216 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[JULT, 
LA FLECDE. 
like a crest, and allows room in front for the 
comb. This is singularly sliapeii, and I shall 
again quote Mr. Jacque : ' Comb various, but 
always forming two horns; sometimes parallel, 
straight and fleshy, sometimes joined at the base 
slightly nolclied, pointed, and separating at their 
extremities; sometimes adding to this latter 
description interi- 
or ramifications 
like the horns of 
ayoungdeer. (The 
cock in the back- 
ground is of this 
variety, and shows 
this appearance.) 
The same author 
says : ' The comb, 
shaped like horns, 
gives the Creve- 
ccBur the appear- 
ance of a devil.' 
The legs should 
be black, or very 
dark slate blue. 
Their plumage 
should be entire- 
ly black, having 
bright blue and 
green metallic 
lustre, except the feathers of the belly, which 
arc dark brown. The hens should weigh from 
5 lbs. to 6 lbs. each ; the weight of the cock 
should be 7 to 7i pounds. The deportment, 
of the Crevecoeur is staid, solemn, and grave. 
" The La Fleche is a singular bird ; with a 
strong, firm body, well seated on its legs, and 
long muscular feet. Appearing smaller than it 
really is, because the feathers are close ; every 
muscular part well developed ; black plumage. 
The La Fleche is the tallest of all French cocks; 
it has man}' points of resemblance to the 
Spanish, from which Jacque believes it to l)e 
descended, by crossing with the Crevecrour. It 
has white, loose, and transparent skiu ; short, 
juicy, and delicate 
flesh, which puts on 
flit easily. As layers 
they are superior, like 
the Crevecoeur, to any 
breed except the 
Spanish; but yet, for 
table use, they are not 
as good as the Dor- 
king. The La Fleche 
has the body of the 
Spanish placed on 
legs set forward, im- 
mediately under the 
breast rather than the 
body of the hiivl. It 
has a bold, cheeiful, 
lively face; but the 
general impression is 
curious from the ex- 
traordinary comb, of 
which I will give the 
description from Mr. 
Jacque : ' Transver- 
sal, double, forming 
two horns bending 
forward, united at their base, divided at 
their summits; sometimes even and pointed, 
sometimes having ramilications ou the inner 
sides. A little combling protrudes from the up- 
per part of the nostrils ; and, although hardly as 
large as a pea, this combling, which surmouuts 
the sort of rising formed by tlie protrusion of 
the nostrils, contributes to the singular aspect of 
the head. This measured prominence of the 
comb seems to add to the characteristic depres- 
sion of the beak, and gives the bird a likeness 
to a rhinoceros.' [A very singular bird, truly.] 
"It should have a large deaf-ear, perfectly 
white; not so large as the Spanish, but larger 
than that of any otlier fowl. It has slate blue 
nOUDAN. 
GROUP OF FRENCn FOWLS. 
legs, darker or lighter according to age, turning 
to a spotted gray as they get old. The hens 
differ from the cock only by liaving a smaller 
comb. He must have a white ear-lobe. These 
are a peculiar but a stylish breed; they are very 
good layers, and the chickens are easy to rear." 
Of the Bantams Mr. Saunders sa3's : "They have 
long been favorites ; their small size, their beau- 
ty, and their impudence gaining them admirers. 
Many years since, only those that were feath- 
ered to the toes were admired. The late John 
Sebright, by much attention and a tliorough 
knowledge of tlie subject, succeeded in produc- 
ing birds of surpassing beauty and symmetry. 
Those that bear Ids name are tlic most appre- 
OBEVEC(ETJK. 
GAJlii EAM'AilS, WHITE FEATIIEK-LEeGED BANTAWS. SILVEK 6PAKGLED SEABICIGHT8. 
GKOUP OF BANTAM FOWLS. 
elated by fanciers. They are of two colors, 
gold and silver ; they must have double combs, 
with i^ointed end and rising upwards, and well- 
seated on the head, firmly fixed, not inclining 
to one side, nor yet raised on a fleshy pedestal ; 
laced feathers, each being edged with black; 
blue legs, without even the si_gn of a feather on 
them ; upright tail, tipped with black at the 
point, which must be round and equal in 
width to the widest part of the feather; there 
should not be even a tendency to a curve in it. 
The side tail-feathers rising from the back to 
the tail should also be flat, round-topped, and 
accurately laced. There must not be any 
hackle or saddle. These are the principal points 
of the male. The 
hen requires the 
same comb, the 
same accurate lac- 
ing,the prominent 
breast, drooping 
wing; her head 
should be very 
small, beak sharp. 
The carriage of 
these birds should 
resemble that of 
a good Fantail 
pigeon ; the head 
and tail should 
be carried up, in 
the strut of the 
bird, until they 
nearly meet, and 
the wing should 
drop down the 
side, instead of be- 
ing carried up. In both sexes tlie wing-feathers 
should be tipped with black, and even the long 
feathers laced. Like all other first-class birds, 
these are difficult to get; and lest amateurs 
should be discouraged, I may almost venture to 
say, a faultless bird is hardly to be found. 
From the best-bred parents, single-combed 
chickens will constantly appear, but these will 
again produce perfectly double-combed proge- 
ny. Such are, however, to be trusted, wlien 
the possessor of them is sure tliat, although 
defective themselves, their parents were fault- 
less in this particular. It is never advisable to 
breed from a faulty bird, if a perfect one can 
be obtained. Small size is a chsideratvm in 
these fowls. They 
are, therefore, sel- 
dom bred early, as 
growth is not desired. 
July is early enough 
to hatch them. Per- 
fect cocks should not 
weigh more than 
seventeen ounces, nor 
hens more than four- 
teen. Other Bantams, 
to pretend to excel- 
lence, should be di- 
minutive as the Se- 
bright, and should 
have the same arro- 
gant gait; but they 
differ, Inasmuch as 
the males should be 
large cocks in minia- 
ture, with hackle, 
saddle, and tail fully 
developed. Tlie rule 
of comb is not so im- 
perative. In black 
and white birds it 
should be double ; but it is not so necessary, 
nor does the substitution of a single one cause 
disqualification. In the black breeds, white 
deaf-ears are necessary to excellence; and in 
these and the white, the sickle feathers should 
be long and well carried. Featlicred-legged 
bantams may bo of any color. Tlie Bantams 
are good layers ancl mothers, and easily reared." 
