Peculiarities of Polish Fowls. 



395 



most singular protuberance towards the front of the top of the head, from which protuberance the 

 crest grows ; and, secondly, by virtue of the law that excess of growth in one part is frequently 

 accompanied by defect in some other part, there is a chasm in the intermaxillary bones, which in 

 ordinary fowls extend over and support the roof of the nostrils, but in Polish leave the superior 

 edges entirely unsupported. Owing to this deficiency in bony structure, the nostrils of a Polish 

 fowl appear flattened, depressed, and yet cavernous in character, as shown in Fig. Z%. These 

 differences are marked enough, and the advocates of development would appear at first sight to 

 have a strong point in their favour ; but the teaching of experience demolishes any theory which 

 may be built upon them by the simple fact that both distinctions are of the most transitory 

 kind, or the introduction of a single cross and careful breeding afterwards, speedily eradicating 

 the whole, and the crest with theni, as if they had never been. 



Fi^. 8S.— Head of a Common Polish Fowl, showing the Cavernous Nostrils. 



The varieties of Polish known to fanciers are rather numerous, but only three are generally 

 seen at shows ; the White-crested Black, which has wattles but no beard, and the Gold and Silver- 

 Spangled varieties, which are now shown without wattles, the vacancy being supplied with a full 

 beard or muff under the throat. This latter point used to occasion some debate in poultry circles ; 

 but the bearded birds have long since carried the day, and can alone be shown with success in 

 England, being in almost every case also superior in size of crest. In America beardless Spangled 

 Polish are still occasionally .shown, all varieties of this fowl being somewhat scarce ; but as breeders 

 procure more stock and attain a higher standard, there can be no doubt that the much finer 

 appearance of the bearded birds will there also give them the preference over those destitute of 

 this appendage. 



Mr. Beldon has kindly furnished the following notes on Spangled Polish fowls : — 

 " There used to be varieties without beards both of Golden and Silver Polish. These had long 

 been known in England, but were deficient in size of crest, which was much smaller than in the 



