French Breeds. 
347 
cavernous. The Breda has a few feathers on the shanks of the legs, and has a tendency towards vulture 
hock. The breed is confined to the northern provinces of France, being rarely met with elsewhere. The 
general characteristics of tiie cock are : — The head is of peculiar structure, caused by the large and indented 
nostrils, and entire absence of comb ; the beak is small and of a dark horn colour ; face, red ; wattles, bright 
red, long and large ; ear-lobes, large and pendulous, sometimes red, in other cases white ; crest, a mere 
upturning of the head feathers ; neck, long, well covered with long hackle feathers ; back, broad and tapering 
to tail ; breast, full, deep, and prominent ; thighs, short and stout, covered at the junction of shank with stiff 
feathers, known as vulture hock ; shanks and feet; dark slate or black : toes, four on each foot, well spread ; 
tail, of moderate size ; weight, 7 to 8 lbs. The hen resembles the cock in all points, allowing for difference 
in sex. The fair average weight of a hen being 6 to 7 lbs. 
COURTES-PATTES. 
Courtes-Pattes —in Anglo-Saxon " Short Feet," or more freely translated and adopted " Short Legs " — 
are a quaint breed of fowls, and exhibit the characteristics of a manufactured breed. They are jet black in 
colour, and possess a wonderfully strong constitution. They rank high amongst the useful breeds as they 
are very small eaters ; the hens are first-class layers, good sitters, and the best of mothers ; the chickens 
hatch black, with yellowish-white under-colour. They are exceptionally tame and confiding in disposition, and 
are a class of fowls suited for keeping near or in a garden, their legs are so very short they cannot possibly 
do much damage by scratching, and as insect, worm, or grub destroyers they are excellent. '1 hey are very 
precocious, hardy, and will thrive anywhere. They fatten quickly ; their flesh is of the whitest and highest 
quality, and, as a thoroughly useful fowl, with an exceedingly smiU appetite, there are none superior. Their 
appearance is very squatty and dwarfish, owing to the shortness of the legs, their bodies being that close to 
the ground makes them appear to be almost without legs. The general characteristics of the cock are : — 
Head, small ; comb, single, erect, with fairly deep and regular serrations, and of a bright red colour ; wattles, 
bright red, long and pendent ; ear-lobes, large, smooth, and white ; eyes, bright and sparkling ; tail, large, 
full and flowing ; plumaq;e, glossy, green-black throughout ; body, square, deep and full ; legs very short ; 
shanks and feet, leaden colour. The hen resembles the cock in all points, making allowance for difference 
in sex, except comb, which in her case inclines to one side, and is smaller than the cock's. 
COUCOU DE RENNES. 
This breed of Fowls is of a blue and white or " cuckoo colour," and is very common throughout 
Brittany. The cock possesses a stately carriage, not unlike that of the Scots Grey, the body is full and 
plump, the breast very prominent, the comb large, single, with regular and deep serrations; wattles large, 
lobes almond shape and white in colour, with a slight margin of red; the neck thick and short, well furnished 
with hackle feathers ; back, broad ; tail, large and full, with abundant sickles ; the legs are strong and stout ; the 
toes and shanks are of a fleshy-pink colour. The whole plumage is barred similarly to the Plymouth Rock, the 
ground colour being a slaty-blue, the bars being of a blue-black shade. The tail is well-barred with black, 
on a lighter ground than the body colour. The hen is similar to the cock in all particulars, making 
allowance for difference in sex. The Coucou de Rennes hens are excellent layers of large-sized eggs, and 
the breed is a very profitable one to keep, as they mature quickly, put on flesh rapidly, and the meat is of 
high quality. 
CAUMONT. 
This variety is sometimes called Pavilly. It possesses the main characteristic features of the Crevecoeur, 
but is much hardier in constitution than the pure Creve, and is able to withstand variations of temperature 
and damp locations much better. There is undoubtedly a preponderance of Creve blood in their 
composition, but the cross used has worked wonders. They are far better layers than the Creves. The 
principal distinguishing features from the latter are smaller size, less crest, and wanting beard. The 
