BREEDS OF CHICKENS. 89 



female six pounds. Houdans are good layers, have 

 compact, well-proportioned bodies, and are superior 

 table and market fowls. The flesh of all the French 

 breeds is white, the bones are small and the meat 

 juicy. Like the Dorkings, they have five toes on each 

 foot. The Crevecoeurs and La Flechc have black 

 plumage and are larger than the Houdans. For some 

 reason they have not become popular in this country 

 and are not so well known as the latter. 



The eighth class comprises Games and Game 

 Bantams, of each of which there are eight varieties. 

 The typical Game shape is well exhibited in the Black- 

 Breasted Red Game Bantam in colored Plate XIII. 

 They all have single, erect combs and wattles, but it 

 is the fashion to cut these appendages off. It is this 

 operation, called ' * dubbing, ' ' that produces their 

 fierce and war-like appearance. Contrary to a com- 

 mon impression the varieties of Games named in the 

 1 ' Standard ' ' are seldom ever bred for fighting, but 

 almost wholly for exhibition or practical purposes. 

 Being a hardy race and having a good muscular 

 development about the 

 breast, ithey are used with 

 good effect to cross on com- 

 mon stock, or on other 

 pure - bred flocks. Game 

 hens make the best of 

 mothers, and are very cour- 

 ageous in detending their 

 broods. 



The tiinth class includes 

 Oriental Games and Bantams WHITE COCHIN BANTAM* 



