2O4 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



light or blue, a great many will occur of black and white. 

 Some attribute this to " crossing," but it is not so, and 

 always is a difficulty with this colour, for the simple reason 

 that the colour itself is composite, and the product of cross- 

 ing colours, generally of white and black. The produce of 

 such colours is very erratic ; but out of a large number of 

 such crosses there will be some black, some white, some 

 black and white splashed or pied, some of the " cuckoo " or 

 blue barred colour noticed under ANCONAS, and also found 

 in PLYMOUTH ROCKS, etc., and some of this blue-dun Anda- 

 lusian colour. Blue ducks have been bred in the same way. 

 The colour never arises otherwise, and its components are 

 always cropping up, and can only be kept down by careful 

 weeding. So far from black blood being " injurious," the 

 improved lacing of modern birds is due to it, just as the 

 lacing of the Sebright had to be refreshed from the Black 

 Bantam. When the lacing gives out, or the ground-colour 

 becomes light, the use of a black Andalusian will often 

 repair the defect. This should always be done rather than 

 go to the Minorca, or use birds in which the lacing has got 

 mossy, or black stain spread over the ground. A pure black 

 bird impairs lacing much less than those with such defects, 

 and will sometimes work much improvement. Of course 

 white and black Andalusians could easily be bred, but 

 would only differ in head and comb from Minorcas. On 

 the other hand, the shape of the comb shows that some 

 Minorcas have beyond doubt been crossed with these black 

 Andalusians. 



Economically, this breed stands high. It is one of the 

 best layers of pretty large white eggs, and a better winter 

 layer than the Minorca. It is far more precocious ; almost 

 ridiculously so, since cockerels will often crow at seven 

 weeks old ; they should be separated at that age. Pullets 

 usually lay at six months. The flesh is white, with plenty 



