64 



THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTKY BOOK. 



raised; not too regularly placed ; the comb should be full and large, regu- 

 larly irregular, with pendent and long wattles, voluminous and deep beard, 

 thick plumage, especially on the breast, full tail, horizontal back, short legs 

 of a leaden-blue color, firm claws. The crest of the hen is more round, soft, 

 and thick ; the less appearance of comb or wattles the better. Though a 

 perfect blackness of color is required in both sexes, the very best specimens 

 will show a white feather or two in the crest as age advances, but red or 

 straw colored streaks are not tolerated among the aristocracy of the breed. 

 They came originally from Normandy, principally the county d'Ange, where 

 lies the pretty village of Creve-Coeur. 



IPAIR, OF Q-TJELDERS. 



THE LA FLECHE. The La Fleche is a Malay in hight, a Spanish in color, 

 and a Dorking in size. It possesses a firmly knit, angular body, poised 

 proudly on long, nervous, strong limbs, not showing the bird's complete size, 

 owing to the closeness of his feathering ; a little spike of feathers is placed 

 behind the comb, which appears as a double horn ; the aspect of a rhinoceros 

 is given to the head by a dwarf protuberance between the nostrils, which are 

 much expanded ; very long pendant wattles ; large opaque white ear-lobes, 

 expanding in a cravat; gently curved strong beak; neck-hackles long and 

 fine, reflecting, as well as the feathers of breast, wing and upper tail, violet 



