THE SPANISH FOWL. 



The comb of the Hen is also quite large, but drooping, and 

 the white cheek-piece is less conspicuous. 



The legs of both Cock and Hen are of a leaden hue ; the 

 under part of the feet, of a dingy yellow. 



The Chickens, of which I have had between one and two 

 hundred during the past season, have been perfectly uniform 

 in all their characteristics, and this uniformity in the progeny, 

 I regard as one of the surest tests of thorough breeding. They 

 are literally everlasting layers. Their peculiar disinclination 

 to sit is very remarkable, and I regard it as their most valu- 

 able characteristic; for, in my experience, I have been exceed- 

 ingly annoyed by the constant propensity which some other 

 breeds have manifested in this respect. For the period of more 

 than three years, during which I have had them, the Hens 

 have not in a single instance manifested a desire to sit. Mou- 

 bray, Richardson, Dixon, and other writers, concur in express- 

 ing the most favourable opinions of their character. " As 

 table birds," says Richardson, " they hold a place in the very 

 first rank, their flesh being particularly white, tender, and 

 juicy, and the skin possessing that beautifully clear white hue, 

 so essential a requisite for birds designed for the consumption 

 of the gourmand. They are, besides, prolific, extremely 

 easily fed ; and, in short, I know of no Fowl I would rather re- 

 commend to the notice of the breeder." 



Dixon, who, I think, may be regarded as one of the very 

 best authorities, remarks : " It is a noble race of Fowls, possess- 

 ing many great merits; of spirited and animated appearance, 

 of considerable size, excellent for the table, both in whiteness 

 of flesh and skin, and also in flavour ; laying exceedingly large 

 Eggs in considerable numbers ; but the scraggy, long-legged, 

 misshapen mongrels one often sees in the poorer quarters of a 

 town, are enough to throw discredit on the whole race. Find- 

 ing it too troublesome to preserve a variety of breeds in perfect 

 purity, I have, after considerable experience, fixed upon the 



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