332 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
tinge, the breast, tail, and under-parts being more of a reddish-brown. The ground colour of the hen is a 
golden bay, but as long as this is sound in colour, and the lacing clear and distinct as in the Silvers, it will 
be correct. 
To breed both Silvers and Goldens the same rule may be followed ; and as crest is of such importance 
in either, birds excelling in this point should be chosen to perpetuate the breed, a bird faulty, or wanting 
crest being certain to pass on the fault to the progeny. For instance, a bird may be almost perfect in lacing, 
but deficient in crest, and exhibiting signs of having a comb. A bird of this description will produce 
progeny even worse than himself in these undesirable points, so should be carefully avoided, as a comb in 
these varieties is an almost fatal defect, and shows a hereditary inclination to throw back to the original stock, 
which possessed a two-horned comb. It is always best, as in the majority of other breeds, to mate up birds 
a shade darker or heavier marked together, as the progeny has a natural tendency to come a trifle lighter 
each generation, until in a few years, if this is not counteracted as described, they will become practically 
worthless. Again, unlike most breeds, no difficulty will be experienced in breeding both sexes from the one 
pen of birds if the parent birds have no fatal blemishes — such as combs, crooked breasts, backs, or beaks. 
White- Civs ted Black Polish are, probably, the most striking of the three principal v.irieties exhibited, 
and, coupled with such a neat, well-rounded, and compact appearance, are universally admired. Both 
se.xes are simildr in all respects, save the feathers in crest, saddle, and sickles of the cock, the hen's crest 
being more globular in shape. The beak is a dark horn colour ; eyes, face, and wattles, red ; ear-lobes, 
white ; crest, white, with a few black feathers in the front ; the rest of the plumage, a deep, rich black ; the 
legs, a very dark slate colour, approaching black. Both sexes can be bred from one pen with success, the 
important consideration being that the cock must be good in crest to expect fair results. With the hen this 
will not matter so much • but, naturally, if both are good in this point, even better results may be 
anticipated. 
As previously remarked, there are other sub-varieties of the Polish race, the chief of these being the 
Buff, of which we have seen some beautiful specimens. The ground colour of this variety is of a light 
golden colour, the spangling and lacing to the feather being white, instead of black, as in the Silver and 
Golden varieties. The richer in tone the ground colour is in this variety the more striking they appear. 
White Polish are the largest of the Polish race, but are now nearly extinct. These have a full beard, 
and, in all probability, it was from this colour and the Golden-Spangled crossed that the Buffs were 
produced. 
The Blacks are almost, if not quite, extinct, and run much smaller than the Whites or other varieties, 
and certainly do not look nearly so attractive as the White-Crested Blacks. 
The Cuckoos are evidently an off-shoot of the other varieties crossed, no difficulty being experienced in 
producing birds of this marking. 
The Blues or Greys are similar to the Andalusian in colour, and are evidently the product of a 
cross, again no difficulty being expeiienced in breeding birds of this colour. 
The whole of the Polish varieties are excellent layers, and the meat is of the highest quality ; and one 
merit they possess, in addition to their-ornamental appearance, and tame and confiding disposition, is that 
they will thrive as well as any breed in close confinement, providing that the house and run is completely 
protected from the weather. They are, in fact, a breed of Poultry specially adapted to Lady Fanciers, and, 
kept under proper conditions and surroundings, will give as good a return as most Poultry. Polish chickens 
MUST be hatched early in the season. No possibility of them turning out well can be expected if late 
batched, the drain upon the system caused by the growth of the feather being more than they can stand if 
hatched late in the season, the full development of the crest never being attained by weakly birds, the 
critical time in their Hves being from four to eight weeks old, and at this time they require a little extra care 
and attention, the adult birds being, as a rule, very hardy. Polish chickens are, as a rule, very timid, and 
should be accustomed to being handled from an early age (as the crest interferes with their sight when 
approached from the back), thus frequently preventing a serious shock to them, which will often prove fatal. 
