Poiands. 121 



CHAPTER XVII. 



POLANDS. 



THIS breed might with good reason be divided into 

 more families, but it is usual to rank as Poiands all fowls 

 with their chief distinguishing characteristic, a full, large, 

 round, compact tuft on the head. The breed " is quite 

 unknown in Poland, and takes its name," says Mr. Dick- 

 son, "from some resemblance having been fancied between 

 its tufted crest and the square-spreading crown of the 

 feathered caps worn by the Polish soldiers." It is much 

 esteemed in Egypt, and equally abundant at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, where their legs are feathered. Some travellers 

 assert that the Mexican poultry are crested, and that what 

 are called Poland fowls are natives of either Mexico or 

 South America ; but others believe that they are natives of 

 the East, and that they, as well as all the other fowls on 

 the Continent of America, have been introduced from the 

 Old World. 



The Golden-spangled and Silver-spangled are the most 

 beautiful varieties, the first being of a gold colour and the 

 second white, both spangled with black. The more uniform 

 the colour of the tuft is with that of the bird, the higher it 

 is valued. 



The Black Poland is of a deep velvety black ; has a large, 

 white, round tuft, and should not have a comb, but many 

 have a little comb in the form of two small points before 

 the tuft. The tuft to be perfect should be entirely white, 

 but it is rare to meet with one without a slight bordering 

 of black, or partly black, feathers round the front. 



There are also Yellow, laced with white, Buff or Chamois, 

 spangled with white, Blue, Grey, Black, and White mottled. 

 All the sub-varieties should be of medium size, neat compact 

 form, plump, full-breasted, and have lead-coloured legs and 

 ample tails. 



