220 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



Peculiarities of Breeds. They are so well defined now 

 that we reckon their merits and drawbacks with some- 

 thing like certainty. Taking the 

 laying breeds first, they are 

 smaller, more wiry, are more 

 timid, and more able to fly fences 

 and roost upon trees than the 

 heavier, flesh-forming, table birds. 

 The egg-layers are not disposed 

 to sit, or to become broody, to the 

 same degree as the flesh formers. 

 Their eggs are larger, from l^oz. 

 Egg-iayin& Type. to 2oz., are white as a rule, and 



do better in small confined places, 



than the heavier breeds. Leghorns. Brown, white, 

 cuckoo ; combs, large, upright ; all are hardy. Have laid 

 up to 170 eggs during second year, and 700 during life; 

 weigh up to 71 b.; capital foragers. Hamburgs. The 

 "red-caps," black pencilled, spangled; solid, red combs; 

 second year up to 180 eggs ; during life, 660, but smaller 

 eggs than Leghorus ; weigh up to 6 jib. Minorcas. Black ; 

 large upright combs ; eggs large, not so numerous as 

 foregoing ; weigh up to 81b.; fair foragers. Houdans. 

 Black with white ; have top knot and fifth toe ; second 

 year, 150; total, 650 (light coloured eggs) ; weigh up to 

 81b. Polish. Black, with white top knot; much the 

 same egg capacity as Houdans, but smaller birds ; weigh 

 up to 6|lb. Andalusians. Slatey blue ; look like game ; 

 egg capacity and weight much the same as Houdans. 

 Wyandottes. Beautiful laced feathering ; supposed to be 

 from a cross of Brahma with laced Asiatic ; fine, firm flesh ; 

 laying capacity 390 ; best year, 140 ; good mothers and 

 fair foragers; weigh up to 81b. Spanish. Black, with 

 white face and ears; second year, have laid up to 170 

 eggs ; total, 650 (eggs extra large) ; breed reputed 

 delicate ; weigh up to 7lb. 



Pullets of the foregoing commence to lay when six 

 to seven months old. They lay best in their second year. 



Table Breeds. Colour of eggs mostly brown; smaller 

 in size than the egg layers; weigh from 1^ to lozs. 



