150 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



'.hem to be a pure race, although I am fully 

 aware that one can not be too cautious in stamp- 

 ing stray pens of fowls as new and distinct varie- 

 ties. There is always, indeed, abundance of 

 trash sent to exhibitions under that class, and 

 if they can but get noticed, they are forthwith 

 sent out at prices that fairly make one stand 

 aghast when one sees the article thus paid for. 

 " But the question now before us is whether 

 these Paduans are either derived from or allied 

 to any other known breed ? Now the red Dork- 

 ing and the Duck- wing Game suggest them- 

 selves as the most likely connections. But the 

 Paduans I have hitherto bred, have shown no 

 indications of either of those breeds beyond a 

 tinge of blue or green in the legs, and a rather 

 fan-shaped Game tail, both of which, it is true, 

 might raise a question of (as the Irish would 

 say) the last taste of the Duck-wing. But this has 

 only occurred in a pullet or two, the cockerels 

 being quite steady and pure. The adult birds 

 are of the size of medium Dorkings, and rath- 

 er partake of their shape, having short white 

 legs and broad backs. The cock's hackle and 

 saddle feathers are brilliant orange; back and 

 wings, darker red; breast, chestnut; with a green 



speculum on the wing; tail, a rich glancing 

 greenish black. 



" The hen has a chestnut or fawn-colored 

 breast, golden hackle edged with brown, back 

 and wings different shades of brown, each feath- 

 er being beautifully marked, and closely resem- 

 bling those of the partridge. They are excel- 

 lent both as layers and incubators, no less than 

 for the table, where they appear plump, well- 

 shaped birds, a source of comfort, indeed, to 

 any cook who, in these days of gaunt Asiat- 

 ics, has been hitherto obliged to make those 

 birds which would not do for the show, respect- 

 able for master's table. The eggs are fair 

 sized, and about the color of the lightest Shang- 

 hais. The cockerel's comb is rather long in 

 growing up, and, at maturity, of a medium size, 

 and always single. 



"Under such circumstances we should advise 

 the substitution of some other name from that 

 which they now bear. It neither indicates their 

 native country, nor serves to explain any por- 

 tion of their subsequent histoiy ; while confusion 

 is sure to arise from its application to the Padu- 

 an fowls of Aldrovandus, the progenitors, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Dixon, of our present Polish race." 



