THE BRAEKEL 41 



The breeds are now pretty widely bred in this country, and in- 

 variably render an excellent account of themselves. 



Plumage. — It is generally accepted that the ideal plumage 

 should represent two distinct colors, silvery white (substituting 

 golden yellow for the Golden variety) , overlaid by black barrings 

 that possess a rich purplish greeli sheen. The barrings should be 

 clean-cut, about three times the width of the ground color, and 

 run transversely across the feather, with such regularity as to 

 form the appearance of rings around the bird's body. With due 

 allowance for a slight departure in the breast, wings, and tail, 

 every feather should conform to this idea of symmetry, excepting 

 the neck hackle, which is clear white, or clear yellow, in both 

 sexes. 



The Braekel (sometimes spelled Brackel) is a similar breed, 

 frequently confused with the Campine, and is also indigenous to 

 Belgium. It flourished in the more fertile regions of the southern 

 districts, where it is supposed to have gained greater size. Both 

 have the same progenitors, there can be no mistake on this point, 

 but the Braekel, having the good fortune to live in a plenteous 

 land, waxed big and fat, whereas her northern sister, the Cam- 

 pine, residing in a less fruitful section, was obliged to pass a more 

 frugal existence. In consequence her growth was in proportion 

 to her living, small and lean. This training, however, has made 

 the Campine a very thrifty fowl, and given it a hardihood and 

 vigor for which it is celebrated. 



The two names, Campine and Braekel, were intermingled — ■ 

 large and small Campines, and large and small Braekels — until 

 about fifteen years ago, when the English fanciers took up the 

 breeds and set about standardizing them, and at the same time 

 eliminating several objectionable features. They found the Cam- 

 pine too small, and by infusing Braekel blood increased the size. 

 The Braekel, however, had a white saddle hackle, similar to the 

 neck hackle, which was objectionable, because it required a 

 double mating to secure any degree of uniformity in the color of 

 the plumage. 



By careful selection this white saddle was removed ; in fact. 



