FARM-YARD FOWLS. 



133 





TUB FBIZZLED FOWL. 



The hens, if young, continue to lay nearly 

 throughout the year, which entitles them to 

 rank among the best egg-producers; but the 

 eggs, which are white, are small, weighing only 

 about 1 ^ ounces each. As they seem to have no 

 desire to sit, it is advisable to hatch their eggs 

 under a common hen. 



THE FRIZZLEI> FOWL. 



This fowl, more curious than useful, is said 

 to be a native of Japan, and other parts of East- 

 ern Asia, and is frequently called the " Frieze- 

 land fowl," from confounding the proper term 

 frizzled with Friezeland. Captain Steadman has 

 observed, in his "Voyage to Surinam and the 

 interior of Guiana," that the natives rear a very 

 small species of fowls whose feathers are ruffled, 

 and which seem to be natives of that country. 



"This fowl," says Layard, in a letter from 

 Ceylon, "is called by the Ceylonese Caprikukullo. 

 It is found here but rarely, and the natives say 

 they came from Batavia." Sonnini and Tem- 

 minck agree that it is a native of Southern Asia ; ! 



but that it is domesticated, and thrives well in 

 Java, Sumatra, and all the Philippine Islands. 

 It is ihegallus crispus (Frizzled fowl) of Brisson. 

 Martin says, "this breed is originally from 

 Eastern Asia, and is often seen in Java, Suma- 

 tra, and India. It is a new variety, and not a 

 distinct species, as some have supposed." It is 

 occasionally met with in this country, but is not 

 common. It is called by some " French fowL" 

 It takes its name of frizzled, from the feathers 

 with the exception of the tail being turned 

 or curled toward the head, giving the appear- 

 ance, as has been facetiously remarked, of hav- 

 ing been " drawn through a knot-hole." Here, 

 at the north, our climate is even too severe for 

 the grown fowls. They are tender the feath- 

 ers do not afford protection against wet, and 

 they are unable to bear exposure. " The open, 

 ruffled appearance of their feathers," says anoth- 

 er writer, " suggests the opinion that they must 

 be unsuited to our climate ; but those best ac- 

 quainted with them inform us that they are 

 hardy, and do not suffer more than other fowls 



