SELECTING A BREED TO KEEP 21 



ters. It is a characteristic of Houdan eggs that 

 they are unusually fertile, while the chicks feather 

 out rapidly and come to maturity very early. Hou- 

 dans have one peculiarity in the form of a fifth toe, 

 like a very old English breed, the Dorking. The 

 Hamburgs and the Polish in several varieties com- 

 prise two classes very popular with fanciers. 



The Games and Bantams in various breeds are 

 freely bred by fanciers and afford much pleasure to 

 their owners., Many of the Bantams are pocket 

 editions of larger breeds, as, for example, the white, 

 black and buff Cochins and the Light and Dark 

 Brahmas. Probably Buff Cochin Bantams are 

 bred more widely than any of the others, but all 

 of those named, as well as several other kinds, will 

 afford their owners no little pleasure. Most of 

 these Bantams lay a considerable number of eggs, 

 especially in the Spring, and the eggs, although small, 

 are rich. Three are equivalent, as a rule, to two 

 eggs from ordinary hens. The breeds mentioned 

 are large enough to dress for the table. Bantams 

 can hardly be surpassed as pets for children, when 

 the latter are old enough to care for them. A pack- 

 ing box is large enough to house a small flock and 

 the amount of food consumed is very small. 



