POLISH FOWLS. t 217 



that there once existed a breed of Black-crested White 

 Polands ; but, unfortunately it is equally plain that the 

 strain has been totally lost. Its disappearance is the more 

 to be regretted, as it seems to have been not only the most 

 ornamental, but the largest and most valuable of all the 

 Polish varieties. The hen described by Mr. Brent dwarfed 

 even some Malay hens in the same yard. 



WHITE-CRESTED WHITE. This breed, and those which 

 follow, differ from the white -crested Black Polands not only 

 in greater hardihood, but in having a well-developed beard 

 under the chin, in lieu of wattles. They are large fine 

 birds, and the crest is finer and more perfect than in most 

 other colours. They are also among the best in point of 

 laying. The plumage needs no description, being pure 

 white throughout. The variety, though not extinct, is, 

 however, now very scarce and seldom seen. 



SILVER-SPANGLED. In this variety the ground colour of 

 the plumage is a silvery white. Formerly birds were 

 shown with moon-shaped black spangles, and this was 

 once considered correct ; then for many years laced feathers 

 have been the correct thing, except that the cock's back 

 shows some approach to spangling occasionally. The 

 sharper and blacker the lacing is the better. The cock's 

 sickles still show a broad tip or sort of spangle at the end, 

 as well as the edging, and the ground is apt to be grey in 

 these feathers, which dark colour, indeed, breeds better 

 pullets. The lacing of his breast is very important for show 

 purposes, many cocks being nearly black in the upper part. 

 During the last year or two we have occasionally seen birds 

 with the round spangles again. 



The crests should be full and regular, not hollow in the 

 middle, and the feathers here also are laced in hens and 

 more tipped in the cocks. A few white feathers are apt to 

 appear with age. The deaf-ears are small and white, 



