78 THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



New Jersey, and usually are found in the Philadelphia 

 and New- York markets. 



The Ostrich Fowl. — This variety is said to have 

 originated in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and hence 

 is sometimes called the " Bucks-County breed." The 

 color of the cock, as described by Mr. Bement, is a 

 dark blue-black, with the ends of his feathers tipped 

 with white ; wings tinged with a bright yellow, or gold 

 color ; hackles dark, glossy blue. ; rose or double comb, 

 and wattles large ; bold, lively carriage, and a stately 

 walk. 



The hens do not differ much. from the cock in color, 

 and are similar in form, being deep, -short, plump, and 

 thick-set in body ; legs short, of a dark color and 

 medium size ; they have high, single, serrated combs, 

 generally falling over on one side ; wattles large. 

 They are esteemed good layers, their eggs weighing 

 4| ounces ; and for a large breed, they are good sitters 

 as well as good mothers ; the eggs large and nutritious ; 

 the flesh, unlike that of the Malay, white, firm, ten- 

 der, and fine-flavored.* 



The Booby Fowl.— This is a large breed, doubtless 

 of Asiatic origin, procured by Dr. R. Kitridge, of Ports- 

 mouth, New Hampshire, from Montgomery county, 

 Pennsylvania. Their color is a black ground, spotted 

 all over with white ; the legs, black, and general shape 

 like that of a turkey. The cocks, when full grown, 

 are represented to weigh 9 or 10 lbs., ,and the hens 7 

 or 8 lbs. They are said to be prolific layers, and not 

 inclined to sit like the common varieties ; sometimes 

 laying forty or fifty eggs before they become brocdy. 

 Some of their eggs weigh over 2>\ ounces each, and 

 measure three inches in circumference. 



The Bucks- County Fowl. — Here is another mongrel 

 monstrosity, first brought into notice in Bjioks county, 

 Pennsylvania, and has little to recommend it except 

 great size, and a few large, well-flavored eggs. The 



* American Toulterer's Companion, p, 172. 



