The French Class includes the Houdans, the Crevecœurs, and the La Fleche. The Houdans are mottled black and white with pinkish white legs, with a fifth toe like the Dorkings, and are easily recognized by their peculiar crest. The other breeds of fowl, like the crested Polish, Bantams, and game fowl, have less interest for the poultry raiser, though often seen in exhibitions and poultry shows. To sum up, we may group all these breeds according to their value into (1) the egg breeds, including the Leghorn, Minorca, Spanish, and Red-cap; (2) the meat breeds, including the Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshans; (3) the general purpose breeds, including the Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, Dorkings, and Orpingtons; and (4) the fancy breeds, including the Polish, Bantams, Games, etc. _Definitions._ American Standard of Perfection, an illustrated volume published by the American Poultry Association, indicating the desirable points of each recognized breed of fowl. _Comb_, the fleshy outgrowth on the head. _Single comb_, a thin, upright comb. _Rose comb_, a flat comb with a rough or corrugated surface. _Pea comb_, resembling three single combs, united at the back. _Wattles_, the fleshy outgrowths from the underside of the throat. _Ear lobes_, the fleshy structure in the region of the ear. _Under-color_, the color noted when the coverts are raised. _Hackle_, the feathers on the neck. _Cape_, the feathers back of the hackle. _Saddle_, the feathers in the posterior region of the back. _Sickle_, the curved feathers of the tail in the cock. _Penciling_, small stripes or color markings on the feather. _Spangling_, large spots or splotches of color on the feather. _Shanks_, the exposed scaly portions of the legs, usually spoken of as the "legs." _Questions and observations._ 1. Make a diagrammatic sketch of a fowl and locate the principal regions used in the description of the various breeds. 2. Observing the specimens or the pictures of the fowls at hand, note the size and kind of comb, the appearance of the wattles, the color of the eyes and ear lobes, the color in the various regions of the body, the color and any peculiarity of the legs and feet. If you wish, you may record your answers in tabular form. _Topics for investigation._ 1. Look up and report upon the average number of eggs laid annually, and the number of eggs to the pound, in the case of the Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Dorking, Brahma, Leghorn, and Minorca. 2. Explain the terms "non-setter" and "winter layer." 3. When do hens moult? How does this affect the laying? What schemes have poultry men to bring this moulting at the most favorable season? 4. What is a "balanced ration" as applied to fowls? What are some methods of feeding which tend to secure greater egg-production? 5. Explain some of the special features of such methods of housing and keeping chickens as the Philo System, Corning System, etc.