SPANGLED HAMBURGH FOWLS. ]49 



fowl ; the chickens, though of the same clutch, sometimes have the 

 ruff at the throat, and some of the same may be without it, but the 

 breeders designate them Spangled Polish, if without the ruff, and 

 Spangled Hamburgh, if they happen to possess it. Perfectly pure-bred 

 birds, of either variety, are easily distinguished from each other, but 

 are difficult to procure. The ground and coloring of the feathers 

 differ as well as the ruff and top-knot. The Spangled Polish, and 

 perhaps the best Spangled Hamburghs I ever imported, were shipped 

 to me at Rotterdam and turned out very superior birds. Part of the 

 lot I disposed of to Arthur Haffield, Esq., of the Treasury, Dublin 

 Castle, and another part to R. P. Williams, Esq, of Drumcondra 

 Castle. Both these gentlemen have carefully preserved the breed, 

 and I venture to say, their experience, for years, lias not found a bet- 

 ter. So superior were they in carriage and plumage, that the latter 

 gentleman has forwarded some specimens to the London Zoological 

 Society's show, to compete with all England. Their weight is as near 

 as possible the Black and Spangled Polish, or perhaps, a little more 

 say six and a half pounds for the cock, and about five and a half 

 pounds for the hen ; the cock stands about twenty-one inches, and the 

 hen nineteen. Jf even pure-bred, this bird is subdivided into golden 

 and silver spangled, the ground of the feathers of the golden spangled- 

 being a rich yellow, approaching to an orange red, with black spot or 

 spangle ; the silver spangled differs from the preceding, by the ground 

 of the feathers being a silvery white ; both are frequently obtainable 

 in the same clutch. The comb, as in other highly crested fowls, is 

 diminutive ; wattles, small ; hackles, gold or silver spangled, according 

 to plumage ; tail, beautifully plumed ; legs, blue or white ; skin, 

 white; flesh, white and juicy; eggs, a moderate size, and abundant; 

 chickens, easily reared. I should wish, from their superior beauty 

 and usefulness as layers, they were more abundant. The slightest 

 cross deteriorates their value ; they may be truly said to be both use- 

 ful and ornamental ; they are just such birds as a lady of good taste 

 would wish to see about her lawn ; and she would not be disappointed 

 if she wished for a fresh egg, or omelet daily. 



