25 
Standard Varieties of Chickens. 
mottling ending in a white tip. The rest of the plumage is red or 
reddish brown terminating in a white spangle, the white and the rest 
of the feather being separated by a black bar. The undercolor in 
both sexes is slate shading into white at the body throughout. 
Red Sussex.—The Red Sussex in type is like the Speckled, differing 
from it only in color. The plumage in both sexes is a dark, rich red, 
excepting the black main tail feathers, the sickle feathers, and part of 
the tail coverts in the male, and the black tail feathers in the female 
(except the two top feathers, which may show some red), and except¬ 
ing also black in the wings of both sexes. The undercolor in both 
sexes is slate, shading into red at the body. 
The Houdan is an old and well-known breed in France, where it 
is esteemed for its table qualities. It is also said to be a good layer 
of white-shelled eggs. There are two varieties, the Mottled and the 
Fig. 23. —Leg of Houdan female, 
showing fifth toe projecting 
from shank. 
Fig. 24.^Head of white Houdan 
male, showing, 1, crest; 2, 
V-shaped comb ; 3, muff; 4, 
beard. 
HOUDAN. 
White. In type the Houdan is similar to the Dorking, having a long, 
rather low-set body which is rectangular in outline, and a full, 
rounded breast. However, it is set a little higher on the legs than 
the Dorking. The tail is carried moderately low in both sexes. 
Like the Dorking, the Houdan has a fifth toe (see fig. 23). The 
comb is V-shaped and relatively small. The well-developed crest 
and the presence of a beard are distinctive of the breed (see fig. 24). 
The legs and toes of both varieties are white, but may be mottled with 
black in the case of the mottled variety. The legs are clean or free 
from feathers. The standard weights for Iloudans are, cock 74 
pounds, hen 6| pounds, cockerel 6J pounds, pullet 54 pounds. 
Mottled Houdan.—In color the Mottled Houdans are black in both 
sexes, with some of the feathers tipped with white. This tipping 
usually occurs in the proportion of about one out of every four or five 
