HO 



THE AMERICAN POULTERER'S COMPANION. 



in my opinion, ten months in the year. The 

 average weight from old hens is 2| ounces." 

 Another writer remarks : " As for eggs, I reck- 

 oned last year (1852) that my Spanish hens laid 

 six days a week from early in February to late 

 in August (they moulted in July). Between 

 November and February they averaged, per- 

 haps, three eggs a week. I consider them to 

 be nearly (not quite) as good layers as my Shang- 

 hais, but very superior in the weight of the eggs, 

 which are large and handsome ; broad, but slight- 

 ly rounded at each end ; one end, however, is 

 not so much more pointed than the other, as in 

 some fowls. As for weight, I am cautions in 

 speaking. I know that last year, from February 

 to August I considered their average weight to 

 be above 3^ ounces, but under 4 ounces. The 

 largest were in May, many of them weighing 

 4i ounces ; but the average of those laid in 

 December and January I should place at 2 

 ounces." 



The color of the Spanish egg never varies ; it 

 is clear white, with a smooth, polished surface. 

 In selecting such as we desired to sit, we should 

 follow the same rule as with Shanghais. Pul- 

 lets are commonly found to commence laying 

 from five and a half to six months old, and they 

 certainly may be described as good layers, save 

 only in the severe winter months. With regard 

 to a tendency toward laying soft or unshelled 

 eggs, it is the same to which all great layers are 

 naturally subject. 



Chickens are marked with a soft blue-black 

 down, with white on the face, throat, and breast ; 

 and when feathering begins there is usually a 

 longer interval than we wish between the cast- 

 ing off of the one covering and the assumption 

 of the other. They are longer coming to ma- 

 turity than other young poultry; they suffer 

 much during the growth of their quill feathers, 

 frequently pining away and dying at that period 

 in spite- of every attention. 



In the habits of the Spanish fowl there is no- 

 thing peculiar to require notice ; they are not, 

 it is true, so quiet and disinclined to roaming as 

 the Shanghai ; but if well-fed at home, they will 

 not be found to stray far from their walk. Nor 

 are they quarrelsome among themselves to a 

 degree at all troublesome. 



Characteristics. The thorough-bred Spanish 

 fowl should be entirely black, as far as feathers 

 are concerned, and when in high condition dis- 

 play a greenish metallic lustre. An erect brill- 

 iant scarlet comb, serrated ; with a clear milk- 

 white face and ear-lobes ; dark-blue legs ; and 

 a lofty carriage. Wattles of the hen small, but 

 large and very conspicuous in the cocks, and, 

 like the comb, of a light scarlet. This marked 

 contrast of black, bright-red, and white, makes 

 the head of the Spanish cock as handsome as 

 that of any other variety ; and in the genuine 

 breed the whole form is equally good. The 

 cock-bird should be strong and short in the legs 

 as possible ; his back from tail to neck short, tail 

 large and ample. He should weigh not less 

 than six pounds; the head is rather large, the 

 spurs long and sharp, and the bearing and car- 

 riage proud and high. The face should com- 

 mence from where the comb joins on the head, 

 and must extend downward over and around 

 the eye till it meets the white ear-lobes. 



Spanish hens are also of good size and good 

 figure, and are celebrated as good layers, pro- 

 ducing very large white eggs. The head of the 

 hen should be neat, and of moderate size ; eyes 

 bright ; comb single, very large and pendulous ; 

 face entirely white, the white extending round 

 the eye ; neck of moderate length, neatly set on ; 

 body broad, wings of middle size ; legs a bluish- 

 white ; tail long and well squared ; plumage of 

 a glossy black, with brilliant tints of green and 

 purple, as in the cock, but less brilliant. Her 

 weight should not be less than five pounds. It 

 must be especially observed that the slightest 

 approach to coarseness, in either cock or hen, 

 must be discountenanced, even at the expense 

 of size ; for in no class of fowls is quality more 

 requisite and more appreciated than in the 

 Spanish. 



It can not be too strongly impressed upon 

 breeders, that the purely white face is the most 

 arbitrary rule in judging fowls of this breed, and 

 will cover many trifling deficiencies. Of course 

 the plumage should be black, without mixture 

 of any other color. 



Although cocks at seven months, and pullets 

 at ten, ought to give promise of what they will 

 be when they come to maturity, yet we should 



