La Fleciie. Bee das. 
4i 7 
same night, and perhaps well again next morning — perhaps dead. The ease of the Creves 
just mentioned should keep us from rashly concluding that this singularly unsatisfactory constitution 
is incapable of improvement. It is possible that in this instance also time and care may acclimatise 
the fowl, and within the last year or two we think more La Fleche have been shown than for 
some years before ; but we must confess the last accounts we have been able to obtain are not 
encouraging, and we cannot recommend this breed as a profitable one, or to be kept under any 
circumstances, except under the favourable conditions of a warm aspect, and dry, gravelly, or 
chalky soil. 
In breeding La Fleche, pure white ear-lobes, absence of crest, neat and small combs, and 
hard glossy plumage should be chosen, as regards the more “ fancy ” points ; but it will be 
particularly needful also to select birds which present fine sturdy frames, and as strong a constitution 
as possible, choosing a cock, if it can be done, which was free from leg-weakness as a chicken, and 
Fig. 92 . — Head of Breda Cock. 
especially only breeding from fully-matured birds. All means should be used to strengthen the 
constitution of the chicks by good nourishing food, especially supplying plenty of phosphates, for 
which nothing can equal the ground bones or bone-dust we have already recommended. We have 
also good reason to believe that the regular use in the water of the syrup of phosphates described 
by us at page 188, or of syrup of hypophosphite of soda, might have in this case very remarkable 
results, all the faults in constitution to which the breed is liable presenting marked symptoms of a 
deficiency of phosphatic elements in the blood. 
The La Fleche is so seldom shown that we have had some difficulty in framing a standard from 
actual results. To a considerable extent, therefore, the table of points must be regarded as our 
personal views ; but we have done our best, from the few pens shown, and a careful comparison of 
the scales in breeds somewhat analogous (which afford valuable aid in cases of this kind), to frame 
one such as shall afford the materials for a sound judgment. 
BREDAS, OR GUELDRES. — This cannot be called a fancy breed in any sense of the 
word, but is a good useful fowl nevertheless ; and the only reason it has not been popular in 
England is probably that it is inferior in size to the Houdan, which in general qualities it much 
resembles. It is a fairly good layer, though not quite so good as the Houdan perhaps, and very 
