FARM-YARD FOWLS. 



warrant our assigning them to one common 

 stock. Names, also, that denote some subdivis- 

 ions of this family, strengthen our conclusion ; 

 for the Anconas and Minorcas derive their des- 

 ignations from localities that carry us far beyond 

 mere Spanish boundaries. 



We copy the following description from Mar- 

 tin, who seems to hold this breed in high esti- 

 mation : "Like the Black Poland, this breed is 

 clad in glossy sable plumage, but is not crested 

 with a top-knot; on the contrary, the comb is 

 remarkably large, single, and often pendent on 

 one side ; the wattles are extremely developed, 

 and the skin below the ear oh each cheek is 

 white, contrastingly strongly with the scarlet of 

 the comb and wattles, and the glossy black of 

 the plumage. The cock is a noble and stately 

 bird, remarkable for size and height: it is in 

 fact superior in stature to all our domestic races, 

 if we except the Kulm, or Malay fowl, and at 

 the same time it possesses excellent symmetry. 

 The hen is also of good size and good figure. 

 Brought originally, as it is believed, from Spain, 

 this breed is nevertheless very hardy, and is 

 reared as easily as any of inferior importance. 

 To those who breed fowls for the sake of the 

 flesh and eggs, this fine variety can not be too 

 strongly recommended. The flesh is delicately 

 white, tender, and juicy, and the hens are free 

 layers. Some persons complain that the hens 

 are far better layers than sitters. Their pecul- 

 iar disinclination to sit is very remarkable, and 

 is regarded as their most valuable characteristic ; 

 for, in our experience, we have been exceeding- 

 ly annoyed by the constant propensity which 

 some other breeds have manifested in this re- 

 spect. The eggs are of very large size, and of 

 first-rate flavor. 



" Inferior cross breeds of this Spanish variety 

 are very often to be seen ; but such are not 

 worth keeping. Let the pure strain only be 

 adopted ; it may be preserved from degenerating 

 by the occasional introduction of males of the 

 same race, and up to the mark in every point, 

 which have descended by a collateral branch 

 from the same root, and which have, therefore, 

 only a remote connection with the stock to which 

 they are admitted. It is thus that breeders may 

 often benefit each other by mutual exchanges." 



Varieties. The varieties of the Spanish breed 

 consist* of the white and those going by the 

 name of "Minorcas," which have neither the 

 white face nor high-bred carriage of the pure 

 bird. To these we may add the " Andalusian," 

 lately introduced and exhibited in England. 



The "Minorcas" are very common in Dev- 

 onshire and Cornwall, England, though by no 

 means limited to these counties. In the west- 

 ern parts of Cornwall especially, birds of this va- 

 riety have long been valued as first-rate layers, 

 and for some years they formed the one princi- 

 pal stock of the yards. The milder temperature 

 of the south of England would offer peculiar 

 advantages to the successful management of 

 these fowls, which manifest impatience of se- 

 vere cold. 



A pen of white Spanish fowls were exhibit- 

 ed at Birmingham in 1852. "But," remarks a 

 writer on the subject, "regarding the striking- 

 contrast of jet-black plumage, the coral comb, 

 and the white face, as constituting the great 

 beauty of the Spanish family, we can accord but 

 limited approbation to this variety, where both 

 cheek and comb are sadly compromised by the 

 substitution of so unfavorable a color for their 

 mutual relief. I have known white Spanish 

 bred from black birds, but their offspring have 

 been black again." 



Cocks will average 7 pounds, while the hens 

 may be stated at about 5i pounds. Pullets 

 hatched in April commence laying in October, 

 and continue throughout the winter. Two pul- 

 lets and three hens, it is said, averaged 120 eggs 

 each in the year. The hens seldom show any 

 desire to sit ; but when this does happen, they 

 prove themselves excellent mothers. The chick- 

 ens are feathered early, are hardy, and very pre- 

 cocious. As a table fowl, they are considered full 

 equal to the Dorking. "But when we come to 

 speak of Spanish as layers, our award of praise," 

 says a breeder of them, " can hardly go too far, 

 either as to the actual number of eggs laid or 

 their aggregate annual weight." 



As regards the Spanish hens as layers, a writer 

 in the " Poultry Book" says : " The hens com- 

 menced laying the last week in January, 1852, 

 and continued laying two days, stopping one, 

 down to the middle of November. They lay, 



