168 DIFFERENT BREEDS OF POULTRY. 



" The comb must be very large in both sexes, and of a 

 bright vermilion colour. That of the hen should fall com- 

 pletely over on one side, but the cock's comb must be perfectly 

 upright, the slightest approach to falling over being fatal to 

 him at a good show. The indentations also should be regular 

 and even, and the whole comb, though very large, quite free 

 from any appearance of coarseness. Any sign of a twist in 

 front is a great fault. 



"The most important point, however, is the white face. 

 This should extend as high as possible over the eye, and be as 

 wide and deep as possible. At the top, it should be nearly 

 arched in shape, approaching the bottom of the comb as nearly 

 as possible, and reaching sideways to the ear-lobes and wattles, 

 meeting also under the throat. In texture the face ought to 

 be as fine and smooth as possible. The ears are large and pen- 

 dulous, and should be as white as the face. Any fowl with 

 red specks in the face has not the slightest chance. 



" With regard to Spanish fowls as layers, the pullets will 

 generally lay when six months old, and I seldom get less than 

 five or six eggs a week from each. My house is warmed,* 

 which has of course some influence on a breed so delicate ; but 

 with this artificial aid, I find my pullets lay throughout the 

 winter, as above. 



" The great thing with the chickens is to keep them out of 

 the damp. They scarcely ever get roup ; but if not kept dry 

 die away rapidly no one knows how. They ought not, there- 

 fore, as a rule, to be hatched very early in the year, and one 

 cock ought not to be allowed more than three hens, as the eggs 

 are less fertile than those of most other breeds." 



The following additional remarks on this fowl are compiled 

 from information furnished us by various amateurs. 



Spanish are judged most of all by the quantity and quality 



* For plan and description of Mr. Lane's establishment, see 

 Chap. X. 



