494 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



easily kept, either in confinement or on free range. Being excellent for- 

 agers, they are ideal fowls for the farm, and will gather during the year 

 a considerable proportion of their food. 



The Langshan is a stylish, medium-sized bird, not overgrown or 

 gawky in appearance, of active nature, and lively disposition. Many 

 confound the Black Langshan with the Black Cochin. This need not be, 

 as the following comparison between the two varieties shows: The 

 Black Cochin is square in shape, with heavy-looking neck and legs, plenty 

 of fluff and leg feathering, cushion rising from middle of back to tail, 

 tail short, small, and almost concealed by cushion; neck, breast, cushion, 

 and tail all represented by convex lines. Langshan head, small for siee 

 of body, comb medium-sized, well up in front, and arch shaped; Cochin 

 head, larger than that of the Langshan and not so arched over the eye; 

 comb smaller, low in front, and almost straight on top of serrations. 

 Langshan back, short and concave; that of the* Cochin, medium length, 

 slightly convex, and large convex cushion Langshan fluff, moderate and 

 close; that of the Cochin extremely full and loose. Langshan wings soine- 

 what large and inclined downward, quite prominent at shoulders; the 

 Cochin wings smaller and almost hidden by the fluffy plumage of cushion 

 and fluff. Langshan breast full, deep, and carried well forward; Cochin 

 breast not so full and deep, but broader. Langshan legs medium in 

 length, small bone, long tapering toes, color of shank, bluish black showing 

 pink between scales, which are nearly black; Cochin legs shorter, stouter, 

 larger bone, toes shorter and stouter, color of shanks black or yellowish 

 black. 



There are two varieties of Langshans — ^the Black and the White. 

 The Black in plumage of neck, back, saddle, sickles, a glossy metallia 

 black, with greenish sheen; breast, primaries, secondaries, tail, fluff, 

 shank, and toe feathers, black. The undercolor is black or dark slate. 

 The White Langshan is pure white throughout. 



The standard weight of cocks for both varieties is ten pounds; hens, 

 seven pounds; cockerels, eight pounds; and pullets, six pounds. 



LEGHORNS. 



Leghorns are the best known of the egg-producing varieties or Med- 

 iterranean class. They are the premiers in laying and the standard by 

 which the prolificacy of other breeds is judged. As to the origin of 

 the Leghorns there are differences of opinion, and there is but little 

 information to be found anywhere concerning their early history. It is 

 generally conceded that a race of fowls bearing a close resemblance in 

 many respects to the Leghorn has existed in Italy and other parts of 

 the Continent of Europe for a long period. That this race has been 

 widely disseminated admits also of little doubt, inasmuch as at the 

 present day it is known in Denmark and other countries as the Italian. 

 There seems to be good ground for the statement that Leghorns were 

 first introduced into America from Italy. The story goes that as early 

 as 1834 a vessel from Leghorn brought to this country as a part of its 

 cargo a small shipment of fowls, which were at once named "Leghomsj." 



