June 2, 190S.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 455 



So, just in a less or greater degree, it is the same with all breeds. It is just a 

 question of how fai- show fads have been followed and how much general 

 utility has been brefl for, and the breeds thit have had the greatest number 

 of show fads are those which have deteriorated the most in this respect* 

 Some people say there have been no fads ; well, let us investigate. 



Black Spanish. 



They were practicnlly the first 

 known European fowl; unallo^f'l, 

 they were splendid layers, and it is 

 very questionable- whetlier, with all 

 fuir skill in selection, we have im- 

 proved on this grand old original 

 breed in precocity. Fifty years ago 

 it was recognised as a fowl of splen- 

 did stamina, very high vitality and 

 vigour, and a first-class layer of very 

 large eggs. Then the showmen took 

 them up ; and foi- something hard 

 to breed and hard to get, tliey set 

 themselves the task of producing a 

 black fowl with whit^^ legs. Then 

 the Spanish for a time were practi- 

 cally lost ; but being rediscovered, 

 " ith the original slatv colour leg, 

 they were bred ag.in and became 

 popidar. Hnving red faces, however, 

 some fancier discovered that by a 



system of breeding in and in, the white earlobe increased in size, and now 

 the Spanish is lost in oblivion. 



Cochins. 



Oochms were never built for prolific egg production, but they were bred 

 for profuse foather until they became simply large balls of fluff, and then were 

 practically lost. 



Brahmas. 



These Wire of a different conformity to Cochins; and could lay more eggs 

 and thrive on less food. <.^riginally they were first-class layers, particularly 

 in the winter time, and were also splendid table birds ; but like their Cochin 

 friends they were lost in fi^ather and fluflF, and have now practically 

 disappeared. 



British Games, 



British Uames, although never first-class layers, still laid satisfactorily 

 in the old^-n days, were very hardy and great foragers, grew fairly fast, and 

 were excellent for the table. Tiien in the hvuids of the fancier they were 

 improved out of existence by being put on stilts. A 26-inch coop was not 

 high eii'iugh for them to stand up in. 



No. 2. Langshan. J. R. Wakfer. 



