Silver Spangled Hamburghs

The book states:

"In the Silver-spangled Hamburghs, as in the Golden, two different varieties are included. The Lancashire Silver Mooneys, which were bred and exhibited in Lancashire by the old clubs, and the Yorkshire Silver-pheasant fowls."

White Crested Black Polish

Of all the breeds, the Polish are my favourite. They just remind me of Edwardian ladies with their large hats, elegantly promenading up and down the pier at Brighton.

Sadly the scan wasn't very good but I've done my best with it.

Silver Polish Chickens

"Having been lately in the South of France, where the Polish are much prized and infinitely superior to any we have in this country, I was enabled to make further further inquiries as to the relative purity of the bearded and un bearded varieties, both Gold and Silver Spangled, and was then fully confirmed in my opinion as to the superiority of the former"

Houdan Hens

These French hens commonly kept in France as a meat bird. It's surprising that they could eat something so beautiful, but I suppose it made a nice change from snails and frogs legs.

They quote from a pamphlet by M. Delafosse:-

"That it is to be desired that the excellent and fine breed of Houdan poultry should be propagated in every other country, as it is in France where the poultry trade has taken such a development that it forms one of the principal sources of riches"