168 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



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the feathers of which were, however, tipped with 

 white ; her bill and feet were dark slate-color, 

 shape very plump and round. Her owner de- 

 scribed her as an excellent layer, the eggs being 

 also of large size. He had endeavored to get 

 others of the same breed, especially a cock, but 

 hitherto without success, although they were 

 said to exist in Brittany/ 



" Of these old Poles we have little personal 

 knowledge. Occasionally, indeed, we have seen 

 tufted fowls of larger size than the ordinary Po- 

 lands of the present day, and without any ap- 

 pearance of a comb. These, we presume, were 

 the birds alluded to by Mr. Brent ; but our re- 

 cent inquiries for them confirm the opinion of 

 that gentleman, as regards their present extreme 

 rarity." 



SILVER-SPANGLED CRESTED FOWL. 



The Silver-spangled fowls are in all respects 

 similar to the Golden-spangled Poland fowls 

 in shape and markings, except that white, black, 



CliEbTEI) FOWL. 



and gray are exchanged for ochre or yellow, 

 and various shades of brown. They are even 

 more delicate in their constitution, more liable 

 to remains/foetal a certain point of their growth, 

 and still more require, and will repay, extra 

 care and accommodation. Their top-knots are 

 not, perhaps, so large ; but they retain the same 

 neat, bluish legs, and slightly-webbed feet. It 

 is curious that a bird which is quite incapable 

 of swimming should have webs on its feet, while 

 the Gallinule, which swims and dives well, has 

 none. 



In both the Gold and Silver varieties, one 

 great point is the regularity and distinctness of 

 their markings; for any thing approaching a 

 splashed or spotted appearance is fatal to their 

 claims. Spangling and lacing are, in fact, con- 

 stantly united in these birds ; for the horse-shoe 

 spangle being continued up the sides of the 

 feather, confers, in some degree, a laced charac- 

 ter. At the same time, we are assured that those 

 laced throughout, especially of the Silver kind, 



