BLACK SPANISH FOWLS. 139 



cheek piece of the cock extending well down on the neck. The cock 

 has an upright single comb, of a very large size, and deeply serrated ; 

 that of the hen is proportionally as large, drooping over on one side; 

 the wattles of the cock are on the same liberal scale as is his comb ; 

 the legs are blue, or rather of a dark, leaden color. 



A breed of handsome feathering, contrasting favorably with the 

 bright scarlet of comb and wattles, and white cheek pieces and face, 

 of the same texture, renders them one of the most ornamental of any 

 ci the poultry kind. Added to the ornamental, you have an everlast- 

 ing layer of the largest sized, clear white eggs, and when the fowl is 

 served at table, it is of white meat and skin, juicy, and of a short and 

 tine fibre. 



The cock is known by the name of "Impudence" and the hen by 

 the name of " Betty" to breeders in England. 



In breeding the Black Spanish, one mast make use of other hens 

 for hatching the eggs, since this breed are not disposed to be broody, 

 a quality which can easily be dispensed with, and is sometimes very 

 annoying in valuable fowls, being a duty which any common barn- 

 yard hen is ever ready to take upon herself at the proper season of 

 the year. 



In this climate, the chicks have feathered early, and from the shell 

 upward have been strong and healthy. On first leaving the shell, 

 they are of a siz-e such as might be expected from extra sized eggs. 

 Each chick has a pinafore of white, which gradually diminishes as 

 they grow, till, at the expiration of a few weeks, they are found to be 

 in sable plumage. 



So soon as the hen got over the effect of the voyage, she commenced 

 laying, and has uninterruptedly continued to "shell out," so that I 

 have a good stock of her chickens on hand. 



Yours, &c., EBEN WIGHT. 



Martin, Dixon, and others, accord the highest praise to the Black 

 Spanish fowl. Martin says : " The cock is a noble and stately bird, 

 remarkable for size and height ; is, in fact, superior to all our domestic 

 races, if we except the Kuhlm fowl, and at the same time it possesses, 

 excellent symmetry. The hen is also of a large size and good figure. 

 Brought originally, as it is believed, from Spain, this breed is never- 

 theless very hardy, and well adapted to our climate, and is reared as 

 easily aa any. of inferior importance. To those who breed fowls for 

 the sake of flesh and eggs, this fine variety cannot be too strongly 

 recommended. The flesh is delicately white, tender and juicy, and the 

 hens are free layers." 



Dixon, in speaking of this breed, says : " It is a noble race of fowls, 

 possessing many great merits ; of spirited and animated appearance, 

 of considerable size, excellent for the table, both in whiteness of flesh 

 and skin, and also in flavor, laying exceedingly large eggs in consid- 

 erable numbers. 



" Among birds of its own breed, it is not deficient in courage, though 

 it yields, without showing much fight, to those which have a dash of 

 Game in their veins. 



" Thorough bred birds of the fancy should be entirely black, as far 



