2oo THE PRACTICAL POULTR\ KEEPER. 



it has had much to do with the modern delicacy of this 

 breed. Mr. Teebay found Spanish kept at large and 

 allowed to roost in trees, became hardy ; but no doubt their 

 faces would hardly pass muster now. Such an extreme 

 standard for face has, however, ruined the breed. 



Spanish seldom develop catarrhal roup ; but if cold 

 seizes them they seem to shrink and shrivel away. They 

 require much care in -moult, when comb and wattles seem to 

 shrink to almost nothing. They are better kept in at this 

 time, if possible, and even very gentle warmth is often best 

 for them ; but they should be carefully hardened off again. 

 Hampers in which Spanish are sent for exhibition in winter 

 should be lined with flannel. 



The breed is rather subject to the occurrence, in rapid 

 succession, of air-bubbles under the skin, a well-known 

 sign of debility in chickens. Whenever this is the case, 

 the bird should have a little port wine, and nourishing 

 food in which two grains of saccharated carbonate of iron 

 per day is mixed, the bladders being pricked as they 

 arise. 



MINORCAS. This is now by far the most popular and 

 generally useful of the Mediterranean breeds. It was 

 known for many years in the West of England, and steadily 

 advocated by us, before attracting any attention elsewhere 

 or having any class of its own at exhibitions ; but it began 

 to " move " at last, and is now one of the most generally 

 kept of all fowls. In 1883, after this movement had begun, 

 two classes at the Costal Palace contained 32 entries ; in 

 1897 six classes contained 166 entries. This is not to be 

 wondered at when we remember that the fowl is hardy, of 

 a colour that can be kept anywhere, a splendid layer, and 

 its eggs probibly the largest of all. One breeder found 

 four pens of hens averaged 220 eggs each ; another's 



