AMONG ANCONAS" 23 



More Ancona History 



1HAVE before me what is called the "Poultry Book," compiled by a num- 

 ber of authorities. In this there is a quotation from the United States 

 Consul of Belgim, dated in 1893, stating that "A company has been 

 formed for egg-production in the Province of Leige, called the'Societe Belge- 

 Italienne,' for the purpose of importing hens from Italy which would lay 

 throughout the winter. This company does a large business. It should be 

 noted that the Italian fowls are chosen in preference to the English; they are 

 shipped at Padua. In the transit, the mortality is only one per thousand." 



I should like to comment, at this point, on two facts in that quotation. 

 This company was formed for the express purpose of importing a special kind 

 of hen (Anconas) from Italy which would "lay throughout the winter. 11 This is 

 one of the outstanding characteristics of all worthy Anconas they are 

 supremely superior to other strains because of their exceptional industry 

 even during the severest winter weather. They seem to thrive on hardship. 



This may be due to the fact that the temperature varies tremendously in 

 their native country from below zero in some sections to 108 above only 

 comparatively few miles distant. 



The second fact I wish to emphasize is the low mortality rate in spite of the 

 fact that these shipments were made under the crude conditions which existed 

 back in 1893. This is undoubtedly due to the same hardy, vital charac- 

 teristics which have won for Anconas their name of being great winter layers. 



Another writer calls attention to the fact that it would have been a very 

 easy matter, provided Anconas were a "manufactured" breed, to have called 

 them "mottled leghorns" simply adding another type to the leghorn family. 

 I will admit that had this been done it would have removed a handicap by 

 classing them with so well known and popular a family as the leghorn. The 

 fact that no effort has been made to change their style distinction from Anconas 

 to mottled leghorns is pretty strong proof to me were any required that 

 any doubts as to their origin are positively without justification. 



Now I should like to read just a scrap or two from another book called 

 "Origin and History of All Breeds of Poultry," which is recognized as an 

 authority. 



"The fact that Anconas are known under the head of the Spanish breeds 

 does not indicate that they came originally from Spain. They were brought 

 to that country from some point in the East, through the Mediterranean. 



The above-mentioned book, speaking of the ideal Ancona, states: "In shape 

 and form the standard requirements are the same as those of the leghorn. 



