400 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



but especially in the hackles, where gloss should 

 be very great. In the hen the ear-lobe, though 

 still oblong in shape, is rather more rounded 

 than in the cock ; and the comb arches over on one 

 side of the face, but should do so in a manner 

 not to obstruct the sight, and not be so large as 

 to do this. The tail should be carried well back. 

 The carriage is sprightly and graceful in both 

 sexes : the average weights about 7 lbs. and 

 6 lbs. for adults, and 6 lbs. and 5 lbs. for 

 cockerels and pullets. 



The followmg notes were contributed by 

 the late Mr. J. Harwood, of Tiverton, for 

 many years Secretary of the Minorca Club: — 



"All past writers agree that this handsome 

 and useful fowl was eaiiy located in the West 

 of England, but how it came there can only be 

 surmised. Ports such as Bristol, 

 HiBtoiy Barnstaple, and Plymouth had them 



of before inland towns. The writer 



MinorcaB. j^^g reliable evidence from men 

 living before the nineteenth century, 

 that the Minorca was plentiful in Tiverton 

 at that time. During the Spanish and French 

 wars, prisoners were interned at this town for 

 years ; when peace was proclaimed some settled 

 there, and it is probable they had these fowls 

 over from the island of Minorca. In 1870 I 

 was at a Plymouth show, and had a chat with 

 a sailor who came from this island. He told me 

 they had them of three colours — white, black, 

 and blue ; that they were not so large as ours, 

 also not so good in head points, some of the 

 cocks having cleft combs hanging each side of 

 the head. We know how Messrs. Beard and 

 Leworthy in the 'thirties. Sir T. Acland and Mr. 

 Blackwell in the 'forties, Messrs. Williams, Ros- 

 corla, Physick, and Harwood in the 'seventies, 

 and Messrs. Pitts and Stafford later, have done 

 their best to show the world their grand all- 

 round qualities, and it is fitting that records 

 should be kept of how breeds maintain their 

 usefulness. 



"About the year 1870 I wanted eggs for my 

 business, and made inquiries what fowl was 

 the best layer. Having some old fanciers living 

 here, all assured me none could come near 

 ' them Spanierds,' a localism. One day my old 

 mentor brought me a real live prize cock. Now, 

 I knew Old English Game won cash by their 

 pluck and spurs, but did not know then any- 

 thing about shows. This caused the hen 

 fever, which has stuck to me ever since. The 

 Minorca I first knew was a thick-set, heavy fowl, 

 very high and full in tail, with small white lobe, 

 no signs, or even thoughts, of white in face, but 

 a hard red, also very heavy comb, this being 

 considered the proof of the best layer — no 



signs of any broodiness. Having sent a cock to 

 a show, I made some outside friends, one of 

 whom, Mr. R. E. Roscorla, sent me a lot of 

 correspondence on the points which the Red- 

 faced Minorca should be judged by. We drew 

 up a scale of points, which later on was taken 

 up very largely as the Standard of the Minorca 

 Club. 



" It is simply astonishing how this fowl 

 has since practically gone over the whole world. 

 The North of England took them up well, and 

 we have some breeders there who beat the 

 south in hens and pullets. This I attribute to 

 their colder climate, as our birds here start laying 

 before coming to any size, and this stops their 

 growth. Scotland, America, New Zealand, South 

 Africa, all say the same— that they are hardy, 

 handsome, and maintain their utility. This I 

 again attribute to the earnest manner in which 

 the large majority of our fanciers deal with the 

 Minorca as an exhibition bird. They are deter- 

 mined not to sacrifice its laying powers for any 

 fancy point. The fancier has made the Minorca 

 the most popular fowl in existence, improved 

 its shape and size, reduced the immense comb, 

 put a deal more flesh on its body, till it is now 

 far away the best table-bird of the non-sitters. 

 But on one point the fancier has made a serious 

 error ; he has created a large white lobe, which 

 has caused the grand characteristic red face 

 of the breed to become more or less white too ; 

 and what is still worse is that a decline all 

 round seems to set in with the white face : 

 whitish flights, light-coloured legs, very green 

 plumage, and a decidedly more delicate bird 

 — in fact, all on the downward road to a 

 mongrel Spanish. This is the rock the Min- 

 orca fancy has somewhat split upon. Some 

 four years ago we seemed to have reached high- 

 water mark in perfection, but have now receded, 

 being able to get but very few decent two- 

 year-old cocks. It is to be hoped that the firm 

 stand made by the Minorca Club in demanding 

 a perfect red face, coupled with the offer of more 

 prizes for old birds, will cause an improvement 

 jn the direction of having Minorcas to improve 

 up to their third year, as they used to do. 



" Minorcas are grand layers of extra large 

 white eggs, small eaters, are of an active, indus- 

 trious, contented disposition, and will thrive in 

 a back yard ; hence their popularity. The 

 chickens if not ' coddled ' come away quickly, 

 are fully feathered in a month, and pullets 

 often lay at four and a half months old. Many 

 fanciers write against large combs ; this is due 

 to the place in which they are kept. In cold, 

 exposed places the comb development is re- 

 tarded ; in secluded, sheltered runs the combs 



