532 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



silvery gray hackle, with a narrow black stripe through the center of 

 each feather. The breast is light salmon, shading off to gray toward 

 the sides ; the body color, when viewed at a short distance, should ap- 

 pear gray, with a faint bluish tint all over. A tendency to ruddy 

 gray, either in ground color or penciling, is objectionable. The tail 

 is black, except the two upper feathers, which are light gray. The 

 penciling or markings are irregular or wavy. 



The only distinguishing difference between the single-comb and 

 rose-comb varieties is in the comb. The Rose-comb Leghorns have 

 a small rose comb, square in front, firm and even upon the head, 

 tapering evenly from front to rear, without inclining to one side, the 

 top comparatively flat and covered with small points, terminating in 

 a well-developed spike in the rear. There is no standard weight given 

 for Leghorns. 



Minorcas. This breed belongs to the Mediterranean class, and 

 they are placed next to the Leghorns in laying qualities. They are 

 in appearance very similar to the Leghorns. Their general outline 

 is, in fact, that of the latter, but with more length of body and 

 heavier in mold. The origin of the Minorcas, like that of so many 

 others of our profitable poultry, is much in doubt. Some persons are 

 of the opinion that they originally came from Minorca, one of the 

 Balearic Isles, in the Mediterranean Sea, while others contend that 

 they are a variety of the Black Spanish. Be that as it may, they are 

 one of the most profitable breeds of poultry for the farm. 



The Minorcas are good for table purposes, the flesh being white 

 or light colored and fine grained. Their chief advantage is their egg 

 production. They are nonsitters and year-round layers. As winter 

 layers they are exceptionally good when kept under fairly favorable 

 circumstances. While the Leghorn surpasses them in the number of 

 eggs laid, the Minorca's eggs are larger and equal the output in bulk. 

 Their eggs are white and average 8 to the pound. They lay from 14 

 to 15 dozen a year. Being of an active, restless disposition they keep 

 in splendid condition and make good foragers. For suburban poultry 

 keeping they are very useful birds, and net good results to the keeper. 

 They are hardy, easily raised, and mature quickly. 



The Minorca fowl is large in outline, well bodied, stands well up 

 on its legs, has a broad chest, and a long, broad back, with tail carried 

 at an angle of 40 from the horizontal. The body of the Minorca 

 male is long, broad, deep, tapering from front to rear. Thighs are 

 stout; shanks, long, stout in bone, and in color dark slate or nearly 

 black in the black varieties, and white or pinkish white in the white 

 variety. The comb of the Minorca is larger and more bulky than 

 that of the Leghorn. The wattles are thin and pendulous, corres- 

 ponding with the size of the comb ; the ear lobes are pure white. The 

 female is in body of the same general appearance as the male, rather 

 long, broad, and deep. Her comb is perceptibly larger than that of 

 the Leghorn female. Black Minorcas are in plumage a rich, glossy, 

 greenish black throughout, and gray tips are considered serious de- 

 fects. The White Minorca is not quite as popular as the Black. The 

 standard qualifications as to shape are the same for the two; in color 



