166 GUELDERLAND FOWLS. 



GUELDERLAND HEN. 



that the Black Poland, and Black Spanish fowls possess ; as a 

 fowl that is not highly valued as a table or market fowl, can 

 never be held in the highest scale of public esteem, except as 

 layers or for certain other qualities of an inferior grade. 

 Geo. A. Smith, Esq., of Macon, Ga., writes me as follows : 



These are a fine fowl for ornament, and very good layers and sitters. 

 I do not think them good for the table. When walking, their heads 

 and tails touch. They have no combs, bnt large gills. I think they 

 will breed in-and-in always, without degenerating. 



I am indebted to H. L Devereux, Esq., of Boston, for the 

 following description of this breed : 



The pure black Guelderland fowl, has never, to my knowledge, been 

 described in any of the poultry books published in England or this 

 country. They were imported from the north of Holland, in the 

 month of May, 1842, by Captain John Devereux, of Marblehead, 

 Mass., in the ship Dromo, on his voyage from Amsterdam to Boston ; 

 and since that time, they have been bred by him at his place in that 

 town, entirely distinct from any other breed. They are supposed to 

 have originated in the north part of Holland. They have no com b, 

 but a small, indented, hard, bony substance instead ; and large, red 

 wattles. Their legs are of a shining black, smooth, and without 

 feathers, except in a very few instances. Dr. B., in his work, is by 

 some means led into error. Where the legs are " heavily feathered" 



