404 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



on the one hand, that Devonshire breeders had 

 not objected to the length of the lobe on the 

 bird which occasioned the debate, but to its 

 great width, which made it almost circular ; 

 and the standards of the Minorca and Poultry 

 Club and London Minorca Club alike describe 

 the lobe as fairly large and almond shaped. 

 On the other hand, the new standard of the 

 British (formerly Northern) Minorca Club now 

 also describes the lobes as " almond shaped, 

 hollowness and roundness to be disfavoured, 

 the size to harmonise with the rest of the 

 body." When it is added that in number of 

 points for lobe all the standards agfree, it will 

 be seen that substantial agreement has really 

 been arrived at, and only needs to be main- 

 tained. The chief real difference is that the 

 British Club only " severely penalises " white 

 in face, whilst the other clubs place this fault 

 amongst the fatal defects. 



In two other points there is some difference 

 between ideas in the north and south of 

 England. In the north they like a perceptibly 



bigger bird, the special northern 

 Differences standard going up as high as lO lbs. 

 in Ideas. ^^^ cocks and 9 lbs. in hens. Ihey 



also like them appreciably higher 

 on the leg. the " British " standard formerly 

 defining the shanks as long, while the other 

 standards called them "medium length," and 

 we know from personal friends that northern 

 fanciers consider short-legged such birds as 

 are preferred by the Devonshire breeders. 

 ihe third point is colour of the plumage, 

 which by the northern standard is described 

 as "greenish glossy black," whereas the 

 others called it simply " glossy black," and 

 southern breeders, as a rule, objected to the 

 green. Of course, no law can be laid down 

 here, in any matter, as to preference to-day ; 

 but historically — we are writing about a fowl 

 which we have known from childhood, noting 

 every development in it during fifty years — 

 there is absolutely no doubt as to the original 

 Minorca type. Mr Leworthy's description, pub- 

 lished in 1S72, is alone sufficient to prove that 

 the original Devon Minorca was not over large, 

 was rather low on the leg and massive in body, 

 and of a " crow " black, not a green black. The 

 fowl being a Western fowl, in fact, is itself proof 

 that Western ideas represent the original type; 

 and there is no doubt that both the height on 

 leg and green lustre now permitted, are mainly 

 due to tlie Langshan cross above alluded to. 

 It may not be entirely so, because about Bristol 

 especially many birds were to be seen with more 

 length of limb, green lustre, and white in face: 

 these were clearly due to crossing with the 



Spanish, for which that city was then famous, 

 and some of this blood may still survive. That 

 the original Minorca of Devon was a low-bodied, 

 crow-black bird, with moderate-sized ear-lobes, 

 is absolutely beyond dispute. But with the 

 simple statement of this fact we must leave 

 the question. That the plumage should be free 

 from any bars of colour, e.g. purple bars across 

 green feathers, as we have seen in many pens, 

 all breeders and judges would agree 



There is very little to add to Mr. Harwood's 

 notes upon breeding and rearing. In regard to 

 breeding stock, the cock or cockerel may be 

 small, if good in points and fairly long in keel 

 proportionately ; but the hens or pullets must 

 be of good size, and particularly have the 

 desired length of body. If the male has a 

 very large comb, and appears at all distressed, 

 or even dull in consequence, he should be 

 dubbed before breeding, or else the eggs will 

 be either clear or weak in the germ. A large 

 number of Minorca males are now dubbed 

 fur breeding by the more experienced breeders, 

 and it is heartily to be wished that this might 

 become unnecessary by adopting a more 

 moderate development of comb, as in the 

 United States. In regard to age, in itself there 

 is nothing especial to say ; but it is worth men- 

 tioning that the dreaded fault of white face is 

 most apt to appear in the second season, and 

 therefore adults free from this blemish are 

 specially valuable as safe breeding stock. 



Should the chickens be reared under a hen, 

 the cockerels ought, if possible, to be got away 

 from her at four weeks old, else the pressure and 

 heat upon their combs is but too 

 Rearing likely to ruin them. No breed 



and Care of . 1 r ^1 j 



Chickens. requires so much ot the care and 



vigilance described in Chapter 

 XII. regarding the combs of the cockerels as this, 

 owing to their size and early growth. Cock- 

 erels are safest in rearers not of the " coverlet " 

 type, with no more heat than really necessary. 

 As they get older, the two sexes come to their 

 best under different treatment. Up to about 

 a month both may have good feeding, with 

 animal food as usual. After that, however, the 

 cockerels do best (if for exhibition) with plain 

 food of adequate nutritive ratio, as wide range 

 PS possible, and roosting in a house with the 

 door open up to say five months or so, after 

 which the ear-lobes may want more shelter. 

 But up to that time the object is to make frame 

 and size, while retarding development of comb 

 and head-points, and keeping the comb straight 

 and firm. In close houses and covered sheds 

 these are apt to grow too rapidly, and to become 

 .=oft and flabby ; it is chiefly birds so reared that 



