Sultans. 
4*3 
“ They are the size of our English Poland fowls. Their plumage is white and flowing , they 
have a full-sized, compact Poland tuft on the head, are muffed, have a good flowing tail, short well- 
feathered legs, and five toes upon each foot. The comb is merely two little points, and the wattles 
very small. We have never seen fowls more fully decorated — -full tail, abundant furnishing, in 
hackle almost touching the ground, boots, vulture-hocks, beards, whiskers, and full round Poland 
crests. Their colour is pure white ; and they are so very beautiful that it is to be hoped amateurs 
will procure fresh importations before they disappear from among existing kinds. ’ 
Many attempts have been made to procure a fresh stock of Sultans, but with the exception of 
another imported hen procured by Mr. F. Zurhorst, and which proved of the greatest use in 
recruiting the strain, none have been successful. This difficulty in obtaining fresh blood makes it 
very desirable that there should be more breeders of this beautiful variety, since it is a well- 
ascertained fact that by rearing many birds in different localities, even from the same stock, the 
evils of in-breeding can be avoided, different soil and feeding appearing to “ change the blood 
sufficiently for practical purposes. They eat very little, and are good layers, while it must be 
allowed that no more fascinating fowls exist. They have the quaint little ways and habits 
of Bantams, with their brisk yet tame disposition, and appear to take to “ petting ” with a 
quiet confidence even greater than that of Polish fowls, which in several respects they much 
resemble. 
In breeding Sultans a chief point is to select full crests, that feature being particularly close 
and round in this breed. The hocked and feathered legs must also be looked after ; and so should 
the muffling, which was for a while somewhat uncertain, owing, in our opinion, to a cross with the 
White Polish. Of late, however, several fresh amateurs have taken up Sultans, and by their 
exertions the muffs have been quite restored. With regard to the fifth toe, however, public 
opinion has been different. That is now an unimportant point, and will ere long be probably 
abandoned. The average weight now is about four to five pounds for the cocks, and three and 
a half pounds for the hens ; and so long as other points are not sacrificed, it is very desirable to 
increase this by good breeding, feeding, and the use of phosphates in the manner we have already 
recommended. By such means we feel sure considerable gain might be made both in size 
and hardihood. 
The cock’s spurs are peculiarly liable to grow very long when the bird gets old, and so much 
curved that the point enters the leg and causes much pain. This should be watched against, and if 
necessary the spur shortened sufficiently to prevent such consequences. The operation, of course, 
gives no pain whatever. We have not seen this in any other breed, except on one occasion, when 
we met with a very old White Cochin cock suffering from this cause. 
We are not aware of any other fowls which could fairly claim a place in this chapter. If a new 
variety is successful, the tendency is for it to make good a claim to a class of its own ; and several 
comparatively recent introductions have been thus treated in preceding chapters of this work. 
Many years ago, we were informed by the late Mr. Hewitt, a pair of fowls were shown at Bristol 
somewhat resembling very heavily feathered Partridge Cochins, but with extremely short legs like 
Dumpies, and long flowing tails. They, however, totally disappeared. We have also seen 
mentioned in a poultry journal some small white fowls imported from Ashantee, with rose combs, 
very pugnacious, and both sexes possessing a hackle which they extend when irritated. It is 
not improbable that the opening up of Africa may introduce some other breeds of poultry 
from the hitherto dark Continent ; but meanwhile we must conclude our list with this vague 
notice. 
