HAMBUBOHS.] 



POULTRY. 



LHAMUL'UUIIS. 



** Silvkr-Spakolkd Hambuuoii. — JUale. — 

 Head of moderato size ; eyes lari:;e and full ; 

 beak stroiii:^, pointed at tho end, and slate- 

 coloured ; wattles larLje, and of n rich briijlit, 

 transparent eriinson, liaiiying freely. Comb 

 large and double, but not overhanging tho 

 bead ; tho pointa should bo sharp, thickly set 

 together, and not open or cupped ; it should 

 rise a little iu the centre, narrowing behind, 

 and terminating in a point ; it should hang 

 loosely, and move as the bird moves. The 

 comb of the cock is much larger than that of 

 the hen ; but it should, nevertholesa, bo re- 

 markably neat, and really ornamental, and not 

 have the appearance of a heavy and unneces- 

 sary excrescence. The ear-lobes should bo 

 large and well-defined, of a creamy white, and 

 appear as if they were raised from the cheek 

 The neck and tail hackles should bo a pure 

 ■white, and full and long, covering together 

 nearly the whole of the upper part of the body ; 

 but not too thick on the neck. The cock 

 sliould be clearly spangled on the breast and 

 on the lower part of the body ; and the wings 

 should also be marked with rows of spangles, 

 and distinctly laced on the edges ; the lacing 

 being bold and unbroken — this forming a very 

 important property. The sickle, and other 

 principal feathers of the tail, should bo pen- 

 cilled in the centre of each feather, one half 

 being black, and the other half perfectly white. 

 The other tail-feathers should be of a rich blue 

 black ; the tail should also be full and well 

 spread. The legs should be strong, and slate- 

 coloured ; a white or yellow, leg would dis- 

 qualify a pen of otherwise good birds. An 

 average-sized bird, at his full growth, will 

 weigh from four-and-a-half to sis pounds, 

 which some fine specimens may be found to 

 exceed. 



" Female. — Head small, and snake-like ; eyes 

 bright, lively, and surrounded by a peculiar 

 dark rim. Comb double, of moderate size, and 

 upright ; but so loose as to follow every move- 

 ment of the bird, without banging over the 

 front or side of the head ; the back part of the 

 comb should terminate in a point; the projec- 

 tions on its upper surface should be small, 

 sharp, and placed at equal distances ; and its 

 colour a bright transparent red. Ear-lobes 

 white, and of good size. The neck feathers 

 distinctly pencilled with black along the centre; 

 5 M 



each one of the«e markingn extending, in width, 

 to one-half tho surface of the feather. Tho 

 breast and tho whole of tho body of tho hen, 

 with tho exception of tho neck, should bo 

 clearly and distinctly spangled ; tho wings 

 being also marked with rows of spangles, and 

 regularly barred with straight lines or 'lacings* 

 ' along tho edges of tho large coverts ; tho h-sser 

 I coverts are laced round the edge. Tho princi- 

 pal tail-feathers margined with black, and per- 

 fectly clear and free from 'mottle,' or stain ; 

 the legs a clear slate-colour ; tail spread out 

 and elevated ; and the carriage and general 

 appearance of the bird should convey the im- 

 pression of great vivacity. The ground-colour 

 of tho body throughout must be pure white, 

 and the markings, whether 'pencilled' or 

 ' mooned,' an intense glossy black. An aver- 

 age-sized hen will weigh from three-and-a-half 

 to five pounds." 



The following is the basis, which is given by 

 a "Dublin Amateur," of great eipericuce, for 

 judging these fowls : — 



The Cock. 



Head. — Surmounted with full, globular, floating 

 crest, pure white, each feather pointed witti 

 black. — The comb rudimentary, or in two small 

 spicula ; the smaller the better. — The beard full 

 and black, or pure wliite pointed with black. 



Hackles. — Pure silvery^white, each feather clearly 

 ti])ped with black. 



Breast. — The largest moons best defined black, 

 most free from being tipped with white at the 

 end of the moon ; best and purest white ground- 

 colour. 



Bac7c. — The largest and most distinct black edging, 

 according to the size of the feather, on purest 

 white ground. 



Sudd/e.— Ditto. 



IFhiff. — Divided into four parts: — 1st, The shoul- 

 der : the best and purest white, with largest and 

 most distinct black moons. 2iid, The bars : to 

 liave two distinct bars crossing the wing, com- 

 ])osed of the largest, clearest, brightest, and best 

 black lacing on purest wiiite. 3rd, The flight : 

 the cleanest and purest wliite. 4th, The secon- 

 dary fli','ht feathers : the clearest, best, and most 

 distinct black lacing, on purest white ground. 



Tiiil. — The fullest and purest white, most free from 

 mossing, and most distinctly laced with purest 

 black. 



Lc(/s, — The clearest and best blue. 



Tin; Hex. 

 Identical in markings with the cock, except the 

 head ; the crest most globular, largest and ptircst 

 white, with best and largest moons at the end of 

 the feather. 



Golden. 

 Descriptive points of both cock and hen the same 



817 



