SPANGLED ORFIA'GTONS. 



301 



comb, or too large or weak a comb ; black or 

 dark neck hackles in either sex ; ground 

 colour too pale, or resembling a lemon or pale 

 buff ; other than four toes or white legs ; or a 

 black and white breast in the males, for the 

 brown ground colour must predominate. 



"The \-ear 1900 saw the introduction of the 

 ' Black and White ' variety of the Orpington 

 famil)', known as the ' Spangled Orpington.' 

 The writer must here explain 

 Stons. that the word 'spangled' has 

 quite a different meaning to 

 that of the word 'tipped.' The latter should 

 be understood as meaning a small half-moon 

 shape of some colour different from the main 

 or ground colour of the feather. By 

 'spangled' — or, as often described, 'spang- 

 ling ' — is meant that almost half the feather is 

 covered with some other colour than that of 

 the ground colour. Owing to the plumage 

 being striking and made up of but two colours, 

 this variety has made good headway, particu- 

 larly in the exhibition world, as, besides being 

 a handsome fowl, it is a true Orpington in 

 shape and build, and easy to breed true to 

 markings. The Spangled is, if anything, a 

 larger bird than the Jubilees, being somewhat 

 longer in breast and body, and therefore 

 making a very hne table fowl, with pure white 

 flesh. As all-round layers they are prolific, 

 and hold their own well with other varieties of 

 Orpingtons. Excellent reports have been re- 

 ceived from breeders in Canada who have im- 

 ported eggs or birds, as to their hardiness and 

 capability of withstanding any climate. 



" In plumage they somewhat resemble the 

 Ancona and Houdan, but are, of course, a 

 much heavier and deeper bodied bird. The 

 Spangled Orpingtons were in the first place 

 simply sports cast off in producing the 

 Jubilees. Many of these coming black and 

 white were saved for at least one year to notice 

 how they moulted out, and, in most instances, 

 this proving satisfactory, they were equally 

 divided, part being mated to very dark- 

 coloured Dark Dorking cocks, the others were 

 put with Black Orpington cocks. The progeny 

 from these two matings were carefully selected 

 and re-mated, thus producing the present day 

 Spangled Orpingtons. Breeders of several 

 years' standing can, after carefully considering 

 the various breeds used for the Jubilees and 

 later for the Spangles, trace the very few 

 faults that occasionally disport themselves in 

 their present Spangled Orpingtons. The 

 ground colour should be a beetle -green black, 

 «ach feather having a fairly large spangling of 

 white from the tip to almost a third of the way 



up the feather ; the comb is a single one, of 

 medium size, firm, and well set upon the head ; 

 ear-lobe red ; legs short, stout, and well set 

 apart ; four toes on each foot, and leg colour 

 in accordance with the latest standard is 

 mottled black and white, though all white is 

 allowed. Weight of cocks 10 lb., and in hens 

 9 lb. 



" Breeders should avoid using birds for 

 breeding purposes, having the following de- 

 fects, viz., side spikes on comb, white in ear- 



Spangled Orpington Cockerel. 



lobe, black legs and feet, any straw, red or 

 brown markings in the plumage." 



"In 1907 the poultry fancy were surprised 

 to find yet another variety of Orpingtons 

 placed before them, and many remarks were 

 expressed that, as the originator 

 of the five former varieties had 

 passed away, they did not antici- 

 pate a further addition. The experience I had 

 gained with my father in the production of the 

 former Orpingtons had naturally been of 

 value, and as nothing is more interesting than 

 making and perfecting a new variety, I 

 worked at and introduced the Cuckoo Orping- 

 ton. Classes have already been provided at 



Cuckoo 

 Orpingtons, 



