m 



28 THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



their constant laying, in my opinion nature ought not 

 to be forced, as it requires a rest." But some people 

 think it cannot be right if their hens do not lay every 

 day. 



It is doubtful whether they would readily become 

 acclimatized in the northern part of the United States, 

 for continued frost, at any time, much injures their 

 combs ; frequently causing mortification in the end, 

 which has terminated in death. A warm poultry 

 house, high feeding, and care that the birds do not 

 remain too long exposed to severe weather, are the 

 best means of preventing this disfigurement. 



The chicks are large, as would be expected from 

 such eggs, entirely shining black, except a pinafore of 

 white on the breast, and a slight sprinkling under the 

 chin, with sometimes also a little white round the beak 

 and eyes ; legs and feet black. They do not get perfectly 

 feathered till they are three fourths grown ; and, there- 

 fore, to have these birds come to perfection, it is pre- 

 ferable to have them hatched early in spring, so that 

 they may get well covered with plumage before the 

 cold autumnal rain&. 



The black, however, is not the only valuable race 

 of Spanish fowls, although certain London dealers, 

 who have no right to offer an opinion, if they do not 

 choose to give information on the subject, presume to 

 affirm that there can be no such breed as " speckled 

 Spanish," it being characteristic of that breed to be 

 perfectly black. Still there are some breeds, in Spain, 

 closely allied to these, which are of a blue, grey, or a 

 slaty color. Their growth is so rapid, and their even- 

 tual size so large, that they are remarkably slow in 

 obtaining their feathers. Although well covered with 

 down when first hatched, they look almost naked when 

 half-grown, and should, therefore, be hatched as early 

 in the spring as possible. 



The cross between the pheasant-Malay and the 

 Spanish produces a particularly handsome fowl, and 

 probably very much resembling the old Hispanic type.. 



