56 THE DOMESTIC FOWIi. 



der, if we reflect, is, that he has had the courage to 

 grapple with them at all. The subject is certainly de- 

 serving of consideration, and may be the means of 

 affording important service, to natural history. Dr. 

 Bechstein, of Germany, seems to have been not far from 

 suspecting that several distinct varieties might be de- 

 tected amongst the ordinary fowls of the farmyard. It 

 might answer the purpose of the dealer to rear a pure 

 stock of some of the handsomest and most useful ol 

 these, and send them -forth with appropriate names, de- 

 termined by competent persons, fixing the appellation of 

 the variety. 



The " cuckoo fowl," it may be supposed, was so called 

 from its barred plumage, resembling the breast of the 

 cuckoo. The prevailing color is a slaty blue, undulated 

 and softly shaded with white all over the body, forming 

 bands of various widths. The comb is very small ; irides, 

 bright orange; feet and legs, light flesh color. The 

 hens are of a good size, the cocks are large, approach- 

 ing the heaviest breeds in weight. The chickens, at 

 two or three months old, exhibit the barred plumage 

 even more perfectly than the full-grown birds. The 

 eggs average about two ounces each, are white and of 

 porcelain smoothness. The newly-hatched chicks are 

 grey, much resembling those of the silver Polands, ex- 

 cept in the color of the feet and legs. This breed sup- 

 plies an unfailing troop of good layers, good sitters, good 

 mothers, and good feeders, and is well worth promotion 

 in the poultry yard. 



THE LARK-CRESTED FOWL. 



Syuohymes.— Gallus galUnaceut (var.t). of Ray ; Coppltcnvmt, in 

 Norfolk, England ; Lark-Cresttd Pawl, 01 the English and Anglo- 

 Americans. 



Here again, as with the cuckoo fowl, is a breed, 

 which, until of late, has been treated with undeserved 

 regard. They have, no doubt, been looked upon by 

 many as ill-bred Polands, but the shape of the crest, as 



