HOUDANS. 223 



colour, like the comb. The ear-lobes are dead white, like 

 the Spanish, and exceedingly developed, meeting under the 

 neck in good specimens. 



The appearance of the La Fleche fowl is very bold and 

 intelligent, and its habits active and lively ; at the same time 

 it appears very subject to roup in our climate. As an egg 

 producer, it is as nearly as possible similar to the Spanish, 

 not only in the size and number of the eggs, but the seasons 

 and circumstances in which they may be expected. In 

 juiciness and flavour the flesh approaches nearer to that of 

 the Game fowl than any other breed we know ; but is more 

 tender, while having less of what is called "gamey" flavour. 

 This breed is much used to produce the magnificent capons 

 and poulardes so celebrated in the Paris market, and 

 which sell for a guinea or thirty shillings each in French 

 money. 



The cocks suffer much from leg weakness and disease of 

 the knee-joint, and do not bear the fatigue and excitement 

 of exhibition so well as most fowls. 



HOUDANS. This fowl in many respects resembles the 

 Dorking, and Dorking blood has evidently assisted in its 

 formation, probably crossed with the mottled ANCONA 

 (p. 205). Houdans have the size, deep compact body, short 

 legs, and fifth toe of the Dorking, which in form they 

 closely resemble, but with much less offal and smaller 

 bones. The plumage varies considerably, but is always 

 some mixture of black and white, arranged in a sort of 

 irregular splash ,or speckle all over. Some hens become 

 nearly white as they grow older, the breed getting lighter 

 with age. To avoid this, some breeders have been in the 

 habit of crossing with the Creve, and the result has been 

 seen in young birds almost black, and with the plain two- 

 horned Creve comb instead of the peculiar comb of the 



