Black Russian Fowls.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 393, 14 August 1889, Page 6

Black Russian Fowls.

We give an illustration of this rare and peculiar looking bieed which is bred and valued by certain fanciers in America. It is more than doubtful whether their origin gives them any claim to be regai'ded a& a Russian breed. The first specimens brought to England were said to be importations from India, and were butt in colour. In the black variety the cocksorisrinally showed red in ths neck hackle, but American iancievs have bred bhe red out many years ago. In feize they rank as medium birds, although some cocks have been bred to weigh over seven pounds at 9to 10 months old. The

hens, are good layers and small eaters, and the chickens aie hardy and mature early. In form they are plump and compact, and their flesh is well flavoured but of a yellow hue. The hens make excellent sitters and mother?. All our information is secondhand, for we have never seen the breed ourselves, bub it is well spoken of by American writerp,and from the descriptions given tho accompanying engraving faithfully represents the aprjearance of this strange looking fowl. ~

What a difference it makes whether you put v< Dr." before or aftei a man's name. The popular idea of an anai'chist is that of a man who is liable to take anything valuable that comes in his way, except a bath. A Detroit restaurant keeper advertises for " a boy to open oysters fifteen years old. 1 ' Blind Alan (to tailor) — "I am looking for something for a suit." Tailor — "Yes, sir. What colour do you profer?" "Well, I &hould pay blind-man's buff would be as appropriate as anything." " One advantage of a small cottage," say,s- ft writer on building, "is that it is easily heated. This is true. A small cottage in the middle of .Tuly is warm enough for anybody who i& not wholly unreasonable." Sweet C4irl : ' Mother, C4oorge told me solemnly that that pretty hair pin holder he gave me cost a guinea ; yet to-day I saw exactly to-day 1 saw exactly the same kind on pale for 2s 6d.' Mother : ' You know, my dear, George is very truthful. Most likely he bought the pin at a bazaar.'