Breeding Crevecceurs. 415 



original stock. However this may be, the fowl has become decidedly more hardy and easier to 

 rear of late years ; and the fact is worthy of special record, as holding out some hopes of successful- 

 acclimatisation in similar or future cases, even after many years of apparent failure. 



The following notes are by Mr. R. B. Wood, of Uttoxeter, one of the most successful of the 

 present breeders, and will fully corroborate the facts we have stated, being, indeed, written in reply 

 to a request for information on the present state of these very points, as mentioned in Mr. Blink- 

 horn's remarks of two years before. 



" My experience of Crevecceurs," he says, " does not altogether agree with Mr. Blinkhorn's as 

 to the cock's throwing red or golden feathers with age. I have never been troubled in this way, but 

 I do find a great tendency in both cocks and hens to throw out more or less white feathers in the 

 crests after the first moult, and, though objectionable, I would not discard an otherwise good bird 

 on this account. I fancy by care the fault may be bred out. 



" In the cock I should look for good size, lustrous greenish-black colour, sprightly carriage, 

 and good two-horned comb (if free from tynes so much the better), and also a good crest and 

 muffling, although I am of opinion it is the hen we must chiefly look to for producing chickens 

 good in these respects. Therefore, one of the first points I should look for in the hen would be a 

 large globular crest, with a comb rather small for /«//i?/-breeding, but the larger-combed birds are 

 the best to breed cockerels from. I would also like the hen of a good greenish-black colour, not 

 brownish, which looks bad. 



" Crevecceurs have, without doubt, wonderfully improved in hardiness during the last few years, 

 so much so, that I now find them very nearly as hardy as Houdans. I may also say, as a breeder 

 of both, that I find them easier to breed good than that variety, that is, if really good specimens be 

 selected for the breeding-pens. As layers I consider them good ; this spring (1873) I have found 

 them produce more eggs, and those exceedingly fine ones too, than either my Houdans or Dark 

 Brahmas. For the table they are excellent, and, like the Houdan, are ready for the spit at a very 

 early age. They are of a very sociable disposition, and easily kept within bounds ; although, if 

 given their liberty, they are by no means bad foragers." 



Other accounts we have received privately are not quite so favourable as the above ; but all 

 agree that, within the last few years, there has been a marked and apparently unaccountable 

 change in the constitution of the birds, and also in its average laying. In the latter quality the 

 Crevecoeur sometimes ranks very high, but in other cases we have known it far othenvise ; the eggs 

 are, however, always very fine and large ; and on the whole, if the recent improvement in hardiness 

 be maintained, this must be pronounced a valuable race of birds. 



The Creve is the bulkiest in appearance of all the French races ; indeed, we have often thought 

 that it must have had a cross with the Cochin, which is to some extent borne out by its enormous 

 appetite. It is the favourite market-fowl of Normandy, and the flesh is both of good colour and 

 most delicate flavour. No fowl could perhaps better show the absurdity of the prejudice against 

 dark legs in poultry for the table, which still lingers in many quarters. It bears close confinement 

 admirably if not allowed to get too fat ; but, like the Houdan, is somewhat liable to feather-eating 

 under these circumstances. 



In breeding, it is very needful to secure purity of the black colour, with which, of course, are 

 to be sought full-sized and solid-looking crests, and the fine frame and square development which 

 always mark good specimens. Many of the finest birds first ^imported had golden hackles, but 

 little difficulty should now be found in obtaining perfectly black specimens. The perfectly black 

 crest is by no means secured yet, white appearing almost constantly in the second year. Nothing 

 could plainer show the relationship with the White-crested Black Polish fowl ; but the white is 



