56 THE BIRDS 



bars, the male and female having the same plumage pattern. 

 The cockerel does not show the distinctive sex plumage 

 common to most other breeds. The Campines, as a breed, 

 seem to lack vitality, to be subject to a good many diseases, 

 and rather hard to raise. As with all new breeds, they are 

 passing through a stage of popularity due to their novelty, 

 which will, doubtless, soon settle down to a normal basis 

 (Fig. 38). 



The Houdans. — The Houdans are a French breed, but 

 their appearance has led authorities to assume that the 

 English Dorking, which is one of the most ancient breeds, 

 was used in originating the Houdan. They possess the 

 fifth toe, characteristic of the Dorking. They produce 

 large, white-shelled eggs, attain a good body weight, and 

 probably make a better dual purpose bird than any of the 

 other egg breeds, because they are full-breasted. They are 

 distinguished by a V-shaped comb. In color they resemble 

 the Ancona, the plumage being black, and the ends of the 

 feathers being tipped with white. They are very popular 

 to-day in France, but this popularity will never equal that 

 of the Leghorn. 



LABORATORY EXERCISE 



Exercise No. 9. — Secure characteristic specimens of as 

 many representatives of the egg breeds as possible. The 

 Leghorns, Minorcas, Anconas and Houdans should be repre- 

 sented, the first two mentioned especially. Place them in 

 individual, adjacent coops in the classroom. Devote at 

 least one exercise period to a study and discussion of the 

 body shape of each breed. Special attention should be given 

 to plumage color and to distinctive breed characteristics. 

 Before the exercise is concluded the birds should be moved 

 around in the coops and each pupil be allowed to name the 

 different birds according to its breed name. The birds may 

 be designated by a coop or pen number. While they are 



