52 



THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 



chickens that is, perfectly feathered, and as sprightly as many chicks are 

 at four months of age. The hens are considered excellent winter layers, 

 and will lay as large a number of eggs in a year as any fowls known, not 

 excepting the Polands or Hamburgs. They are hardy, medium sized fowls, 

 of a quiet and docile disposition ; persistent layers of a rich, meaty egg ; 

 pure white color, though in some flocks occasional colored feathers will 

 appear; these should at once be discarded from the pen, if it is desirable 

 to breed the pure white bird. Their legs and skin should be of a yellow 

 color. They lay a smaller egg than the Spanish, but mature earlier, and 



PA.IR, OF EARL DERBY GAMES. 



are much superior for the table. The cocks have large single combs, 

 which should stand perfectly erect ; full wattles and large, cream-colored 

 or white ear-lobes, extending sometimes upon their face. The carriage of 

 both cock and hen is proud and dignified. The hens have usually large combs, 

 which frequently lop over like the Spanish. From what we have read 

 and seen of this breed of fowls we consider them a great and valuable 

 acquisition to the poultry-yard. 



THE GAMES. 



The varieties of so-called game fowls are almost innumerable. Many are 

 unworthy of the name or the prefix. A well-bred game cock should be a 

 neat, trim fowl, feathers close and glossy, head small, neck well set on his 



