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THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



distinguished by the ground color of their plu- 

 mage. The first division into penciled and 

 spangled fowls ; the next into golden and silver 

 penciled, and golden and silver spangled. 



The Silver-penciled, known as the Bolton 

 Gray, from being extensively and superiorly 

 cultivated in and about Bolton, England, are 

 considered the most beautiful, although proba- 

 My no better layers than any of the other vari- 

 eties. They are called Creole, from the intermix- 

 ture of the black and white ; Coral, because the 

 numerous points of the polished, bright scarlet 

 rose-comb bear no distant resemblance to grains 

 of red coral ; Penciled Dutch, because many 

 are imported from Holland. 



All Hamburg fowls, though scarcely of me- 

 dium size, are plump, compact, beautifully 

 formed and marked, which, added to their great 

 reputation as perpetual layers, should com- 

 mend them as general favorites. Their eggs 

 are of a medium size ; they are rather noted for 

 long continued than rapid layers, and rarely 

 known to sit. They are active, noisy, and impa- 



tient of confinement ; great foragers, though 

 small consumers of grain ; and when full liber- 

 ty and a good range is afforded, they are un- 

 doubtedly a most profitable fowl. Some con- 

 sider them delicate in constitution, but this can 

 be obviated, in a great measure, by a little extra 

 care when young, which will be amply repaid in 

 the increased size of the fowl when full grown. 

 There has been a great deal said by some about 

 this class of birds not being winter layers. There 

 must be bad management somewhere when this 

 is the case. Hamburg pullets hatched in March 

 or April, begin to lay in October, and continue 

 until moulting again, and it is surprising what 

 a number of eggs are produced. 



They mature early, and are tender, juicy, and 

 finely flavored. Few birds excel them for the 

 table. The cocks weigh about 4 pounds ; the 

 hens 3 pounds. 



THE SILVER-PENCILED HAMBURG. 



This sub-variety is sometimes called the Pen- 

 ciled Dutch, because many are imported from 



