192 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



ferred and esteemed before the male ; and so, in the breed of 

 these birds, you must be sure your henne be right, that is to 

 say, she must be of a right plume, as gray, grissell, speckt, or 

 yellowish blacke or browne is not amisse. She must be 

 kindlie to her young, of large body, well pockt behind for 

 large egges, and well tufted on the crowne, which shewes 

 courage." (Pleasures of Princes, p. 41.) 



Sketchley gives somewhat different properties for a game 

 hen, which should not, he thinks, be large, making up for 

 deficiency in size by the size of the cock ; but, like the cock, 

 they should have lofty necks, short and close feathered, with 

 clear, sinewy legs, not giving way in the bone, well-set thighs, 

 and long, clean, taper toes. 



" When hens," says Lawrence, " have a large comb, or 

 crow like a cock, they are generally deemed inferior ; but he 

 has, notwithstanding, had hens with large rose combs, and 

 also crowers, equal to any in his stock." 



M. Parmentier tells us, that in selecting hens, they should 

 be chosen of a middling size, of a black or brown color, of a 

 H)bust constitution, and with a large head, bright eyes, the 

 comb pendent, and the feet bluish. He advises to reject 

 crowers, and such as are savage, quarrelsome, or peevish, 

 because such are seldom favorites with the cocks, scarcely 

 ever lay, and do not hatch well. He also properly rejects old 

 hens, meaning such as are above four or five years ; as well as 

 those which are too fat, and those whose comb and claws are 

 rough, this being a sign of their having ceased to lay. 



After the common hen, which, on account of her fecundity, 

 is deservedly esteemed, the tufted hen may be, according to 

 M. Parmentier, justly ranked, particularly from being more 

 delicate eating, because she fattens more readily, on account 

 of laying less. The large breed, though less prolific, is pref- 

 erable in rearing chickens for the market, or for making capons. 



