La Fleche. Bred as. 417 



same night, and perhaps well again next morning — perhaps dead. The case of the Craves 

 just mentioned should keep us from rashly concluding that this singularly unsatisfactory constitution 

 is incapable of improvement. It is possible that in this instance also time and care may acclimatise 

 the fowl, and within the last twelve months we think more La Fleche have been shown than for 

 some years before ; but we must confess the last accounts we have been able to obtain are not 

 encouraging, and we cannot recommend this breed as a profitable one, or to be kept under any 

 circumstances, except under the favourable conditions of a warm aspect, and drj', gravelly, or 

 chalky soil. 



In breeding La Fleche, pure white ear-lobes, absence of crest, neat and small combs, and 

 hard glossy plumage should be chosen, as regards the more " fancy " points ; but it will be 

 particularly needful also to select birds which present fine sturdy frames, and as strong a constitution 

 js possible, choosing a cock, if it can be done, which was free from leg-weakness as a chicken, and 



Fig. 92. — Head of Breda Cock. 



especially only breeding -from fnUy-viatnrcd birds. All means should be used to strengthen the 

 constitution of the chicks by good nourishing food, especially supplying plenty of phosphates, for 

 which nothing can equal the ground bones or bone-dust we have already recommended. We have 

 also good reason to believe that the regular use in the water of the syrup of phosphates described 

 by us at page 188 might have in this case very remarkable results, all the faults in constitution 

 to which the breed is liable presenting marked symptoms of a deficiency of phosphatic elements in 

 the blood. 



The La Fleche is so seldom shown that we have had some difficulty in framing a standard from 

 actual results. To a considerable extent, therefore, the table of points must be regarded as our 

 personal views ; but We have done our best, from the few pens shown, and a careful comparison of 

 the scales in breeds somewhat analagous (which afford valuable aid in cases of this kind), to frame 

 one such as shall afford the materials for a sound judgment. 



• 



BREDAS, OR GUELDRES.— This cannot be called a fancy breed in any sense of the 



word, but is a good useful fowl nevertheless ; and the only reason it has not been popular in 



England is probably that it is inferior in size to the Houdan, which in general qualities it much 



resembles. It is a fairly good layer, though not quite so good as the Houdan perhaps, and very 



53 



