FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK- 



ART VII. 



495 



Ibey immediately became popular their prolific laying and nonsitting 

 qualities being recognized at this early date. 



White and Brown Leghorns were the first varieties known. Modern 

 breeders are responsible for some of the subvarieties of the breed; and, 

 in point of color at least, exhibition birds of today, even of the older 

 varieties, vary considerably from those seen at the present time in Italy. 



The Leghorn fowl holds the same place among poultry that the Jersey 

 holds among cattle. The question of profit in poultry has been decided 

 in favor of egg-producing breeds. Leghorns are lively, active, and of 

 a restless disposition, the best of foragers, and will pick up a good part 

 of their living during the year. They are light eaters and the cost of 

 raising them to maturity is about one half that of the Asiatic varieties. 

 They mature early, feather quickly, the pullets often begin laying when 



Single-coml) White Leghorn cock. 



four months old, and cockerels crow at the same age. They are the best 

 layers, averaging between one hundred and fifty and two hundred eggs 

 per year. Their eggs are pure white in color, and weigh about ten to 



