34 Farm Poultry 



slaty blue. For farm purposes they are consid- 

 ered about the same as the Minorcas. There is 

 only one variety of this breed. The plumage 

 is of a bluish gray or dove color, approaching 

 black on the back. They do not breed so true 

 to color as some of the other breeds of this class. 

 They are excellent layers, but are not supplant- 

 ing the Leghorns for this purpose. They are 

 classed with the non-sitters, but have a somewhat 

 greater tendency to incubate than Leghorns do. 



Spanish. Now known as the White -faced 

 Black Spanish. This breed has been bred pure for 

 a great many years in England. It is called the 

 oldest of the non-sitting varieties. There seems 

 to be no doubt in the minds of many authorities 

 that this Spanish breed came from some of the 

 Mediterranean countries, and probably from Spain. 

 The fowls are somewhat longer- legged in propor- 

 tion to the size of the body than the other breeds 

 of this class. They are glossy black throughout, 

 without any white or gray feathers. The shanks 

 and toes are dark in color, leaden blue approach- 

 ing black. The Spanish is not as hardy as the 

 other breeds mentioned, particularly when imma- 

 ture and subjected to more or less dampness. The 

 chickens do not feather as rapidly as the Leghorns 

 and are considered more delicate. On account, no 

 doubt, of the somewhat more delicate constitution, 

 the eggs are more or less infertile, and breeders 



