214 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



was known generations ago, and that all 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 occasionally. 



The combs of Black Hamburghs are larger in proportion 

 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 apt to show purple reflections, especially in the 

 cock's hackles. These must be avoided for cockerel- 

 breeding ; on the other hand, these very birds often breed 

 the most lustrous pullets, the purple being apparently a sort 

 of excess in lustre. 



REDCAPS. There is occasionally met with in Lancashire 

 and Yorkshire, under this name, a coarse, large sort of gold- 

 spangled bird, very irregular and poor in marking, and with 

 immense combs often hanging over on one side. They 

 may have been originally some kind of Hamburgh mongrel, 

 and, while of no exhibition value, are the best layers of the 

 whole race. 



Hamburghs are in many circumstances a profitable 

 breed. Except the Gold-spangled, which are all poor 

 layers, they are good layers when a good strain is secured. 

 Each hen will lay from 180 to 220 eggs in a year; and ii 

 these are generally small, the consumption of food is com- 

 paratively even more so. Though naturally loving a wide 

 range, there is no great difficulty in keeping them in con- 

 finement if cleanliness be attended to. If so, the number 

 must be very limited : where six Brahmas would be kept, 

 four Hamburghs are quite enough, and they must be kept 

 dry and scrupulously clean. Perhaps the Silver-spangled 

 and Black are best adapted for such circumstances. With 

 a good egg-market near, the Redcap is one of the most 

 profitable fowls a farmer can have. The pencilled birds 



