POLANDS.
This breed might with good reason be divided into more families, but it
is usual to rank as Polands all fowls with their chief distinguishing
characteristic, a full, large, round, compact tuft on the head. The
breed "is quite unknown in Poland, and takes its name," says Mr.
Dickson, "from some resemblance having been fancied between its tufted
crest and the square-spreading crown of the feathered caps worn by the
Polish soldiers." It is much esteemed in Egypt, and equally abundant at
the Cape of Good Hope, where their legs are feathered. Some travellers
assert that the Mexican poultry are crested, and that what are called
Poland fowls are natives of either Mexico or South America; but others
believe that they are natives of the East, and that they, as well as all
the other fowls on the Continent of America, have been introduced from
the Old World.
The Golden-spangled and Silver-spangled are the most beautiful
varieties, the first being of a gold colour and the second white, both
spangled with black. The more uniform the colour of the tuft is with
that of the bird, the higher it is valued.
The Black Poland is of a deep velvety black; has a large, white, round
tuft, and should not have a comb, but many have a little comb in the
form of two small points before the tuft. The tuft to be perfect should
be entirely white, but it is rare to meet with one without a slight
bordering of black, or partly black, feathers round the front.
There are also Yellow, laced with white, Buff or Chamois, spangled with
white, Blue, Grey, Black, and White mottled. All the sub-varieties
should be of medium size, neat compact form, plump, full-breasted, and
have lead-coloured legs and ample tails.
The top-knot of the cock should be composed of straight feathers,
growing from the centre of the crown, and falling over outside, but not
so much as to intercept the sight, and form a circular crest. That of
the hen should be formed of feathers growing out and turning in at the
extremity, so as to resemble a cauliflower, and it should be even, firm,
and as nearly round as possible. Large, uneven top-knots composed of
loose feathers do not equal smaller but firm and well-shaped crests. The
white ear-lobe is essential in all the varieties.
"Beards" in Polands were formerly not admired. Among the early birds
brought from the continent, not one in a hundred was bearded, and those
that were so were often rejected, and it was a question of dispute
whether the pure bird should have them or not. Bearded birds at shows
were the exceptions, but an unbearded pen of Polands is now seldom or
ever seen.
There was formerly a breed of White, with black top-knots, but that is
lost, although it seems to have been not only the most ornamental, but
the largest and most valuable of all the Polish varieties. The last
specimen known was seen by Mr. Brent at St. Omer in 1854, and it is
possible that the breed may still exist in France or Ireland.
The SERAI TA-OOK, or FOWL OF THE SULTAN, is the latest Polish fowl
introduced into this country. They were imported in 1854 by Miss Watts,
who says: "With regard to the name, Serai is the name of the Sultan's
palace; Tae-ook is Turkish for fowl; the simplest translation of this is,
Sultan's fowls, or fowls of the Sultan; a name which has the double
advantage of being the nearest to be found to that by which they have
been known in their own country, and of designating the country from
which they came. In general habits they are brisk and happy-tempered,
but not kept in as easily as Cochin-Chinas. They are very good layers;
their eggs are large and white; they are non-sitters, and small eaters.
A grass run with them will remain green long after the crop would have
been cleared by either Brahmas or Cochins, and with scattered food they
soon become satisfied and walk away. They are the size of our English
Poland fowls. Their plumage is white and flowing; they have a full-sized
compact Poland tuft on the head, are muffed, have a good flowing tail,
short well-feathered legs, and five toes upon each foot. The comb is
merely two little points, and the wattles very small. We have never seen
fowls more fully decorated--full tail, abundant furnishing, in hackle
almost touching the ground, boots, vulture-hocks, beards, whiskers, and
full round Poland crests. Their colour is pure white."
They are prolific layers during spring and summer. Their eggs are white,
and weigh from 2 ounces to 2-1/4 ounces each, the Spangled varieties
producing the largest. They rarely sit, and generally leave their eggs
after five or six days, and are not good mothers. The chickens require
great care for six weeks. They should never be hatched by heavy hens, as
the prominence in the skull which supports the top-knot is never
completely covered with bone, and very sensible to injury. Like the Game
breed they improve in feather for several years. Polands never thrive on
a wet or cold soil, and are more affected by bad weather than any other
breed; the top-knots being very liable to be saturated with wet.
They are easily fattened, and their flesh is white, juicy, and
rich-flavoured, but they are not sufficiently large for the market.
Mr. Hewitt cautions breeders against attempting to seize birds suddenly,
as the crest obscures their sight, and, being taken by surprise, they
are frequently so frightened as to die in the hand. They should,
therefore, always be spoken to, or their attention otherwise attracted
before being touched.