THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 65 



and green black ; color not so bright below ; claws especially strong ; legs 

 slaty blue, and in age leaden gray. Hen identical, but somewhat smaller, 

 with less comb, ear-lobe and wattles. She grows for twelve months, the 

 cock for eighteen; and it is this continuity of growth that enables the 

 breeder of this superb table fowl in France to obtain a golden price for his 

 spring lots. The young feather slowly. They are raised on the commons of 

 the arrondissement of La Fleche. 



THE GUELDEES. 



This variety of fowls is as yet very little known in this country, but 

 what we can learn of their qualities, from those who have experimented with 

 them, we are led to believe, after they have become acclimated, they will 

 prove a very desirable breed. These birds were first found in Holland and 

 Belgium, and are known in those countries as Guelderlands, being so called 

 after a .province in Holland, lying south of the Zuyder-Zee. There are 

 White, Black and Cuckoo Guelders bred in this country. A gentleman of 

 our acquaintance, who has bred these birds for the last two or three years, 

 considers them superior to any of the French fowls, and in some respects 

 prefers them to Houdans. 



The Guelders are of medium size, with full, prominent breasts, and large 

 flowing tails. Their peculiar characteristics are in the head, which is desti- 

 tute of either feathers, crest or comb, the latter is very peculiar in shape, 

 being hollowed or depressed instead of projecting, with two prominent spikes 

 on each side of the back of the comb. To breed them to the standard, they 

 should not have any comb whatever, except the two little spikes project- 

 ing. Cheeks and ear-lobes red ; wattles red, and in the cock very long and 

 pendulous. The beak in the White should be of a milk-white color. The 

 thighs well furnished and vulture hocked, and the shanks of the legs feath- 

 ered to the toes, though not heavily. The plumage is close and compact, 

 resembling very much that of the Game fowl, which makes them appear, in 

 size, much smaller than they really are ; the color of the plumage in one is 

 pure white, and in the other pure black. To produce the Cuckoo-colored 

 bird a Black Guelder cock should be placed with a White Guelder hen. By 

 this cross Cuckoo-colored birds of a beautiful variety have been thrown. It 

 is said that the Guelders, thus far, have withstood our cold and changeable 

 northern climate equally as well as the Asiatic breeds ; have proved very 

 hardy and less susceptible to sickness than any other class of fowls. They 

 are small eaters, lay a large, smooth-shelled egg, and seldom desire to sit. 

 As egg-producers, especially in cold weather, it is asserted they are not sur- 

 passed even by the Leghorn, and lay throughout the year more eggs than 

 any other breed of fowls. Their flesh is nearly as delicate and juicy as that 

 of the Houdan. The chicks are easily reared, under ordinary circumstances, 

 and feather up very quickly. 



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