122 POULTRY BREEDING IN 



The Houdan fowl has a very bulky appearance, its 

 plumage invariably black and white spangled a crest 

 of the same color ; comb, triple, the outsides opening like 

 two leaves of a book, and the centre having the appear- 

 ance of an ill-shaped long strawberry. With the cock 

 the comb is very large, whilst with the hen it ought to be 

 scarcely perceptible. The legs are strong, and of a lead 

 color, with five claws, the two hind ones one above the 

 other. Strongly-developed whiskers and beards both in 

 cocks and hens. This is one of the finest races of fowls, 

 but its qualities surpass even its beauty ; besides the 

 smallness of their bones, the fineness of their flesh, they 

 are of an extraordinary precocity and fecundity ; they lay 

 large and white eggs, and the chickens are fit for the 

 table at four months old. It is, however, observed that 

 they are very indifferent for hatching. The weight of 

 adults is from seven to eight pounds, in which the bones 

 figure for one eighth. The chicken, when four months 

 old, weighs, without the intestines, about four and a half 

 pounds. 



The Crevecceur Race, 



In outward appearance, resembles closely the Houdan, 

 but its crest, whiskers, and beard are still more developed ; 

 the crest is only double, and projects like two horns with 

 the cock, but with the hen it is very small ; the whole 

 plumage ought to be perfectly black, although there are 

 some white, also blue varieties, which are, however, only 

 a degeneration ; legs black ; the claws, four in number, 

 are stronger and longer than those of the Houdan. This 

 breed is said to be superior, in all respects, even to 



