THE SPANISH FOWL. 213 



A correspondent (J. S. W.) believes that they are also more 

 precocious in their constitution, and that, in consequence, the 

 Pullets lay at an earlier age than those of other breeds. He 

 had two Black Spanish Pullets which were hatched on the 2d 

 of February, and commenced laying on the 18th and 19th of 

 the July following, and kept it up through the winter. The 

 constant use of a memorandum-book would fix many of these 

 interesting little facts. It would be useful to institute a com- 

 petition between different breeds. An experiment with a lot 

 of Chickens of distinct varieties, hatched on the same day, and 

 reared in the same yard under the same treatment, would be 

 instructive, if the results were noted. 



There is a large breed of Fowls brought from Constantinople 

 and the shores of the Black Sea. I have had no opportunity 

 of seeing specimens, but it would appear to be a branch of the 

 Spanish. The Hens are described as having a large flaccid 

 comb, flapping about like a piece of serrated red velvet, and as 

 being astonishing layers, seldom sitting. It is a speculation 

 whether the Spanish came to us from the East, southwards, 

 via the Black Sea, while the Polish might reach us overland 

 through Russia. 



