FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VII. 503 



The Minorca fowl is large in outline, well bodied; stands well up on 

 its legs; has a broad chest, and a long, flat back, with tail carried upright. 

 Many breeders dispute as to the carriage of the tail. The standard 

 says "upright," while the preference is almost universally expressed by 

 breeders that it should be carried "well back." The upright position 

 gives the tail the Leghorn type (see fig. 17), while the typical Minorca 

 differs somewhat from it by being more horizontal, as shown in fig. 24, 

 The body of the Minorca male is long, square in front, tapering from 

 front to rear. When standing erect, the body of male is at an angle of 

 nearly forty-five degrees. Thighs are stout; shanks, medium in length, 

 stout in bone, and in color dark slate or nearly black; comb, single, 

 large, perfectly straight and upright, evenly serrated, and extending well 

 over back of head. The comb of the Minorca is larger and more bulky 

 than that of the Leghorn. Wattles are thin and pendulous, corresponding 

 with size of comb; car lobes, pure white. The female is in body of the 

 same general appearance as the male, rather long, broad, and deep. Her 

 comb is single, large, and drooping to one side; like comb of male, her 

 comb is perceptibly larger than that of the Leghorn female. Black Minor- 

 cas are in plumage a rich, glossy black throughout, and gray tips are 

 considered serious defects. The W^hite Minorca is as popular as the 

 Black, and takes the same position as does the White Leghorn in its 

 class. The standard qualifications are equal for the two except in color, 

 and that must be pure white throughout, feathers other than white dis- 

 qualifying; the other qualities are equal, as to profitableness, between the 

 two varieties. The comb, face and wattles are bright red, free from 

 white in face; eyes are dark hazel or red. 



Before concluding in regard to Minorcas, it is worthy of note that the 

 latest acquisition to the breed is the Rose-comb Black Minorca. The 

 only objection that has ever been raised against the varieties of the 

 Mediterranean class is their susceptibility to frostbite of the comb. Their 

 combs are so large that continued cold or exposure is sure to result in 

 this injury. To obviate this one defect, if it may be so termed, in this 

 valuable class of birds has been the purpose of breeders in producing a 

 bird that possesses the other qualifications, but with low rose comb. 

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

 The Rose-comb Black Minorca is not recognized as a standard variety as 

 yet, but indications point to its admission as such in the near future. 

 Many good specimens have been bred and exhibited at the recent shows, 

 and success in making this variety seems assured. The head of the 

 Rose-comb Black Minorca male should be medium in length; beak, stout 

 and black; eyes, dark red; face, smooth and red; comb, rose, straighf, 

 and set close and even on the head. In size the comb should be between 

 that of the Wyandotte and the Leghorn; wattles, medium in length and 

 not so large as in single-comb variety; ear lobes, pure white, large, 

 smooth and almond shaped. The head of female is similar to that of the 

 male — medium in size; face, red; comb, small and even on the head; 

 wattles, medium in size, thin, and bright red; ear lobes, pure white, 

 large and even. 



