178 DIFFERENT BREEDS OF POULTRY. 



black moons at the tips. The moons on wing covert feathers 

 in both sexes should form two black bars across the wings ; the 

 mre regular these bars the more valuable the bird. 



The Silver Pheasant-fowl of Yorkshire had smaller spangles, 

 and not so round, without, however, running into the crescent 

 form of the Golden Pheasant-fowl. The tail was white in both 

 cock and hen, ending in black spangles. The cock's breast 

 had also far less spangling than the Mooney breed. 



The history of this variety resembles that of the preceding. 

 At first hen-feathered Mooney cocks were shown ; then York- 

 shire Pheasant cocks ; then followed the gradual amalgamation ; 

 and at present most breeders follow the simple method of 

 putting the most perfect hens or pullets to promising dark 

 and well-spangled cocks, as already described. 



Many Spangled Hamburgh chickens are pencilled in their 

 chicken feathers, the true spangling only appearing with the 

 adult plumage. This goes to show the original unity though, 

 doubtless, very far back of the spangled and pencilled races. 



BLACK HAMBURGHS. There is much doubt about the real 

 origin of this fowl. Many think it was first produced by 

 crossing Silver-spangled with Spanish ; and the frequent signs 

 of white round the eye, the smooth lobe, and the larger egg, 

 are strong arguments for this ; also many birds used to be seen 

 with a sort of spangle of extra iridescence on the ends of the 

 feathers. The greater size and darker legs are also quoted. 

 But old fanciers affirm that the breed was known generations 

 ago, and that att green, free from spangle, was the correct colour. 

 Our own opinion is for the Spanish cross ; but it has been long 

 bred out in all but the whitish face, which still appears occa- 

 sionally. 



The combs of Black Hamburghs are larger even in propor- 

 tion than in the other varieties, and the deaf-ears much larger 

 and more kid-like in texture. The plumage is not so much 

 black, as a magnificent green gloss. The best-coloured birds are 



