172 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
Comb. — The formation of this all-important point is strikingly peculiar ; it resembles two escallop shells 
joined near the base ; the junction covered with a flesh protuberance resembling coral, the outside or edge of 
the leaves or shells are serrated irregularly, the whole comb being the brightest red. The ideal comb being 
described as similar to a butterfly with the wings three-parts open. 
Wattles. — Medium length, well rounded off" at the bottom. In birds with great development of beard 
the wattles are generally short. 
Ear-lobes or Deaf Ears.— K\mosi hidden from view by the mufiling or whiskers ; colour, white or 
reddish white. 
Crest. — Large, full, and compact, the points of the feathers falling to the back and sides. The colour of 
the crest should be the same as all other parts of the body, but generally there is much more white 
than black, and very often straw coloured feathers are found here. Straw coloured feathers in the crest are 
generally caused by the sun ; they nearly always moult out white, and, though not a disqualification, they are 
very objectionable. The whole crest should incline backwards, leaving the comb in clear relief. 
The Beard. — Very thick and bushy under the throat ; colour, black and white. 
The Whiskers or Muffling. — Standing well out at the sides, and really forming a connexion between 
crest and beard ; colour, black and white. 
The Neck. — Of fair length, carried very upright, with a good curve or arch, and abundantly furnished 
with neck hackle. 
The Back. — Very broad and sloping towards the tail. 
The Wings. — Large, but carried closely to the body. 
Saddle. — Wide and well furnished with feathers. 
Breast. — Very full and fleshy, carried well forward. 
Legs and Shanks. — Short and stout, free from all signs of feathers. The colour of the legs is a pinky 
white, well mottled with lead colour or black. 
Feet and Toes. — The feet are the same colour as the legs, the toes five in number, four of them being 
very straight, the fifth or double toe behind should be quite distinct in formation and pointing slightly 
upwards. 
The Toe Nails. — Dark horn or black, very hard and pointed. 
The Tail. — Carried fairly upright, of large size, and furnished with full sweeping broad sickles. The 
colour of the tail should be black and white. The ideal tail should be black and white feathers alternately, 
but the lighter coloured birds have a preponderance of white. 
Carriage. — Very upright and vigorous. 
Size. — Large, weighing from 8 to lo lbs. or more. 
Plumage. — Black and white, as evenly mottled as possible. The marking should be especially even on 
breast, the whole should be as free from admixture of straw colour as possible, though the white is inclined 
to turn this colour if the bird is exposed to the rays of the sun. 
Hen. 
The difference in the size of the hen is less marked in Houdans than, perhaps, any other breed. A 
fair specimen should weigh from 6 to 8 lbs. 
Head. — Smart looking and alert. 
Beak.— Similar to the cock, but a little shorter. 
Eye. — Bright red and sparkling. 
Comh. — Very small but exactly of the same formation as the cock. 
Wattle. — Very small and well-rounded. 
Ear-lobes or Deaf Ears. — Almost hidden by the muffling. 
Crest. — As large and as compact and globular as possible. The hen's back should not slope as much 
as the cock's ; the mottling or marking of the plumage is more evenly distributed throughout the body and 
crest, in other points being identical with the cock. 
