laying is preternaturally lengthened out, or is almos continuous from spring to spring, this natural desire is greatly weakened, or indeed altogether subdued. The hen betrays but little anxiety to incubate, and continues to lay eggs as if for no other purpose than to repay her keeper. Hence, to obtain a brood of this stock, (and it should be kept in its purity,) the eggs must be put under a good sitter, of any common breed, a few of which may be kept for the express purpose, and thus the fancier may replenish his stock. It is not often that pure everlasting fowls are to be seen, and this renders it the more desirable that those who possess breeds should sedulously preserve them from admixture; a cross will spoil the hens as "everlasting layers," without rendering them enduring, patient sitters.

THE CUCKOO FOWL.

SYNONYMES.-Gallus gallinaceus (var.?), of Ray; Cuckoo Fowl, of the Norfolk Farmyards, England; Barn-Door Fowl, of the English and Anglo-Americans.

This variety, there is good reason to believe is old and distinct, though it is generally looked upon as a mere "barn-door fowl;" that is, the accidental result of promiscuous crossing. But there are several forms among the "bain-door fowls," so called, that are seen to be repeated generation after generation, the counterparts of which are to be met with scattered here and there over this country as well as Europe. So constant a repetition of corresponding features would seem to declare, that there are several unnoticed and undistinguished varieties of fowl, which deserve to be regarded and treated as we do other distinct sorts.

The objection to the adoption of this view and mode of practice is, that it would inconveniently multiply the number of species, and give additional trouble to naturalists and poultry fanciers. But the multiplicity of Nature's works always has been infinite, in reference to man's power of understanding them. The only won

r, if we reflect, is, that he has had the courage to grapple with them at all. The subject is certainly deserving of consideration, and may be the means of affording important service to natural history. Dr. Bechstein, of Germany, seems to have been not far from suspecting that several distinct varieties might be detected amongst the ordinary fowls of the farmyard. It might answer the purpose of the dealer to rear a pure stock of some of the handsomest and most useful of these, and send them forth with appropriate names, determined by competent persons, fixing the appellation of the variety.

The "cuckoo fowl," it may be supposed, was so called from its barred plumage, resembling the breast of the cuckoo. The prevailing color is a slaty blue, undulated and softly shaded with white all over the body, forming bands of various widths. The comb is very small; irides, bright orange; feet and legs, light flesh color. The hens are of a good size, the cocks are large, approaching the heaviest breeds in weight. The chickens, at two or three months old, exhibit the barred plumage even more perfectly than the full-grown birds. The eggs average about two ounces each, are white and of porcelain smoothness. The newly-hatched chicks are grey, much resembling those of the silver Polands, except in the color of the feet and legs. This breed supplies an unfailing troop of good layers, good sitters, good mothers, and good feeders, and is well worth promotion in the poultry yard.

THE LARK-CRESTED FOWL.

SYNONYMES.-Gallus gallinaceus (var.?) of Ray; Copplecrowns, in Norfolk, England; Lark-Crested Fowl, of the English and AngloAmericans.

Here again, as with the cuckoo fowl, is a breed, which, until of late, has been treated with undeserved regard. They have, no doubt, been looked upon by many as ill-bred Polands, but the shape of the crest, as

well as the proportions of the bird are different. Aldrovandi perceived the distinction. He calls the one "our farmyard hen, known to everybody, entirely white and crested like a lark ;" the other is his Paduan fowl. The first, of whatever color, is of a peculiar taper form, inclining forwards, as Aldrovandi's old-fashioned woodcut well represents, with a moderate, depressed, backward-directed crest, and deficient in the neatness of the legs and feet so conspicuous in the Polands; the latter are of more upright carriage and a more squarely-built frame. Set the two side by side, and their discrepancy will be apparent.

Lark-crested fowls are of various colors; pure snowwhite, brown with yellow hackles, and black. How far these sorts require to be subdivided, has not yet been investigated. The first of these are perhaps of a more brilliant white than is seen in any other domesticated gallinaceous bird, and the color is much more dazzling than that of the white Guinea fowl, or the white pea fowl. This white variety is in great esteem with many farmers' wives, in England, who will keep it to the entire exclusion of any other sort. They are represented to have a remarkably neat and lively appearance when rambling about a homestead, and look very clean and attractive when dressed for market. An old bird, cleverly trussed, will be apparently as delicate and transparent in the skin and flesh as an ordinary chicken. The feathers are also more saleable than those from darker-colored fowls. By some, this breed is thought to be more tender than other kinds, yet they are considered, on every account, preferable to the white Dorkings.

In the cocks, a single upright comb sometimes almost entirely takes the place of the crest. The hens, too, vary in their degree of crestedness, some not having above half a dozen feathers in their head dress. If they were not of average merit as to their laying and sitting qualifications, they would not retain the favor they do with the thrifty housewives by whom they are chiefly reared.

SYNONYMES.-Gallus giganteus (var. ?), of Temminck; Spangled Hamburgh Fowl, Golden Spangled Hamburgh, Silver Spangled Hamburgh Fowl, of the English and Anglo-Americans.

The spangled Hamburghs may be comprised under two varieties, ("golden" and "silver,") the distinctive characteristics being slight, and depending nearly altogether upon color. In the "spangled Poland fowl," of pure strain, there is no comb; but the spangled Hamburgh has a small one, rising up into two, and sometimes more, conical eminences, or horns, behind which is a full pendent topknot. Under the insertion of the lower mandible, or that portion of the neck corresponding to the chin in man, is a full, dark-colored tuft, somewhat resembling a beard.

The wattles of the cock are small, and under the throat as just observed, is a full, dark-colored tuft of feathers. His general color is golden or orange-yellow, each feather having a glossy, dark-brown or black tip,

(not white,) particularly remarkable on the hackles and wing coverts, and also on the darker feathers of the breast. The thighs are of a dark-brown, or blackish shade, and the legs and feet are of a bluish-grey.

The hen is yellow or orange-brown, with the feathers margined with black, after the manner of those of the cock. Birds thus colored are called "golden spangled."

In the "silver-spangled" variety, the only perceptible difference is, that the ground color is a silvery white, with perhaps a tinge of straw-yellow, every feather being margined with a semi-lunar mark of glossy black. In other words, when the fowls are at rest, the feathers present the appearance of regular semi-circular spots or spangles. Hence the name of " spangled Hamburghs," the varieties being called "golden" or "silver," according to the prevailing color, being bright-yellow or silvery white.

Both varieties are extremely beautiful, having full, plump bodies, a tender skin, and but little offal; and the hens lay freely an abundance of good-sized eggs.

These fowls gained the prize at a late show of the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland.