THE SPANISH FOWL.] 



POULTKY. 



[tub bpanisu fowl. 



timo, after tlio first day or two. Thi'ir food 

 sliouKl bo : — 



Macerated epps l)oili'(l hard. 



Crumbs of white bread 



Lettuce-leaves and meadow aiiLs. 



M:i«;}j(it3 from j^raiiis. 



Steeped oats and small wheat. 



Curds, witli new milk. 



Bread, toasted, and steeped in chamber-ley. 



Tho varieties of game fowl bred in thia king- 

 dom are very nuuierous, and, to the unin- 

 itiated, their designations very unintelligible. 

 For the purposes of combat, the black-breasted 

 reds have been the favoured variety. The recog- 

 nised breeds are, according to Spetchly : — 



1. 151ack reds. 



2. Silver black-breasted 



ducks. 



3. Birchen ducks. 



4. Dark grey 



6. Mealey greys. 



6. Blacks. 



7. Spangles. 



8. Furn esses. 



9. Polecats. 



10. Cuckoos. 



11. Gingers. 



12. lied duns. 



13. Duns. 



14. Smoky duns. 



" In all these," says Spetchly, " good birds 

 may be found. From them, however, have 

 been raised crosses innumerable ; and it is the 

 aim of the fine breeders of the present day, to 

 have their birds as much as possible uniform 

 in feather, blood, and constitution." 



The best montli for hatching game chickens 

 is IVIarch, as it has been generally found, that 

 when hatched in this month, they prove to be 

 the most hardy birds. We should state, how- 

 ever, that whatever may be their beauty and 

 high courage, game fowl will be very trouble- 

 some in a poultry-yard of various breeds, 

 especially if another chanticleer is kept; for 

 although their smaller size might lead to the 

 supposition that they will not be the aggres- 

 sors, this is a mistake. Their indomitable 

 spirit forces them to quarrel with every other 

 bird; and their activity and strength render 

 them dangerous to the heaviest adversary. 



THE SPANISH FOWL. 



The Spanish fowl is one of the largest 

 breeds ; a productive layer of full-sized eggs ; 

 and, in the great majority of cases, a non- 

 sitter. Its plumage is black ; and it is a little 

 smaller in size than the old "shakebag;" but 

 in every other quality, in which excellence is 

 to be expected, it surpasses that bird. The 



back of tho Spaniali fowl is tinted witli a 

 glancing green; whilst the feathers of the 

 legs, thighs, and belly are particularly decided 

 in the hue, and of a velvety aspect. In its 

 carriago it is stately, having a grave and 

 majestic deportment, such as might be sup- 

 posed to become tho monarch of the poultry- 

 yartl. AVhen in condition, ho is not only a 

 beautiful, but a useful bird, with white 

 clieeks, and large comb and wattles, very 

 highly coloured. Tho legs are of a leaden 

 eulour, and so are tho feet, except the soles, 

 w hich aro of a dirty fleshy hue. A full-grown 

 cock weighs about seven-and-a-half pounds; 

 tho hen about six-and-a-half. 



These fowls have long been established in 

 Great Britain and Ireland; and exhibit no 

 constitutional peculiarities which suggest diffi- 

 culties in either hatching or rearing. As 

 table-birds, they hold a place in the very first 

 rank, their flesh being particularly tender and 

 juicy ; whilst the skin possesses that beautifully 

 clear white hue, so essential in birds designed to 

 be consumed by the gourmand. The hens are 

 the highest class of layers ; and of all tlio 

 naturalised and' indigenous varieties of fowl, 

 they, with other sub-races of the same type, 

 produce the Andalusians and Columbians, 

 being the largest and best-flavoured eggs. 

 Besides, they are prolific, and extremely easy to 

 feed. Spurious specimens of this fowl are 

 often in the market; consequently, a buver 

 should know all the points of a fine bird 

 before he enters the market. To purchase a 

 spurious fowl will cost as much as the other; 

 will be as expensive to feed, but will not bring 

 an equal return in the way of profit. By 

 applying, in the first instance, to a breeder of 

 known respectability, much disappointment 

 will be avoided ; and though the price demanded 

 may appear high, it may not, perhaps, be 

 higher than what would have been paid for a 

 bad article. Even should a few shillings extra 

 have to be laid out, it is better to do so 

 willingly, as, in the long run, it will be found 

 the most prudent plan. It may hero be 

 observed, that the addresses of the leading 

 amateurs and dealers in poultry, may be learned 

 by consulting the catalogues of the principal 

 shows throughout the country. 



Spanish fowls have occasionally changed 

 their plumage, and become perfectly white. 



