PRACTICAL PAPERS—POULTRY RAISING. 
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size; maturing young; easy keepers; good layers of fair sized 
eggs, and first class as setters and mothers. The principal 
sub-varieties are the White, Gray, Silver-Gray and Speckled ; 
the Grays and Speckled are the largest, and rather more hardy 
than the Whites. They should all have white legs and feet 
with five well formed toes on each foot; may have either 
single or rose combs, though preference is generally given to 
Grays with single, and Whites with rose combs. We do not 
hesitate to recommend them as a valuable farm variety where 
they can have plenty of range. 
Game Fowls —No variety of the poultry kind, has been bred 
with more enthusiasm than Game fowls. They are supposed to 
be the most ancient of all domestic fowls, and of all breeds, 
are considered the most perfect and beautiful. As a table 
fowl they stand at the head of the list; are only ordinary lay¬ 
ers, but the best of setters and nurses, and will defend their 
brood against all intruders. They are not, however, a desir¬ 
able fowl for general use, owing to their pugnacious disposition ; 
the young cocks keep up a continual warfare with each other 
in preference to preparing for the gridiron. The most popular 
varieties, are the Black Breasted Bed, Brown Breasted Bed, 
Duckwings and Pyles ; these are generally the “ Cup-birds ” at 
the English exhibitions. There are also sub-varieties of the 
above, too numerous to mention in this article. All however 
possessing very similar characteristics. 
Houdans&xQ without doubt the best of all the French varie¬ 
ties introduced into this country, and are certainly a great ac¬ 
quisition. In an experience of five years with them, have 
never known one to show any sign of a desire to incubate. As 
to their good qualities, 1 cannot do better than copy from the 
description of Lewis Wight, in his valuable work on poultry; 
a book which should be in the hands of every breeder and lover 
of fine fowls. “ This fowl, in many respects, resembles the 
Dorking, and the Dorking blood has evidently assisted in its 
formation. We believe that a cross between the latter and the 
White Poland would not be wide of the mark. Houdans have 
