THE POULTRY BOOK. 
185 
Tlie White Polish differ essentially, as we have already observed, from the 
occasional white specimens produced from the White-crested Black with wattles, 
and are a distinct and recognized variety ; their chickens, both in colour, vigour, and 
all other respects, bearing an exact resemblance to the parents. They are un- 
Questionably derived from the bearded spangled birds, inferior specimens distinctly 
showing faint smudgy spangles on the feathers of the breast, &c. ; which, however, 
are totally absent in really first-class birds. They have not been so frequently seen 
of late years at the poultry- shows as their beauty and economical merits render 
desirable. White Polish possess all the characteristics of the family in the 
highest possible degree, the crests in good specimens are very large and perfect ; and 
our experience leads us to regard them as hardier and more easily reared on a 
clayey soil than either the Golden or Silver Spangled. 
Black-bearded Polish are occasionally seen at our poultry-shows, but can hardly 
be regarded as an established variety. The Editor’s own experience leads him to 
regard them as an occasional production from the White birds — at least his own 
White occasionally produced Black ; but he is unable to state what the characteris- 
tics of the chickens bred from the Black would be, as he has never attempted to 
rear any. 
The Blue or Grey Polish are also the frequent produce of the White Polish, 
which they resemble in all characteristics except colour ; as might be expected 
from their accidental origin, they cannot be depended upon to produce chickens 
closely resembling the parents, but occasionally throw cuckoo, white, or speclded 
produce. 
The Cuckoo Polish, resembling in markings the Cuckoo Dorkings, are another 
occasional variation from the bearded breeds ; but they have not been received with 
much favour at the hands of the public. 
Buff Polish — or Chamois Polish, as they are sometimes called, though for what 
reason it would be very difficult to explain — are exceedingly pretty when truly 
marked and well crested. To be perfect, these birds should resemble the Golden- 
spangled, with these important differences, — namely, that the feathers should be 
spangled with white instead of black, and that the ground colour should be a 
delicate buff in the hens, with a greater degree of depth and richness of colour in 
the cocks. From these birds having only recently come into notice, they have not 
been bred up to this high standard of merit ; but those that approach to it are 
exceedingly ornamental, and evidently would amply repay the trouble of a few 
years’ careful selection and breeding. 
It is a singular circumstance that when a variation of colour takes place 
in the plumage of birds, the change from black to white appears to be much 
more easily effected than from any other colour to white. Thus, when black-red 
and white Game fowls are crossed. Piles are produced, in which the black dis- 
appears, but the red of the saddle and hackle remains. By crossing a Golden- 
spangled and White Polish, these Spangled Buff or Chamois Polish are produced, 
B 
