Polands. 123 



Brahmas or Cochins, and with scattered food they soon 

 become satisfied and walk away. They are the size of 

 our English Poland fowls. Their plumage is white and 

 flowing ; they have a full-sized compact Poland tuft on the 

 head, are muffed, have a good flowing tail, short well- 

 feathered legs, and five toes upon each foot. The comb is 

 merely two little points, and the wattles very small. We 

 have never seen fowls more fully decorated full tail, 

 abundant furnishing, in hackle almost touching the ground, 

 boots, vulture-hocks, beards, whiskers, and full round 

 Poland crests. Their colour is pure white." 



They are prolific layers during spring and summer. 

 Their eggs are white, and weigh from 2 ounces to 2^ 

 ounces each, the Spangled varieties producing the largest. 

 They rarely sit, and generally leave their eggs after five or 

 six days, and are not good mothers. The chickens require 

 great care for six weeks. They should never be hatched 

 by heavy hens, as the prominence in the skull which sup- 

 ports the top-knot is never completely covered with bone, 

 and very sensible to injury. Like the Game breed they 

 improve in feather for several years. Polands never thrive 

 on a wet or cold soil, and are more affected by bad weather 

 than any other breed ; the top-knots being very liable to 

 be saturated with wet. They are easily fattened, and their 

 flesh is white, juicy, and rich-flavoured, but they are not 

 sufficiently large for the market. 



Mr. Hewitt cautions breeders against attempting to seize 

 birds suddenly, as the crest obscures their sight, and, being 

 taken by surprise, they are frequently so frightened as to 

 die in the hand. They should, therefore, always be 

 spoken to, or their attention otherwise attracted before 

 being touched. 



