122 Profitable. Poultry Keeping. 



similiarly dark hue, but their great peculiarity is, that their 

 feathers are not webbed, as are those of other fowls, but 

 separate, and giving the appearance of a covering of silk or 

 down. Kespecting them Mr. Tegetmeier in his Poultry Book 

 remarks : — '■' In form Silk fowls are compact, and low on the 

 legs ; in this respect resembling well-bred Cochins. They 

 are by no means of so great a weight as they appear, for 

 their feathers when in good condition are very fluffy, and . 

 stand well out from the body, giving them the appearance 

 of far greater bulk than they in reality possess. Their 

 ordinary weight is under two pounds each for the hens, and 

 two pounds and a half for the cocks. From their small size 

 they are not unfrequently termed silky bantams, and are 

 often exhibited at our poultry shows in the classes for those 

 breeds. The eggs laid by silk fowls are small in size, and 

 of a pale buff colour. The hens usually lay about twenty 

 or twenty-five eggs before showing any desire to sit ; they 

 are admirable mothers, and, on this account, as well as from 

 the warmth afforded by their downy plumage, they are well 

 suited for rearing pheasants or partridges." " 



