Unclassed Varieties. 
341 
Colour. — A bright, slaty-blue ground colour, with clear lacing, the neck hackle, back, and tail being a 
little darker than under-parts. Weight. — From 7 to lo lbs. (the heavier the better). 
Points to be Observed in Judging. 
Head 5 
Comb and Wattles 5 
Back 10 
Neck 5 
Breast 15 
Legs and Feet ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 
Weight ... 20 
Colour and Marking ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 
General Carriage and Style 5 
Tail 10 
Negative Points. 
Red-coloured feathers in hackle and saddle ... ... ... ... ... 5 
Want of size ... ... ... ... ... ••■ ... "... ... 10 
Disqualifications. 
Legs or skin yellow, soles of feet yellow, comb other than pea or triple, feathers on middle or inner 
toes, legs plain or clear of feather. 
Rumpless Fowls. — So-called because of being entirely without tails, and being destitute of the caudal 
projection, the spine itself being deficient in the final vertebrae, certainly look very unattractive without that 
appendage, and are a very peculiar variety of Poultry. We have seen but three specimens of the breed in 
this country, their principal characteristic trait being the manner in which the wings are carried, and the 
forward and upright carriage of the body, the legs having the appearance of being placed right at the back 
of the body. The saddle hackles of the cock are very abundant, and fall over thickly at the back 
of the rump. 
Silkies may be classed among the peculiar breeds of Poultry. In addition to being possessed 
of a striking form of silky-white plumage, the skin is of a deep violet colour, and, in some instances, 
quite black, the surface of the bones also being of the same colour. The comb, face, and wattles are of a 
dark bluish caste, the ear-lobes being a slaty-blue, the legs, with five toes, being feathered, but the joints of 
the knees are not vulture-hocked ; the shanks are also blue in colour. The plumage is entirely composed of 
silky feathers, more or less separate in the fibres. A number of these unique birds have been bred and 
exhibited here, their main value being the fact that they are of great use to hatch and rear bantams, one 
breeder of Game and Sebright Bantams breeding them exclusively for this purpose. The cock should 
have a full, prominent breast ; the hackle feathers, very full, and flowing over the shoulders ; the saddle, 
full, and rising upwards to the tail, which should be small, and well curved. The comb is double, with 
scarcely any points on top, and behind the comb a tuft of feathers project straight out on the cock, with an 
upward curve at the extremity, the hen's crest being more globular in form. They are rather small, the 
cocks averaging about 3 lbs., the hens 2 lbs. in weight. 
Sultans. — This breed of Fowl is, without exception, one of the most ornamental varieties of Poultry, 
and, until within the last few years, was extensively bred by iSIr. Samuel Harkness, of Riverstone, who 
exhibited them at various Shows with success. Other Fanciers in the Newcastle district also bred them, but 
we fancy they are now extinct in this colony. They are a Fowl of milky white plumage throughout, with 
very large crests, muffs, and beards ; long in wing, heavily feathered on shanks and toes, and vulture-hocked. 
The hens are excellent layers of large eggs in proportion to their size, are small eaters, and do not 
incubate, and as a handsome and attractive breed of Poultry have few equals. 
