338 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
Javas. — This is a breed of Poultry recognised and known as a distinct variety for over 50 years 
in the United States of America, and can lay claim to the distinction of being one of the progenitors of that 
grand all-round Fowl, the Plymouth Rock ; in fact, the Plymouth Rock often sports back to this fowl. The 
colour most esteemed in the States is a bird of glossy greenish-black body colour throughout, with legs 
black, and beak nearly so ; the shanks without a vestige of feather. They are a characteristic variety, 
being very hard feathered, and having a very upright and stately carriage. The wings are wide, and 
of fair length, clipping the body closely ; the tail is of fair size, and carried at a moderate elevation. They 
are very heavy birds ; the cocks running from 9 to 12 lbs., the hens 7 to 9 lbs. The comb on both sexes is 
rather small, single, and well serrated. There are also various colours — ^uch as mottled, etc. The breed is 
thoroughly well established in America, and recognised as belonging to the utility class of Poultry. We 
have at different times noticed birds of this variety, and were struck with their handsome and business-like 
appearance. 
Naked Necks. — This is an old-established variety in Austria. The cock is generally of a dark 
birchen-grey colour. The comb is upright and single, and the name is derived from the entire absence of 
feathers on the neck right down to the shoulders. The bare neck, being a vivid red, creates quite a startling 
and by no means pleasing appearance. The thighs are at times quite devoid of feathers, with the exception 
of a slight fringe around the hocks. The hens vary considerably in colour. The comb droops to one side, 
and they are rarely as bare of feathers on the neck as the cock. In Austria they are esteemed for their 
hardiness, laying capabilities, and excellent (qualifications for the table. 
Russian Fowls are chiefly characterised by a growth of feathers on the throat and sides of face. 
This breed somewhat resembles the old-fashioned stamp of Muffed British Game, and are possessed of the 
true Game courage. They are hardy, useful Fowls. 
Redcaps. — To Mr. Samuel Harkness, of the Jesmond Poultry Farm, Riverstone, N.S.W., we are 
indebted for the following notes on this variety. This gentleman writes : — 
"The Redcap is evidently an off-shoot of the Hamburg, differing from them in having red ear-lobes, 
instead of white ; being of much larger size, of a more Gamcy type, and possessing enormous large rose 
combs. There is no question as to their hardiness and laying capabilities, and as a Table Fowl they take a 
high position. I have kept the variety in the Old Country, but not in Australia, and I know of but two lots 
that ever came to this Colony. One [lair of these were really good specimens. There seems to have been 
little or no encouragement offered in the past to the introduction of this breed to the Colonies. I am aware, 
by practical experience, of the merits of the Redcap, but find it extremely difificult to convince others of 
this fact, each and all looking upon them as an over-grown, off-coloured, huge combed Hamburg ; but this 
is entirely a mistake, as they are one of the oldest breeds known in Great Britain. There is no doubt that 
the Redcap is partly composed of Game blood, possibly crossed with the Gold-Spangled Hamburg. There 
were, in my time, a great number of different strains of the breed, which were held in high esteem for their 
exceptionally good all-round useful qualities. The Redcap cock is a bird of strikingly majestic appearance, 
having a very ornamental and symmetrically-shaped comb, full of work, or points, with a leader, or spike, of 
fair length behind— in fact, an abnormally developed Hamburg comb. It is more flexible than the 
Hamburg's, the bird having the power of tossing it slightly to each side at will. The appearance of the 
comb when the bird is in high condition baffles description, and is a part and parcel of the bird. If the 
comb is removed, a Redcap cock would pass very well for an old-fashioned Game cock. They have some of 
the game spirit of the latter, being very pugnacious. Many would imagine that the comb, being so 
large, would look out of proportion to the bird ; but this is not so, the bird showing, by his movements, that 
he, at any rate, is proud of it, and it is not nearly as liable to fall over, and remain in that position, as the 
comb of a Leghorn or Minorca cock. In general outline and appearance the Redcap cock resembles a 
full-breasted and large Hamburg, the carriage being smart and active, the whole bird being symmetrical, and 
pleasing to the eye. The ear-lobes should be red ; neck hackles and saddle hackles, bright rich red, 
