UTILITY CLASSIFICATION 



83 



quite popular, but they do not equal the white variety. Solid- 

 colored birds, as the White Leghoi-ns, are more satisfactory to the 

 poultryman, as the}^ are easier to breed true to color. The pri- 

 mary object, in this case, is the production of eggs, and he does 

 not wish to consider the fancy points of color plumage. 



Minorcas are the heaviest breed in the Alediterranean class 

 (Fig. 50). They are much coarser birds than the Leghorns with 

 much longer legs and larger bodies. They have very large combs 

 and wattles which increase the 

 danger of freezing. They lay 

 extreme, large, white-shelled 

 eggs, so large in fact that they 

 cannot be shipped in ordinary 

 standard egg cases without ex- 

 cessive breakage. They are 

 only adapted to a high-class 

 retail trade. Owing to the 

 dark shanks and lack of yellow 

 in the skin, they have never 

 been very popular in America 

 from the meat standpoint. 

 Minorcas are much harder to 

 raise than the Leghorns or An- 

 conas, being tender and with 

 less vitality as bahy chicks. 



Anconas ranks next to Leg- 

 horns in popularity in America 

 today as an egg breed (Fig. 

 43). They lay a large num- 

 ber of beautiful white-shelled 

 eggs. They are hardy as youngsters and grow to maturity 

 rapidly. They have the same general useful qualities as the 

 Leghorns. 



The other egg breeds mentioned are of no great economic 

 importance in America, and will not be discussed in detail here. 



Meat Breeds. — The second type or group of birds to consider 

 from the economic standpoint are those adapted for meat pur- 

 poses. These birds are of good size, compactly built, and are 

 noted for quality and quantity of flesh. Birds of the Asiatic group 

 undoubtedly fulfil these requirements best. In every respect large 

 birds are preferred, as there is less waste in bone and offal, and 



Fig. 51. — Ideal shape of the meat tj'pe, as shown 

 in the Brahma. 



