HAMBURGHS. 209 



stock, crossed with weedy Buff Cochins. The crossing has 

 introduced much difficulty in breeding sound, rich buff 

 unmixed with white or black ; but the colour seems to suit 

 the close plumage of this fowl particularly well. White 

 must be absolutely avoided in breeding stock, rejecting 

 black also as far as possible, and selecting hens of a sound 

 rich buff, with cocks, if possible, rather darker, as in all buff 

 breeds. Heavy weeding is required in Buff Leghorns, and 

 some think that the best birds owe a shade or two to colour 

 feeding ; but we must say that, so far as we think we have 

 been able with any probability to trace this, the effect has 

 been patchy and uneven, more in the shape of a bricky 

 colour on the wing and tail coverts. In America the 

 preference is for rather lighter buff than in England ; but 

 on the other hand, we often see one side of the flights 

 white in England, which we are informed would in America 

 be disqualified. Buff Leghorns are very attractive looking, 

 and good layers ; on grass they look particularly well. 



The multiplicity of varieties in Leghorns is a misfortune 

 in a breed of this kind. The White, Brown, and Buff are 

 most worthy of cultivation. A rose-combed variety is too 

 obviously like a pencilled Hamburgh. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



HAMBURGHS. 



UNDER the name of Hamburghs are now collected several 

 varieties of fowls, presenting the general characteristics of 

 rather small size, brilliant rose combs, ending in a spike 

 behind, projecting upwards, blue legs, and beautiful 

 plumage. None of the Hamburghs ever show any dis- 

 position to sit, except very rarely in a state of great 

 O 



