534 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



against white skin and blue shanks. English and French poultry- 

 men prefer these qualities in a bird, and with them it is very popular. 

 The hens are nonsitters and splendid layers of large white eggs, near- 

 ly equaling in size those of the Minorcas. The chicks are hardy and 

 mature early, and the pullets begin laying when five or six months 

 old. 



For farm purposes the Andalusians rank with the Leghorns and 

 the Minorcas, the preference being only in the color of their plum- 

 age. For fancy purposes they are an ideal bird on account of their 

 beauty. The hackle and saddle feathers are dark blue, approaching 

 black; breast a lighter shade of blue, each feather having a well- 

 defined lacing of a darker shade ; body and fluff similar in color to 

 breast ; primaries, slaty blue ; secondaries and wing coverts, similar in 

 color to breast ; wing bows, darker blue, approaching black ; tail and 

 sickle feathers, dark blue, approaching black ; shanks and toes, blue 

 or leaden blue. The standard weight of cocks is 6 pounds ; hens, 5 

 pounds ; cockerels, 5 pounds ; pullets, 4 pounds. 



Anconas. The Mottled Anconas are one of the least common 

 varieties of the Mediterranean class. They are hardy, quick to ma- 

 ture, and prolific layers of white-shelled eggs. 



In shape Anconas should be the same as Leghorns. The color of 

 the plumage should be a beetle-green ground, each feather tipped 

 with white ; the mottling should be even throughout, with no tenden- 

 cy to lacing. The eyes, face, comb, and wattles should be red, and 

 the ear lobes white. The color of the beak should be yellow, with the 

 upper mandible shaded with black, and that of the shanks and toes 

 should be yellow, or yellow shaded or mottled with black. There are 

 no standard weights for Anconas. 



Redcaps. Redcaps are an old breed, mention of them being 

 made by some of the old authors. The large comb stands in their 

 way as popular birds, and unless it is square and even it makes a 

 miserable sight They mature early and are good layers. For 

 market purposes they are good, the size and quality of flesh being 

 recommendations for popular favor. They are reputed to be non- 

 sitters, though occasionally they are known to sit and hatch broods. 



The comb is rose, large, not overhanging the eyes, square in 

 front, and uniform on each side. It must be firm and even upon the 

 head, without inclining to one side, the top covered with small points, 

 terminating at the rear in a well-developed, straight spike, and bright 

 red in color. Wattles and ear lobes are also bright red. In plumage 

 the male and 'the female are red, brown, and Black; the head of the 

 male is red, with blue-black hackle, each feather edged with red ; the 

 back is red and black, and the breast purplish black. 



The head plumage of the female is brown in color; the neck 

 black, each feather laced with golden red; the back brown and black, 

 and the breast the same color. The shanks and toes are slate-colored 

 or leaden-blue. The standard weight of cocks is 7^ pounds; hens, 

 6 pounds ; cockerels, 6 pounds ; pullets, 5 pounds. 



Hamburgs. These are in the front rank of egg producers. 

 There are six varieties of this breed: The Golden-spangled, Silver- 



