236 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



horns protrude. It is a very good breed, hardy 

 and proof against dampness. These birds are 

 useful as well as decorative ; the\' are hand- 

 some, and good layers. The chicks grow 

 rapidly and are much in favor 

 with dealers, who buy them 

 small to fatten. 



The Minorca breed, originat- 

 ing in the south of Europe, 

 may be considered as one of 

 the very best of layers. The 

 eggs are large. The flesh, bitter 

 and rather dr\-, is not as desir- 

 able as that of the larger 

 breeds ; therefore they are 

 used chiefly as layers. Their 

 production of eggs is enor- 

 mous, but it takes place at a 

 time when the market is well 

 supplied and the prices low. It 

 usually ceases in winter, unless 

 the hens are given a warm 



Plymouth Rocks, 1 hey possess the same qual- 

 ities, and differ only in the legs, which are red, 

 and in the flesh, which is white in the former, 

 whereas that of the buff Pl}mouth Rocks is 

 yellowish. Also the latter are 

 a little taller in the legs, and 

 slimmer, the Orpingtons being 

 coarser in shape. The Ply- 

 mouth Rocks may be speckled, 

 light yellow, or white. The 

 breeding of speckled fowls 

 often affords surprises. Some- 

 times they turn out all black, 

 with legs of another color. The 

 Rocks bear a striking resem- 

 blance to the Wyandottes, with 

 this difference, — that while the 

 latter have a double crest the 

 Rocks have but one. 



The Cochin China fowls can 

 without contradiction be ranked 

 as a giant breed. When first 

 house where they will not suffer from cold, imported from China into England such a 

 which they cannot endure. To prevent their reputation came with them that the "hen with 

 enormous crests from freezing, which happens the golden eggs" was supposed to be found; 

 quickly, they should be covered with glycerin, but it was not long before poultry raisers found 

 The Andaliisian breed is not popular in the that they had been mistaken or deceived. Since 

 United States. It belongs, like the Minorca, to then they have been no longer valued as layers, 



Cocks' Combs .are \ Dainty 

 FOR Ericures 



the medium-sized races, and the hens 

 are valued exclusively for their 

 eggs, which are numerou 

 and constantly laid, thouL;h 

 in winter their crests 

 make them bad brooders. 

 This species has but one 

 color, — steel blue. 



The Orpingtons are the 

 last novelty. They pos- 

 sess many fine qualities 

 and are the product of the 

 crossing of several good 

 breeds. The best are the Buff 

 Orpingtons, which lay many large 

 eggs and have excellent flesh. They 



Black Minorca Cock 



lilt merely as ornamental birds. They 

 look very well in the poultry 

 \ard, where they impose re- 

 spect by their lordly bear- 

 \ ing. The cocks attain a 

 weight of ten or twelve 

 pounds. The hens are 

 poor layers and their 

 eggs are small. They 

 are, however, good sit- 

 ters, though their weight 

 often destroys the whole 

 brood. When they have laid 

 about fourteen or fifteen eggs 

 they begin to sit. The flesh of 

 these birds is not savory. The only 

 thintr that can be said in their favor 



are to England what the Houdans 



are to France or what the Wyandottes are to is that when their colors are fine they are 



America. At first sight persons ignorant of magnificent birds and excite universal admira- 



poultry cannot tell the Orpingtons from the tion. 



