LEGHORNS. 207 



in 1870 to Mr. Tegetmeier ; the Brown in 1872 to us. Since 

 then one or two other varieties have been imported, and at 

 least three made or bred in England. The breed may be 

 described as generally resembling the Minorca in features, 

 with the same type of comb and wattles, and laying also 

 white eggs large in proportion to its size. But the size is 

 relatively smaller ; the legs are yellow instead of dark, the 

 head and face are finer and smoother, with more or less 

 yellow beak, and a creamy rather than white ear-lobe (this 

 being connected with the yellow in beak and legs), and the 

 attitude and carriage are more sprightly, wide-awake, and 

 " dainty " in appearance. 



In America the type of Leghorn differs entirely from the 

 English. The birds are smaller and more sprightly, and the 

 tails of the cockerels, as in the original birds sent to England, 

 are still retained upright, or squirrel fashion, which in 

 England is so disliked. In comparison the English bird 

 is more massive, and Minorca in character. The difference 

 arises mainly from the demand in America for " broilers," 

 whereas the English prefer a good-sized fowl and a 

 large egg. 



White Leghorns are probably the purest in blood, but 

 have been crossed with white Minorcas to increase size and 

 counteract the tendency to cream or yellow plumage. This 

 is connected with the yellow legs and beak, and is the chief 

 difficulty in breeding from an exhibition point of view. 

 The yellow leg itself is difficult to preserve in some 

 localities, rather damp clay grass runs being the best for 

 leg colour. It is not necessary to put up two pens, but if 

 this is done, the thinnest combs should be chosen for pullet 

 breeding, the thicker for cockerel breeding. A White 

 Leghorn cockerel crossed with Plymouth Rock hens pro- 

 duces pullets of wonderful laying qualities. In America the 

 pure breed is still considered as about the best layer they have, 



