1GO RUMPLESS FOWLS. 



BAVARIAN FOWLS. 



This breed is of the crested, or top-knot race of fowls, and 

 do not differ materially in general characteristics from the 

 Poland or Spanish fowls, except that they are good sitters and 

 nurses. They are not a common fowl in the market, and few 

 are bred in this country. I take it for granted that there is 

 nothing particularly desirable pertaining to them. Dr. Bennett 

 describes them as follows : 



The plumage of this fowl is jet black, and they have also black 

 legs, frequently feathered heavily. Both cocks and hens are muffled 

 with a heavy " imperial," or " goat-beard," under the throat, and 

 usually quite a crest, or top-knot, much resembling, in all these 

 respects, the Golden Pheasant ; with this difference, however, that the 

 crest of the Bavarian is smaller, and the imperial larger, the muffler 

 being about the same in both breeds. Tails and wings longer than 

 most of the large breeds, excepting the Dorkings. 



The eggs are usually large, white, and well -flavored. They are 

 among the very best layers, and are good sitters, and careful nurses. 

 The weight is generally from five to eight pounds. They come to 

 maturity very early, are more hardy than either of the two preceding 

 varieties, and the chickens are very easily raised. Although I esteem 

 the Guelderland and the Spanish fowls as pure breeds, and excellent 

 in all respects, yet I prefer these, especially on account of the size of 

 their eggs. 



Occasionally one of this breed, of perfectly pure blood, may be seen 

 entirely destitute of a crest, with a large muffler, small imperial, and 

 lightly feathered legs. Those with these marks are usually the best, 

 being larger and better layers. 



KUMPLESS FOWLS. 



This is a breed of fowls without tails another freak of nature. 

 Several varieties of this race of fowls are bred in this country, 

 and their character is well known in many places. They pos- 

 sess the various good qualities of our common fowls, differing 

 in nowise, save in the lack of a tail. Where this breed origi- 

 nated, is not known, nor is it important to know whether they 

 came from the North pole, Si ram's hole in the center of the 

 earth, or from the tropics. Main says : 



Some writers, among whom is Temminck, consider this bird a dis- 

 tinct species, rather than a variety ; the wild breed from which it 

 originated still existing, and confined to the deep forests of Ceylon. 

 Its principal characteristic is the want of a tail, hence its name, 

 Rumpless Fowl, by which it is more commonly known ; though in the 

 wild bird the comb is not indented, and the wattles are blood-colored 



