RUSSIAN FOWLS. 129 



are called muffed fowls ; that is, they have a muff of feathers under 

 the throat, and at the sides of the head, like whiskers ; but are nofc 

 tutted or crested fowls; that is, they are destitute of a top-knot. 

 The comb is single, serrated, and small, and the wattles are of dimin- 

 utive size. 



The Russian, or Siberian fowls, are about the size of Black Shang- 

 haes, and are equally prolific, and m-uch more brilliant in plumage. 

 They are not so feathery as the Shanghaee, and consequently are of 

 greater specific gravity a sure indication of fineness of flesh. 



Some breeders call the Bavarian fowl the Siberian fowl, but this is 

 an error ; for the Siberian and Russian fowl are identical, and this 

 stock was imported direct from Russia. Mr. De Gruy has them in 

 great perfection. 



Dr. B. has placed at my disposal a letter from E. L. Hyde, 

 Esq., of Mystic, Conn., from which I make the following extract : 



"Supposing that information of any new breed of fowls would be 

 interesting to you, I will inform you of a breed that has lately fallen 

 under my observation, in this vicinity. The first were brought here 

 some two years since, but where they originated, or by whom imported, 

 I have not been able to learn. They are called the Russian Fowl, and 

 I do not see them mentioned in your book, nor in any other that I 

 have obtained, and it is very singular how so valuable a fowl for this 

 climate should have escaped your notice. They weigh from fifteen to 

 seventeen pounds the pair, and the stags stand from twenty-eight to 

 thirty inches high. They have large, single combs, small wattles, and 

 large black whiskers, and a ruff at the throat ; small, tucked-up wings, 

 large, long, body, wide breast and back, and very deep in the quarter ; 

 legs, not long, but black, except the under part of the foot, which is 

 a deep yellow. They are of a uniform color, being a beautiful green- 

 ish black, like the feathers of a Wood Duck, with the exceptic-n that 

 the stags have dark red hackles, with a delicate penciling of black 

 through the middle of each, on the neck, and a very few near the 

 root of the tail, which is even shorter than that of the Cochin Chinas. 

 They seem particularly adapted to this cold climate, as they lay almost 

 constantly, without a warm shelter or extra feed. One man assured 

 me, and I have no cause to doubt his word, as he is known to be a 

 man of truth and veracity that one of his pullets laid 335 eggs in a 

 year, and that other hens did nearly as well. All who have these 

 fowls, are getting eggs every day, while those that have any other 

 variety, get none. The eggs are a dark buff color, and are blunt at 

 both ends, like the Cochin Chinas. I understand that they were 

 brought from the north of Europe by a New London whaler." 

 6* 



