CHAPTER XXVII. 



ANDALUSIANS. 



RESPECTING the modern or present-day 

 fowl known by this name, nothing very 

 certain or definite can be said ; except 

 that it must be regarded as being more or less 

 distinct from the breed so known many years 

 ago. Many of those earlier birds were traced 

 to the late Mr. Coles, of Farnham, who in his 

 turn purchased them from a Mr. Richardson, of 

 Portsmouth, who got them from a Spanish 

 trader in 1S51. The late Mr. Leworthy and 

 others received this blood from Mr. Coles, but 

 Mr. Taylor, of Shepherd's Bush, also imported 

 direct. These earlier birds are known to have 

 been afterwards crossed with Spanish, chiefly in 

 order to get rid, if possible, of a fault very 

 common in them, of a small upright comb in 

 the hens, much like a Game hen's comb. The 

 colour of many was a sort of dove-colour, with 

 hardly any lacing at all ; but others were more 

 blue, with fair black lacing. None of them 

 were quite so reachy and Game-like in form 

 as the Andalusians of the present day. Most, 

 if not all, of this early blood is believed 

 to have been lost or bred out, but Miss May 

 Arnold imported further specimens, and both 

 these and what was left of the older strain 

 were no doubt crossed with the Minorca, partly 

 to enlarge the combs, and partly to deepen the 

 lacing and top colour. The existing stock 

 conies of this undefinable mi.xture of blood. 

 To the Minorca cross has often been attributed 

 the constant appearance of black and even 

 white chickens, but this is an error : the colour 

 itself, as stated before in several places, is 

 essentially a mingling of white and black blood, 

 and would sport black and white with no further 

 cross at all : the two foundation colours will 

 always contend for the mastery in any breed of 

 this kind. What we think is to be regretted, is 

 the loss of the old Andalusian comb, which was 

 very characteristic, even when not too small ; 

 being lower, but long behind, and with a more 

 numerous serration that was very typical. The 

 comb now is of more Minorca style, not perhaps 

 quite so high in proportion as that breed, and 

 not coming down so low over the neck behind, 

 but of similar stamp : Mr. Ludlow has depicted 

 one of the best types in the plate, which can be 



compared with the Minorca, showing some differ- 

 ence, but not a great deal as formerly. 



Rather remarkably, in spite of the crossing 

 that has undoubtedly taken place, the present 

 Andalusian still retains a great deal of 

 individuality ; no doubt partly due to selective 

 breeding, but in part remaining from original 

 distinct Andalusian blood. To breeding is 

 probably due the fact that it is more Game-like 

 and reachy in general build than any other of 

 the great Mediterranean tribe ; higher on the 

 leg, more slender in body, and more alert in gait 

 and habits. But to " blood " must be due its 

 very strong vital characteristics, especially the 

 extreme precocity of the chickens. We have 

 seen and heard cockerels of the old stock crow- 

 ing at seven weeks old ; and though that would 

 scarcely be equalled now, unusual precocity and 

 sexual vigour do still remain. It is to be hoped 

 it may not be lost by encouraging exaggerated 

 combs ; but we have known already of several 

 birds having to be dubbed before breeding was 

 satisfactory. The older stocks were also, when 

 in confinement, rather specially prone to the 

 vice of feather-eating, owing, we believe, to their 

 restless energy ; and several recent breeders 

 have confessed to the same fault, but others have 

 denied it. There are probably differences from 

 strain and management in regard to this, but it 

 will be seen that the race is one of marked in- 

 dividuality still, in spite of crossing and some 

 amount of breeding to other types. 



For the followmg article on the Andalusian 

 as bred to-day, we are indebted to the late 

 Mr. Robert Little, Rokeby Cottage, Glossop, 

 who will be remembered as a very successful 

 breeder and exhibitor in his own name, and 

 equally so as manager for Mr. W. H. Bourne, 

 of Chester, whose successes will be in the re- 

 collection of most fanciers. 



" The modern Andalusian, one of the Span- 

 ish varieties of fowls, has made rapid strides 

 towards perfection during the last ten years, the 

 size, ground colour, and lacing being now almost 

 perfection, and a great contrast to the light- 

 coloured, slaty, or drab fowl without lacing it 

 used to be. To-day I am also glad to say that 

 the Minorca type is fast dying out, giving place 



