STANDARD CLASSIFICATION 73 



this class, and are rapidly gaining in numbers and distribution in 

 America, as they are considered the most economic egg producers 

 in sections where the white-shelled eggs are preferred. These 

 birds were imported to this country in 1850 from Leghorn, Italy. 

 Since then they have been slowly developed until they have as- 

 sumed the characteristics as we know them to-day. 



The Minorcas originally came from the Island of Minorca, off 

 the coast of Spain. Early in their development they were known 

 as the Red-faced Spanish. The original Minorcas, when imported 

 to this country, were much smaller and not nearly so productive 

 as are the representatives to-day. The best specimens rank second 

 to the Leghorn in the Mediterranean class as egg producers. 



The White-faced Black Spanish is one of the oldest breeds in 

 existence. They were originally called the Black Spanish fowls. 

 The large white face has been produced after many years of selected 

 breeding for this one feature alone. This breeding has resulted in 

 the lowering of other qualities, so that the breed is not so popular 

 nor so profitable for market purposes as it might be. 



The Blue Andalusian is a breed almost as old as history itself. 

 The ancestry is not known. Birds of this type are constantly 

 being produced and have been produced throughout the w r orld as 

 the result of crossing black and white varieties of the same breed. 

 Both England and Canada have been quite extensive breeders of 

 pure and high-grade Andalusians. The Andalusian is midway 

 between a Leghorn and Minorca in size and shape. Owing to the 

 color of the skin and other characteristics, they have not attained 

 any great degree of popularity in the United States. 



The original home of Anconas was probably Italy, where they 

 are now quite abundant. They require care and attention to per- 

 fect their color markings, and are bred by the true fancier. The 

 general characteristics of Anconas are very similar to Leghorns. 

 It is owing to this fact that many claim Leghorns as the true an- 

 cestors of Anconas (Fig. 43). As a breed they have very little 

 economic value, since there are many others which are far superior 

 to them for both eggs and meat. 



4. The English class is represented by three breeds. Dorkings, 

 Red Caps, and Orpingtons. 



The oldest of these, in fact one of the oldest of all breeds, is 

 the Dorking. One peculiar characteristic is the fifth toe, which 

 was early mentioned in agricultural literature. The Dorkings are 

 supposed to have been imported from England by the Romans. 



