Variations in Plumage of Spanish. 351 



selection of stock, rejecting every bird for breeding which shows the faintest trace of red, will keep a 

 yard up to a high standard. 



Spanish fowls, as they become old, not unfrequently moult out with many or all of their 

 feathers tipped with white, presenting a curious " magpie " appearance, not unlike some strains of 

 Houdans. This is no evidence whatever of any impurity of blood, but seems strictly analagous 

 to the advent of grey or white hair in the human species. Such birds will produce chickens (so 

 long as their prolific power lasts) quite as perfect as those which remain quite black. Occasionally 

 they will moult entirely white instead of pied ; and even j)w/«^ white birds are sometimes produced. 

 Some of these are what physiologists term "albinoes," having the pink eyes of that peculiar physical 

 disposition ; but others merely show the frequent change from white to black and black to white 

 which all the feathered tribes often present, and by breeding these carefully the White Spanish 

 has been produced. 



The only other variation in plumage necessary to notice is the occurrence of red or reddish- 

 golden feathers, more particularly in the cock's hackles. We have always noticed that birds thus 

 disfigured were of the richest and most glossy colour in the yard,* and we never knew a yard at 

 all noted for rich and glossy plumage in which such birds were not every now and then produced. 

 This is, in fact, the case with cvcrj black breed of poultry, the least-established (such as Black 

 Cochins) of course suffering most from it, and varieties so long and carefully bred as the Spanish 

 being to a great extent free ; but the tendency still exists in all, and is always manifesting itself 

 more or less. We mention the matter partly because Mr. Darwin has on this point made another 

 of the mistakes regarding the facts of poultry-breeding to which we have already referred, stating f 

 that "all who know anything of the breeding of poultry will admit that tens of thousands of pure 

 Spanish .... have been reared without the appearance of a red feather ;" whereas, all "who 

 know anything " are aware that the fact is precisely opposite, and that these red feathers are just 

 what are constantly observed. Of course, tens of thousands of birds free from them are bred, and 

 only such are preserved and shown ; but out of the whole " tens of thousands " bred by any 

 number of fanciers many birds with red feathers may be seen. Such should not be bred from, 

 if it be possible ; and by insisting on this rule they may and ought to be reduced to a mere 

 per-centage. By adopting a contrary rule, a race of red Spanish might probably be produced 

 without much difficulty, if such were desired. 



Coming, as they generally do, from close confinement, Spanish require specially good protection 

 on their journey to and from any show. Even the coarse unbleached linen or canvas generally 

 employed to line poultry-baskets is scarcely sufficient if the weather is at all bad ; and most Spanish 

 fanciers of our acquaintance prefer to use flannel. This should be well shrunk before being 

 employed, which swells the fibres, and afi"ords very efficient protection from cold and draught, 

 whilst still giving efficient ventilation. It is also necessary to have the basket sufficiently high 

 to prevent the cock by any possibility knocking his comb against the top, which would probably 

 cause damage to one or more of the spikes. 



The laying qualities of Spanish are well known. High breeding has within the last twenty 

 years perceptibly diminished the good qualities of many strains, but enough still remains to justify 

 a very high character as layers, about 130 eggs per annum being an average many birds will 

 attain, if properly fed and managed. The egg is very large, with a smooth white shell, both of 

 which qualities cause it to command a gcod market ; but it must be admitted that to most palates 



* The Rev. W. Serjeantson's notes on Black Hamburghs will be found to corroborate this exactly, from his experience of 

 another breed. 



+ "Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication." 



