Ilamhurgs, 119 



white ground. In the Goldeii-spaiigled some judges prefer 

 cocks with a pure bkick breast, but others desire them 

 spangled. 



" One chief cause of discussion/' says Miss Watts, 

 "relating to the Hamljurg, regarded the markings on the 

 cocks. The Yorkshire breed, which had been a favourite 

 in that county for many years, produced henny cocks — i.e. 

 cocks with plumage resembling that of a hen. The feathers 

 of the hackle were not narrow and elongated like those of 

 cocks generally, but Avere short and rounded like those of 

 the hen ; the saddle-feathers were the same, and the tail, 

 instead of being graced with fine flowing sickle feathers, 

 was merely square like that of a hen. The Lancashire 

 Mooneys, on the contrary, produce cocks with as fine 

 flowing plumage as need grace any chanticleer in the land, 

 and tails with sickle-feathers twenty-two inches long, fine 

 flowing saddle-feathers, and abundant hackle. The hen- 

 tail cocks had the markings, as well as the form, of the 

 hen ; the long feathers of the others cannot, from their 

 form, have these markings. On this question party-spirit 

 ran high : York and Lancaster, Cavalier and Roundhead, 

 were small discussions compared with it ; but the hen-cocks 

 Avere beaten, and we now seldom hear of tliem. A mixture 

 of the two breeds has been tried ; but by it valuable qua- 

 lities and purity of race have been sacrificed." 



The Black Hamburg is of a beautiful black with a 

 metallic lustre, and is a noble-looking bird, the cocks often 

 weighing seven pounds. There is little doubt that it was 

 produced by crossing with the Spanish, which blood shows 

 itself in the Avhite face, which is often half apparent, and 

 in the darker legs. But it is well established as a distinct 

 variety, and good birds breed true to colour and points. 

 The cocks' combs are larger, and the hens' legs shorter, 

 than the other varieties. 



Bolton Bays and Greys, Chitteprats, Turkish, and 

 Creoles or Corals, Pencilled Dutch fowls, and Dutch every- 

 day layers, are but incorrect names for the Hamburg's, 

 Avith which they are identical. 



The Hamburgs do not attain to their full beauty until 



