Unclassed Varieties. 
339 
striped with black, avoiding strictly a cock dark, almost approaching black, in the neck hackle, or pale and 
yellowish, such a bird failing to breed pullets. The back should be a deeper red, spangled with black 
spangles, like a half-moon in shape ; the breast and tail, black ; legs, slate-coloured, long, and of fair 
length. The Redcap hen is a fine, roomy-shaped bird, just the sort to make a good layer. The whole 
ground colour of the breast, back, and wings is a deep, sound-coloured golden-bay (not a yellowish shade), 
each feather being spangled at the end with a half-moon of greenish-black. These should be evenly 
distributed throughout the body, and run up the tail coverts, the true tail being very dark, almost black. 
The comb should resemble the cock's, but not so large. In this breed no difficulty is likely to be 
experienced in rearing the chickens, as they fledge quickly, and are very hardy, and I would like to see the 
breed taken up in this Country, as, without doubt, for a general all round useful Fowl, the Redcap would be 
hard to beat. I would not like, however, to see them taken up and bred to Fancy Points, as this would, of 
necessity, quickly destroy their main virtues ; but my readers may rest assured that, if they require a pare 
breed for Utility purposes, they could not possibly invest in a better class of Fowl than the Redcap, the main 
feature in the breed being the fact that, unlike most other breeds of Poultry, the Redcap hen is a good layc r of 
large and well-flavoured eggs, which she will continue to produce in abundance until six or seven years old, 
when the majority of other breeds have retired from the egg-producing business. I am not aware of there 
being a Standard for judging the breed ; and, failing this, in my opinion, all encouragement should be given 
to the practical qualities, of which symmetry and size of body are the chief desiderata, which would 
tend towards increasing and fostering the principal features for which the Redcap Fowl is, and has been, 
famous for over a century." 
Royal Blues. — We are pleased at all times to compliment an originator of a new variety of Poultry 
when the latter is produced on Utility grounds, as to these innovations we can attribute those now justly 
recognised valuable breeds of Poultry, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, and Orpingtons, all strictly belonging to 
the generally useful varieties of Poultry. The breed now under description is a purely Australasian effort, 
and of great interest accordingly. To Mr. J. C. Coupe, of Melbourne, Victoria, belongs the honour of 
originating and introducing this variety, which he did with a specific object in view, and which we venture 
to slate will be of lasting benefit to those who require a gocd-sized, useful, all-round Fowl. In Mr. Coupe's 
own words, he states :— 
" The Royal Blues claim to be a distinctly Australian variety, just as much as the Plymouth Rock, 
Wyandotte, and others claim American, or the Orpington English origin ; and about seven years ago I was 
keeping, amongst other varieties, some very good Andalusians. I say very good advisedly, though they were 
not Exhibition specimens, but stood in the front rank of prolific layers. As all acquainted with the Mediter- 
ranean breeds are aware of their exceptionally good character as laying breeds, and are also aware of their 
many shortcomings as ideal Table Fowls, and as the Andalusians mentioned were no exception to the general 
rule in this latter quality, I decided to try and improve this by introducing crosses of well-known and good 
Table varieties, retaining at the same time the beautiful blue ground colour and dark lacing of the 
Andalusian, and at the same time to encourage and stimulate the laying capabilities in winter in which I 
found the Andalusian deficient. After experimenting and definitely fixing these characters, which extended 
over a period of seven years, I now claim to have succeeded fairly well in bringing the breed to its present 
state of perfection. They are large, well-fleshed Fowls, and very handsome when in high condition and good 
plumage. They are quiet and docile, and, although they do not exhibit the incubating instinct to a great 
extent, make excellent mothers and sitters when allowed to do so. The chickens are extraordinarily hardy, 
and grow very fast. Last season I reared over 80 chickens, and did not lose one excepting through 
accident, which, I venture to state, speaks volumes for their hardiness. This present season (1896) I have 
about 50, now well grown, and up to date have not had a sick one among them. Of course, the first 
question likely to be asked concerning any breed or variety of recent formation is, do they breed true ? I 
can honestly state that they breed as true to feather and type as any other made breed, and quite as well, or 
