346 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
Size. — Large, averaging from 8 to lo lbs. 
Carriage. — Erect, and stately. 
Colour. — A bright, glossy, greenish-black, the feathers very bright and hard. 
HEN. 
The hen should resemble the cock in head, beak, face, eyes, legs, and feet. The comb should be like 
the cock's, but very much smaller ; wattles, a'so, smaller and rounder; in other respects resembling the cock, 
making allowance for difference in sex, whic i gives a more compact appearance. Wcig/it^ 6 to 8 lbs. 
Standard kor Judging La Fleche. 
A perfect bird in shape, style, carriage, colour, and in perfect health and condition to count loo points. 
Points to be Deducted for Defects. 
Bad comb ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... lo 
Stained or wrinkled lobes ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... lo 
White face ... ... ... .- ... • •.• ■•- ... ... lo 
Want of Size ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . . 35 
,, ,, Symmetry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 
, Condition ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 20 
Disqualifications. 
Presence of crest, entirely red ear-lobes, shanks or feet feathered, or any other colour but black or 
leaden-black, wry tails, or any other bodily deformity ; any fraudulent dyeing, dressing, or trimming of the 
plumage or comb. 
In addition to the three varieties mentioned, there are a number of various breeds kn jwn and recognised 
in France as distinct varieties, the whole of which have their merits, and which, in certain districts, each 
have their admirers. However, they all seem to possess the best and most useful qualities desired in Market 
Poultry, and a short description given will, no doubt, be of some interest. These breeds are called 
Barbezieux, Bredas or Gueldres, Courtes-Pattes, Coucou de Rennes, Caumont, the Campine, De Caux, Du 
Mans, La Bresse, Gournay, the Gatinais, the Mantes. 
BARBEZIEUX. 
The Barbezieux is a bird of stout build, tall on the leg. The plumage is entirely black in both 
sexes, the cock's showing a greenish-black sheen throughout, with large white ear-lobes, and shanks and feet 
of a leaden colour. The comb is single, the cock's being of large size, deeply and evenly serrated, with 
wattles large and pendent. The hen is not nearly so brilliant in colour as the cock, having a more sombre 
hue, her comb falling to one side, but evenly and deeply serrated ; the ear-lobes, also, being rounder than 
the cock's. This breed of Fowl thrives best on dry soil, being slightly inclined to be delicate in constitution. 
The hens are considered to be the best layers of all the French varieties, are excellent sitters and mothers, 
the chickens when hatched are black, with yellow under colour. They do far better with free range than if 
kept in confinement. In the former instance, the chickens grow very fast ; but in the latter, the chickens 
mature very slowly, and fledge indifferently. This Fowl is of very ancient origin, and is valued at its true 
worth by the farmers and cottagers. 
BREDAS, OR GUELDRES. 
The Breda, or Gueldre fowl is known by either name, but, in reality, the latter name applies more to the 
slate or cuckoo-coloured branch of the same variety ; the true Breda being a black fowl without admixture of 
plumage. This breed belongs to the strictly useful class of domestic poultry, the hens being good layers of fair 
sized eggs, but cannot be depended upon to incubate. The Breda is a very plump, meaty fowl, with a good 
proportion of white, delicate, juicy flesh on the breast, and stand in the front rank as table fowls. Their appear- 
ance is very peculiar, neither cock or hen possessing any semblance of comb, the nostrils being very large and 
