182 
THE POULTRY BOOK, 
it may appear, I do not object to have tlie feathers beautifully and slightly mossed 
or mottled in the cock, with a good and well-defined blotch at the tip : if the 
mossing, however, is heavy, the beauty and distinctness of the spangled tip is 
lost. 
As to their merits as a useful as well as ornamental variety, I may say that, 
having kept them somewhat successfully (as the prize lists of most of the leading 
shows some few years back will bear witness) for several years, and having 
attended to them entirely myself, I can speak with the greatest confidence on 
the subject. 
“ That they may be kept and bred in very small and confined places, I knov/; 
but I also know they do much better if they have the advantage of an extended 
run : but in this latter case they require a great deal of attention, as the crests are 
apt to become clogged with wet and mud, which in smaller places, from the 
necessity for constant cleanliness, is to a great extent avoided. In some situations 
I have had whole clutches of chickens reared year after year without the loss of a 
single bird, except by accident ; while at others, and even at home, I have some- 
times lost whole broods at about six weeks old : the first had to shift almost for 
themselves, while the others had every care bestowed on them. From the moment 
of hatching to six or eight weeks old, nothing can be hardier ; but from that age 
up to five or six months, I have found them difficult to rear at home, although, as 
I stated before, I have had from country runs eight and ten from a brood four 
months old, all healthy plump birds. As table chickens, I prefer them for their 
great delicacy. As layers during the spring and summer months, I believe they 
are second to none ; and the eggs being of a good average size, would certainly 
stand the test of weight, in the aggregate, with almost any other variety. I 
have had them laying from January to October, and being non- sitters, the in- 
dividual produce during that time is considerable. They are more easily kept 
within bounds by a fence of moderate height than many other varieties, par- 
ticularly if the bottom part of the fence, to the height of about eighteen inches, 
be quite close ; because, although they undoubtedly have the full use of their 
wings, yet their upward range of vision being circumscribed by the overhanging 
crest, and the close bottom to the fence preventing their seeing beyond in that 
direction, they are fain to content themselves where they are. I believe them to be 
naturally of a contented disposition, and form attachments to their feeders more 
rapidly than any other variety. I have had a cock which would at any hour of the 
night fly from his perch by candle-light at my call, and feed from my hand; in 
fact, almost every Polish fowl I ever had would feed from my hand during the day. 
As adult birds, I do not find them more liable to disease than others. As exliibition 
fovds my experience certainly proves they will stand the wear and tear of travelling 
and excitement of the show-room — as well as their unavoidable attendant, long absti- 
nence — at any rate quite as well as any other variety ; and if I were to say 
bettor, I do not think I should be wide of the mark. To sum up — and making 
every allowance for my own peculiar taste — I believe they stand at the top of the 
