4o8 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



to the upright, Gamey type which is the proper 

 characteristic of the breed. It is one of the most 

 beautiful and proh'fic fowls that we possess in 

 this country, and at the time of writing this 

 article is fast gaining ground, scores of new 

 fanciers having recently gone in for the breed. 

 This is not surprising, for the Andalusian suits 

 alike lord and lady, to adorn the lawn ; the 

 exhibition pen, for the fancier; the farmyard, for 

 the farmer (where its cackle never ceases) ; also 

 the back-yard, for the townsman ; in fact, with 

 good attention it is scarcely possible to put it in 

 the wrong place, for it is hardy and will thrive 

 either in north, south, east, or west. I also 

 believe that it has the honour to be the only fowl 

 that represents the Union Jack of Old England, 

 being red, white, and blue. So it can easily be 

 styled a national fowl. 



" Andalusians are of the non-sitting variety; 

 very seldom does the Andalusian hen want to 

 sit. The cock should have a head large and 

 deep skulled ; beak rather long, stout, and of 

 dark horn colour ; comb red, of 

 Characteristics moderate size, evenly serrated, spikes 

 of wedge-shape and deeply cut ; the 



Andalusians. back shot straight out from the head, 

 not curved down or following the 

 neck like Leghorns or Minorcas. This spoils 

 the appearance and takes away the alertness of 

 the bird. I do not, however, on the other hand, 

 like to see a comb cocked up at the back of the 

 head, or pointing upwards. The wattles should 

 be long and thin, both comb and wattles to be of 

 finer texture than cither of the above-mentioned 

 breeds. Eyes large, brownish orange or red, full 

 of fire ; ear-lobes almond-shaped, not too large, 

 fitting close to head without folds, and of good 

 substance ; face red, free from white spots ; neck 

 long and arched ; hackles very long and flowing, 

 colour of hackle jet black, free from rusty or 

 ticked feathers, which is a very great fault, 

 especially when found in a bird wanted for stock 

 purposes. Hackle, saddle and sickle feathers in 

 cock all should match, the colour a rich velvety 

 black ; breast a nice medium slaty blue, clear 

 right up to the throat if possible (which is very 

 hard to get), each feather laced with black lacing, 

 fine and sharply cut. The straight or primary 

 tail feathers in cock should match his breast in 

 grcund colour. General shape and appearance 

 active, broad at shoulders, narrowing towards 

 the tail. In size the larger the better, legs and 

 shanks long, giving the bird a reachy appearance. 

 Colour of legs dark leaden hue, toes same colour 

 to match, and should be long and thin. The tail 

 should be carried sprightly but not too high ; 

 carriage upright or Gamey. The weight 7 lbs. 

 to 8 lbs. 



" In hens the ground colour varies consider- 

 ably, there being the light, medium, and dark 

 shades of blue. It is the happy medium fanciers 

 want to breed to, with the ground colour as clear 

 and distinct as it possibly can be got. All body 

 feathers to be of the one shade, well laced, or 

 with heavy black lacing sharply cut, not blurred 

 or double-laced. The hackle should be jet black, 

 free from brown or white feathers ; tail the same 

 shade of blue as the body. Type Gamey, very 

 stylish, upright, when standing the breast carried 

 well forward. Head large, with good fiery eye 

 similar to cock ; comb evenly serrated, not too 

 large, but gracefully laid over to one side ; large 

 meaty combs to be avoided, as it entirely spoils 

 the alert appearance of the fowl. Legs and feet 

 very dark leaden colour, almost black in the 

 pullets. Lobes almond-shape and of pure white, 

 with plenty of substance, not too large ; face red. 

 Disqualifications : yellow, red, or white feathers 

 anywhere; legs any other colour than blue. 



" In regard to the utility of Andalusians as 

 egg producers, I have bred and kept this variety 

 of fowls for a great many years, and find 

 them excellent layers of large white 

 Merits eggs, six or seven of which will 



Andalusians. weigh a pound. The number of 

 eggs each fowl will lay in a year will 

 reach close on 200. The eggs are very rich, 

 with a very delicate flavour. Taking quan- 

 tity of eggs, size, and flavour, I question if 

 the Blue Andalusian fowl can be equalled by 

 any other breed. The pullets are very preco- 

 cious, and often begin to lay at the early age 

 of five months. I once had a pullet that laid 

 at seventeen weeks of age, and once I won the 

 cup at the Crystal Palace show with a cockerel 

 twenty-seven weeks old, thus proving how fast 

 they mature. During this last fifteen years I 

 have kept most of the other breeds, but as egg 

 producers none of them have come up to the 

 Andalusian. 



"As a table fowl they are of fair average size, 

 cockerels from 7 lbs. to 8 lbs. and pullets up to 

 6 lbs. weight. Their flesh is white, very juicy, 

 and of a delicate flavour; they dress up plump 

 and look well on the table. With two such 

 e.xcellent qualities combined, the Andalusian 

 can lay fair claim to be classed as one of the 

 very best and most useful fowls amongst our 

 domestic poultry. 



"As a fancy or exhibition fowl they need, 

 very little preparing for show. When kept on 

 good grass runs they can be taken off the same 

 into the show pen, if tamed by handling pre- 

 viously. All the preparing necessary is the 

 washing of comb, face, lobe, and legs. When 

 shown from the run in this way they look a. 



