THE TOP-KNOT. 29 



and confusion. The disposition to fight 

 commences with the chick just escaped from 

 the shell, and they injure each other so much 

 that they are extremely difficult to raise. 

 As might be inferred from their restless dis- 

 position, they are very unsteady sitters. The 

 high price which the game cock bears may 

 render it an object to raise them, but every 

 right-minded and benevolent person will 

 scrupulously refrain from rearing them for 

 such brutal purposes. A few pullets of this 

 breed may be mixed up with the others, but 

 cocks of the pure blood should be marked 

 for the spit as soon as they appear. 



2. The Top-knot. This is the variety be- 

 fore mentioned under the name of Cristatus. 

 Of this there are several races: The Poland,' 

 which is said to have been first introduced 

 into Holland from the East, and from thence 

 distributed through Europe and America. 

 The true Poland is of a shining black, with 

 a tuft of white feathers on the head. An- 

 other race is the Golden Poland, which is 

 highly prized by the bird-fanciers in Eng- 

 land and France for the beauty and singu- 



