New-York tribune., 1909-02-28
FRENCH POULTRY SHOW
Rabbit Erhibit Explains Vogue OF
Fur Goats.
Paris. February 9.


The vast structure of glass and iron built in
1889 and opened in the exhibition of that year
as the GaIere des Machines is just now filed
with some five thousand specimens Of the mod
est little creatures belonging TO the poultry
yard. You might think you had stumbled upon
a large Norman farm IL you could forget the
roof Of the hall whose acoustics are SO good that
there Is no difficulty in finding your way to the
comparatively small corner in which all these
cages OF clucking Growing and cooling creatures
are established There is a keen east wind
blowing, and the women present are all muffied
in furs, and instinctivey one turns first to the
section of rabbits. whose skins supply the bulk
OF the cheap furs sold in Paris. London and
Berlin
It is easy to see that French breeders have
grasped the possibilities Of the modern fur mar
ket Here are large animals on curiousy long
legs, with the longest, thickest, sIest Of coats,
generally white. When you see the really ad-
mirable texture of the robe" you realize that
the silver, black and white fox worn by innu-
TnerabIe women with obviously limited purses
can be none other than this handsome rabbit
skin that used to be sold by the cook TO the
first bottle merchant and rag collector who
called on her, for five cents or so. Now there is
a large market for the article and the breeder
finds his hutches quite as profitable as the hen
coops.
Hhile the raDOlL increases IN fulpOTldlCC IOlA-
rnercfally the pigeon declines. One of the most
lucrative departments OF pigeon breeding was
the carrier, destined for the use of the army.
wireless telegraphy has ousted the pigeon from
the military establishments, and breeders have
now only two outlets for the BIRDS they are
highly appreciated in France for the table, and
there are evidently still number of fanciers
on the lookout for freaks. so the plump and
iuicy Bordeaux pigeOn-the ancestor and French
counterpart of the Philadelphia squab-not
SNOWY but heavy and we'll developed as to
breast, is we'll represented in. the poultry show.
and there are amazing types OF fancy
birds "objets de luxe" like the gold or silver
pheasant for amateurs.
There are pigeons with abnormaily developed
eyes. resembling owls and there are pigeons in
which breeding has almost suppressed the beak:
the old fashioned "fantail" has developed enor-
mousIy in tail. and struts about with all his
feathers spread like pocket edition of the
peacock. other birds again seem to have copied
the latest fashions In women's dress, and wear
d curiously goTered frill of feathers around
their slender necks with most singular effect
The pouter pigeon has not died out; with its
head forced we'll backward by the huge excres-
cence under the throat that has given it its
name. il takes long. level glances at its
roundings and probably shakes hands with it
self on not being appreciated by the epicures
Guinea fowls, of course. abound They enjoy
very high favor in France as table birds and all
poultry farms include them in their runs. The
Paris show has very beautiful section devoted
10 them, in which some of the specimens
extremely curious we'll as handsome. 1t ap-
pears from the catalogue that several women
farmers have been breeding guinea fowl. and
the results here shown are far removed from
the ordinary sober black speckled bird. The
plumage runs to delicate, soft tints. OF gray and
lilac; the bodies well developed. and the
slim necks supporting the tiny heads make
curious disproportionate whole Perhaps their
note is the strangest part Of them it is con-
stantly heard through all the growing OF the
cocks and the "gIou-glou'' OF the turkeys The
guinea fowl often does duty for the pheasant
or partridge in Partisan "pates"
Cockhghting a sport is certainly not what
it used TO be, yet IT cannot be extinct. since
here are some wondrous specimens OF the bird.
marked at fabulous prices. Very gay and gall
liant are these cocks which may or may not
have their spurs. but there is one among
them, an English fowl which has been victorious
Iy through a number of contests and has left in
them his sight the greater part of his spurs
and nearly all his pumage. His wife has accom-
panied him 10 the show; she is thin from worry
possibly, and rather battered looking as to
feathers. Most of the fighting cocks seem to
come from Belgium and from the mining dis
tricts of France. THE average French breeder
does not concern himself at all with the genus;
many shown here are English bred Their
prices, for most are for SALE vary from 800 to
$40O, so they must be very precious in the eyes
Of their owners.
Among all these sporting birds the ducks and
the turkeys hold their own. 'Canard a la
presse" is as popular ever in Paris. and the
the Galere des Machines does not prevent the
birds from having fine. plump proportions
There are endless varieties of coloring one of
the most gorgeous being the Rarbary birds sent
I'D by Mrs Knight. Turkeys and geese are also
we'll in evidence. The former bird figures on
Paris menus at all seasons of the year and
commands good prices; growers In all parts OF
the country seem to succeed with them. delicate
and difficult to are the poults.
For the goose Paris cares less except in the
shape OF "foc gras," scented with trufies and
smooth as cream. But the chickens of table
varieties are evidently, the first care of farm
ers; unending the cages and unlimited the
breeds. International. too are the birds. Here
are the heavy Brahma Bluffs side by side with
the dark Houdan. long-legged Orpingtons and
frilly Faverolies, speckled Minorcas and hand
some Andalusians. and sufficient types from
Belgium to permit the French breeders to satisfy
themselves of the real superiority of flavor of
the Houdan birds which have more claw
than any other type. over all other breeds.
C. J. 3.