45 6 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry . 
1 he true Rumpless fowl itself, however, does not appear to have any fixed type beyond the 
peculiarity from which it takes its name. Both rose and single combs are met with, and all colours. 
1 he size is generally rather small, averaging perhaps some five pounds in the cocks and four pounds 
in the hens, but still smaller are very common. The cocks possess true hackles both in neck and 
saddle, the saddle-feathers in both sexes being curled over downwards, giving a most peculiar 
appearance. Owing to this peculiar formation of the saddle, the eggs of the Rumpless fowls are 
frequently unprolific, but by “ moulting ” some of the saddle-feathers of the hen this drawback can 
be removed, and the produce will be found as satisfactory as usual. As a rule the birds are hardy. 
The handsomest Rumpless fowls ever seen in England were exhibited by Mr. Henry Higgs, 
of Lewes, under the name of Gondooks, at the Birmingham Show many years back, being purchased 
by Miss Bush, of Clifton. Mr. Hewitt has kindly given the following description of these remarkable 
fowls, which he states to have made an indelible impression upon his mind : — “ They were,” he says, 
“ small fowls, not larger than a Pencilled Hamburgh, but thoroughly black ; Dorking-toed, black- 
l e gg e d, booted, falcon-hocked, rumpless, crested like Creves, and bearded. These fowls stood as 
upright as the Penguin duck, in fact as erect as a hawk, yet were singularly lively in their motions, 
and though strictly rumpless, were as opposed in their gait to all other rumpless fowls as could 
well be imagined. It was their constant restlessness, combined with remarkably iridescent plumage, 
that marked them as being one of the most distinct varieties of poultry I ever saw. I have not any 
doubt, could three like them be shown nowadays, they would quickly be claimed at almost any 
price.” 
Rumpless fowls are always stared at, but rarely take prizes. We are much inclined to think 
that a Rumpless Black Bantam, which could easily be produced, would have the best chance of 
acceptance at exhibitions. This and any other variety of the fowl can be bred with such facility 
that the only reason which can be given for their want of popularity is the very simple one that 
fowls look much better with a tail than without one. 
RUSSIAN FOWLS. — This breed used to be kept in Scotland, but we are not aware of any 
having been shown in this country for some years. The originals, so far from being Russian, appear 
to have been imported by Mr. Vivian from Bengal. The characteristics were a full beard under the 
chin, and tufts of feathers on each jaw, but unaccompanied with crest. Mr. Vivian’s birds were 
chiefly buff, but white, black, and spangled specimens were also seen. The fowl was of medium 
size (cocks weighing about six pounds), and had the reputation of being hardy, a good layer, and 
small eater. 
We may remark that a beard, without a crest, is very easy of production. Dark Brahmas are 
peculiarly apt to produce pullets with a very perceptible beard, and we have seen birds in which 
this feature was pretty conspicuous. By selecting these, in three years a Brahma might be 
produced with a beard as large as could be desired. We also, some years ago, while residing in 
Bristol, came into the possession of two fowls of a very remarkable character, which took our fancy 
as we passed an ordinary bird-dealer’s window. He called them “French Dorkings,’ and stated 
that they had been sold him by a gentleman who was giving up his fowls, and who had brought 
them from France, a statement we found was perfectly correct. They were really fine and good 
Dorking hens in all points, with single combs, and five toes (the fifth as perfect as we ever saw) on 
each foot, but had each tremendous muffs and beards, with no sign of crest. The colour of one was 
the orthodox dark marking, or nearly so, and of the other, the old-fashioned “ red-speckle ; 
the size large and fine, each bird weighing nearly eight pounds. The cock had been killed, and 
the efforts we then made failed in getting another, so that nothing came of the speculation. 
