POULTEY. 



107 



The White-crested Black Poland is a fowl of a deep velvety black, 

 with a large white tuft on the head. They should be without comb ; 

 but many have a little comb in the form of two small points before the 

 tuft. The tuft, to be perfect, should be entirely white ; but it is rare to 

 meet with one without a slight bordering of black, or partly black 

 feathers round the front. 



The Oolden and Silver Polands are, the one a gold color, the other 

 white spangled with black : the tuft, as in the black, should be large 

 and compact. The more completely the color in the tuft can partake 

 of the character of feather in the rest of the bird, the better. Some 

 persons admit white in the tuft of the golden Poland, but I cannot help 

 thinking the mixture a great fault. Mr. Baily (well known as one of 

 the best judges) would like to see the feathers of the tuft laced. This 

 is very difficult of attainment. The marking of the bird is a black 

 spangle on the golden or silver ground-color. The wings are barred, 

 and the best judges admit lacing on the wing-coverts. 



There are several other varieties of tufted fowls or Polands, and many 

 intelligent breeders have devoted great attention to them. 



The black and the white are both beautiful, with full tufts, muffs, and 

 clean legs. 





THE GOJJJEN SPANGLED HAMBITBG FOWl. 



Hamburg Fowls. — The Hamburg is a medium-sized fowl, with a brisk 

 and spirited bearing, a brilliantly red double comb, ending in a spike at 

 the back, taper blue legs, ample tail, exact markings, and a well de- 

 veloped white deaf ear. They are profitable fowls to keep, being excellent 

 layers, and not large eaters. They are what pigeon-fanciers would call 

 good field-birds, delighting to wander far abroad, and to seek provender 

 for themselves. The varieties are. 



The Spangled Hamburg, or pheasant-fowls, the marking of which 

 takes the form of a spot upon each feather. They are divided into gold 

 and silver, according to the ground-color of the plumage. "* ^ 



The Penciled Hamburg, in which the Hiarking is more\ininute. 

 When seen at a distance, the hens have the appearance of being mi- 

 nutely speckled in plumage, and over this a pure white hackle falls and 

 contrasts very prettily. When one feather is taken separately, the 

 marking is very exact and beautiful, being a regular penciling; i. e., the 



