and since the 

 use of small wild birds in 

 millinery decorations has 

 been prohibited, the hackle 

 feathers of cocks are quite 

 extensively used in trimming 

 hats. 



Description. Ordinary fowls 

 are rather small land birds. 

 The males at maturity weigh 

 from four to five pounds each, 

 and the females about a 

 pound less. They are plump, 

 rugged, and very active. If 

 treated well they are bold, 



and with a little attention can easily be made very tame. If 



neglected and abused, they be- 

 come shy and wild. The most 



striking peculiarities of the 



fowl are the fleshy comb and 



wattles which ornament the 



head, and the full tail which 



is usually carried well up and 



spread perpendicularly. The 



head appendages vary much in 



size and form. They are some- 

 times very small, but never 



entirely wanting. The carriage 



of the tail also varies, but 



FIG. 13. Single-combed Rhode Island 

 Red male l 



FIG. 14. Rose-combed Rhode Island 

 Red female 1 



except in a few breeds bred 

 especially for low tails it is 

 noticeably high as compared with that of other poultry. Fowls 



1 Photograph from Lester Tompkins, Concord, Massachusetts. 



