39^ 



The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



breeds we now possess. The bearded birds, I believe, were first imported by the great dealers, 

 Messrs. Baily and Baker— I fancy from France, but cannot say.* The White-crested Black breed 

 never possessed the beard, and has also been long known in England, but no one knows whence 

 any of them originally came. The Polands are, however, beyond question of very ancient origin ; 

 for in many of the pictures by the old masters— and especially those by Dutch and Flemish 

 painters— the fowls depicted in their rural scenes are birds which, though not bred to feather as we 

 breed them now, are unquestionably Polish fowls in all essential respects. This testimony, unde- 

 signed as it is, I regard as of great value respecting the antiquity of the breed. 



" All the varieties of Polish are remarkably handsome, and at poultry-shows they seem marked 

 favourites with the ladies. They are especially adapted for a gentleman's residence, as they bear 

 confinement well, provided only their place is clean, and that they are provided with a dry covered- 

 in run ; for they must be kept from the wet. With these stipulations, I think no poultry do so well 

 and look so well in confinement. Of course, if there is not a small grass-run they must be supplied 

 with green food. Their water should be given in fountains of such a shape that the birds cannot 

 get their crests into it ; Polish being apt to get the crest very wet, in which case it becomes draggled 

 over the eyes, they pick the feathers out of the middle of each other's top-knot, and, of course, get 

 completely spoilt. The use of the covered-in run is to prevent this, and the birds should always 

 be driven into it when it rains. By observing carefully this one and simple precaution, Polish can 

 always be kept so as to look handsome. 



" When moulting, great care should be taken that the birds do not peck each other's crests, 

 which they are very apt to do when in quill. The cock is especially liable to this treatment, 

 appearing rather to like it than otherwise; at least he will stand still for the hens to pick all the 

 quills out. The safest and best plan, if it can be done, is to put him in a separate pen alone until 

 his crest is grown. 



"SILVER-SPANGLED POLISH.— The Silver-spangled cock is in size somewhat larger 

 than a Silver-spangled Hamburgh, but, as already observed, very similar in shape. The neck 

 should be very curved and well thrown back, somewhat like a fan-tailed pigeon's ; the tail also being 

 carried very erect, but by no means squirrel-fashion or over the back. The crest, which is the chief 

 fancy point in all Polish fowls, is composed of long thin feathers (the longer the better), and should 

 be as full as possible. Its shape is a very great point, it should rise well up in the front, and fall 

 down towards the sides and back, with no division in the middle, but all regular. The crests of 

 many birds fall over the front of the face, which is a great drawback, as these birds when drinking 

 get their crests in the water, and look most wretched. The larger the crest is the better, provided 

 it is of a good shape, but shape is most important. The colour of the cock's crest should be black 



* Just as these pages go to press" we we have received the following interesting particulars from Mr. John Baily concerning the 

 early Polish fowls, about which no one can speak with such authority. " I was, I believe," he says, "the first importer of fowls on 

 a large scale from Holland ; all our early importations were from that country. The Polands were for some years confined to the 

 Black and Blue with white top-knots. After a time we also received some Golden and Silver-spangled ; all tlie early importations 

 were destitute of beard, and had small combs in front of the top-knots, and ample gills. Then came one or two pens of bearded 

 birds (I speak of nearly thirty years ago), and they were much admired. Poultry-shows were in their infancy, and it was a case of 

 Montague and Capulet, Guelph and Ghibelline, which should have the supremacy. The unbearded made a good fight, but the 

 hirsute mcreased in numbers and influence. The originals made stout resistance, and tried at least for separate classes, but they 

 lost ground, and gave up the contest. Still the bearded had combs and gills, but the fiat went forth, and these were voted disquali- 

 fications ; they have remained so to this day. The first Poland fowls I imported were in 1S35. I believe the first. bearded birds 

 were imported some years later by Mr. Baker. The first great breeder of them in this country was Mr. Graham Vivian, M.P., of 

 Swansea, and one of the best pens ever shown belonged to Mrs. EruneL" 



