602 



THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. 



BOOK vi r. 



Fig. 157. Houdan Cock. 



White Leghorns had averaged 160 eggs in ten months, and that he 

 found this variety the best as layers. 



Houdans. The best 

 known of the French varie- 

 ties, almost all of which are 

 non-sitters, even where the} 7 

 are bred for the table. The 

 Houdan has been very 

 widely spread, and at one 

 time appeared to be about 

 the most popular of all the 

 later introductions, but it 

 has been eclipsed by the 

 Mediterranean and Ameri- 

 can breeds. It is a large 

 fowl-, with a squat-like body, 

 and clean legs, the feet 

 bearing the fifth toe, thus 

 showing its relationship to 

 the Dorking, which it re- 

 sembles in shape. The comb 

 is that known as leaf, and 



the head is surmounted by a moderate sized crest (fig. 157). The 

 plumage is speckled black and white, the former predominating. It 

 is an excellent layer, a good table fowl, hard}', and well suited to 

 farmers. 



Minorcas. Sometimes 

 known as red-faced Spanish, 

 but whilst the latter were 

 developed in Holland with 

 an excessively white face, 

 the Minorcas have been bred 

 in Devon and Cornwall more 

 on the original lines. It is 

 a pure black fowl in one 

 variety, and pure white in 

 the other, but the latter is 

 seldom seen. The body is 

 medium in size, with that 

 square appearance, associa- 

 ted with moderately long 

 legs, which is characteristic 

 of the Mediterranean races. 

 The comb is exceptionally 

 large (fig. 158), and the legs 

 are black or white. It is 

 the best layer of all, if we 



except the Hamburgh, arid, where eggs are the first consideration, 

 cannot be beaten, the Minorca being hardy and an excellent forager. 



Fig. 158. Black Minorcas. 



