THE POULTKY BOOK. 
191 
‘‘ I trust that others, besides myself, will exert themselves to keep the pure 
breed in existence ; for they are cheerful, lively, and prolific birds, an ornament 
to any aviary, and easily kept in confinement.” 
A few years since, some very inferior specimens of Feather-legged White Polish 
were imported, and, under the name of Ptarmigan fowls, were exhibited at several 
of the poultry- shows. They attracted considerable attention at the time of their 
introduction ; but were so inferior in size of crest and in character of comb to the 
Sultans, that the latter have thrown them completely into the shade. 
The Rumpless Polish, or Ghondooks, must be included amongst the varieties of 
crested fowls. These very remarkable birds were first introduced by Mr. Higgs, 
of Southampton, who exhibited a pen of Black Ghondooks, some few years since, 
when, from their extraordinary conformation, they attracted great attention. They 
v/ere small Polish, with crests not fully developed, bearded, vulture-hocked, feather- 
legged, and perfectly rumpless, being totally destitute of that portion of the 
backbone which forms the framework of the tail. Their carriage was peculiarly 
upright and striking; and altogether they were very remarkable fowls. Some 
purely white Ghondooks were subsequently imported, and passed into the posses- 
sion of the Editor. By carefully crossing these birds with other crested fowls, 
the size of their crests was much improved, without losing their peculiar charac- 
teristics ; and in this mode a variety of well-crested Rumpless Polish was established 
some years since, when the White variety was very successfully exhibited by Mr. 
Tegetmeier, and the Black by Miss Bush, of Clifton. 
But little more remains to be said on the subject of any of the numerous 
varieties of Polish. Their general management when chickens has already 
been alluded to in the articles of Messrs. Hewitt and Jones ; one precaution, 
however, may be suggested, viz. the desirability of removing the pipes or tubes 
of membrane which surround the feathers of the crest, when the latter 
have obtained their full length. In all the other feathers of the body this 
is accomplished by the fowl itself : but it is obvious the beak cannot be applied 
to the crest. By gently compressing each pipe between the thumb and finger 
nail, it is broken and removed, and the feather at once expands to its full dimen- 
sions. Care must be taken not to interfere with the feathers which have not 
attained their full growth, as they are, when immature, easily pulled out, to the 
serious injury of the crest. 
The sexes of Polish are difficult to distinguish at an early age ; the first indica- 
tion to be relied on consists in the form of the feathers of the crest. These are 
much more pointed in the cockerels than in the young pullets, and, to a practised 
eye, afford a ready means of distinction. As to their diseases, in damp situations 
they are liable to a chronic cold, apt to degenerate into roup ; and they are, if too 
closely bred, liable to tuberculous diseases and deformity of the spine, causing 
what is usually termed humpback. In these weakly bred specimens one hip is 
very liable to be higher than the other, and the birds also show a great tendency 
to become wry-tailed; consequently it is important not to interbreed closely, as 
