THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 65 



eggs, much pointed at one end, in tolerable abundance, 

 and when they sit, acquit themselves respectably. 



The new-hatched chicks are very pretty ; grey, with 

 black eyes, light, lead-colored legs, and a swelling of 

 down on the crown of the head, indicative of the future 

 topknot, which is exactly the color of a powdered wig, 

 and indeed gives the chick the appearance of wearing 

 one. They are easily enough reared for the first six 

 weeks or two months, the critical time with them being 

 the interval between that age and their reaching their 

 fifth or sixth month. At a very early age, they acquire 

 their peculiar distinctive features, and are then the most 

 elegant little miniature fowls it is possible to imagine. 

 The distinction of sex is not very manifest till they are 

 nearly full grown, the first observable indication being in 

 the tail. That of the pullet is carried uprightly, as it 

 ought to be, but in the cockerel it remaiaftiepressed, 

 awaiting the growth of the sickle feathers. It is re- 

 markable that the golden Polish cock brings as true 

 silver chicks, and those stronger, with the silver Polish 

 hen, as the silver Polish cock would. 



The silver Polands have all the habits of their golden 

 companions; the main difference being the sjlvery 

 ground instead of the golden. The silver variety will 

 sometimes even make its appearance if you breed merely 

 the golden sort, exactly as the black Polish produce now 

 and then some pure white chicks that make very elegant 

 birds. An attempt has been made in England to ob- 

 tain the black topknotted, white, Polish from these, by 

 acting on the imagination of the parents. The experi- 

 ment failed, though similar schemes have been said to 

 succeed with animals ; it proved, however, one thing — 

 namely, that it will not do to breed from the white Polish 

 as a separate breed. Being albinos, the chicks come 

 very weakly, and few survive. On the other hand, trust 

 to chance for an occasional white one among the black, 

 and you may get a fine bird. 



There is a singular variety of the Polish, which has 

 the entire plumage of a uniform slaty dun color. Other 

 curious combinations of color are probably to be found 



