Points and Qualities of Andalusians. 355 



are larger birds than the Black, taller, closer-feathered, and fuller on the breast ; the cocks averaging 

 seven and hens five and a half to six pounds. He found them more delicate than the black variety, 

 and not such good layers, especially in the winter. The plumage should be a pure and spotless 

 white all over, beak and legs being white also. 



White Minorcas are by no means destitute of attractions ; and a fine pen in the possession of 

 a relative of our own were as hardy as could be desired, and moulted easily enough, but were not 

 good layers. They must, however, be pronounced inferior to the newly-introduced American 

 Leghorns, the yellow legs of the latter giving a much better contrast to the plumage, and the 

 lively carriage also appearing to advantage, while as layers and in hardiness they are also far 

 superior. For further particulars of this nearly-allied variety we must refer to the chapter on 

 American breeds. 



On one occasion we noticed a fine pen of White Minorcas take the first prize in the " Any 

 Variety" class, and on several occasions second and third prizes have been awarded them in the 

 same open competition. 



ANDALUSIANS. — The variety known by this name is another which can be highly 

 recommended for its laying qualities. Mr. Leworthy writes of these fowls as follows :— 



" I have possessed birds of this variety ever since January, 1856, and I know that some at least 

 of the first specimens were imported from the province of Andalusia, in Spain. I obtained my 

 own first stock of the late Mr. Coles, Farham, Hants, who, I have been given to understand, 

 purchased them from Mr. Richardson, an importer of foreign cage and other birds at Portsmouth. 

 The latter obtained them in the first place from a Spanish trader, who landed at Portsmouth in 

 1851. This information I obtained by letter from Mr. Richardson himself, who afterwards sold the 

 imported fowls to Mr. Coles. These two gentlemen crossed them with the White-faced Black 

 Spanish, in order to improve the variety, as many of the original hens had small stand-up combs 

 like Game hens ; and I fear it will be some years yet before the effect of the cross disappears, and 

 we get a really settled original type, many of the chickens at present coming black. Mr. Taylor, 

 of Shepherd's Bush, also had some imported birds of this variety. 



" They are excellent table fowls, the cocks weighing about seven pounds and hens five to six 

 pounds each. They are very precocious, feathering fast and kindly, and very prolific indeed as 

 layers. Mine average five eggs per week each, and I find the eggs larger than those of any other 

 fowl, even Spanish not excepted. In fact, taking weight as well as number of eggs to be a 

 criterion, I think them the most productive birds of any I know. One of my first hens commenced 

 laying in January, 1856, and up to the end of the year she had laid 220 eggs. I may also mention 

 that their eggs are of an exquisitely delicate flavour. 



" The comb of the cock resembles that of the undubbed Game fowl, but is rather larger ; the 

 hen's comb lies over on one side of the face, as in the Spanish, though many hens even yet are 

 bred with comb erect, as in the original birds. The wattles are in proportion to the comb. The 

 face is red, but ear-lobes pure white, and showing up very distinctly from the face, very much as in 

 the Minorcas. The head should be taper, with as little red skin as possible over the eye. 



" The cock's neck is long, and hackle rather short ; the breast full and round ; tail large, 

 and carried very high. The legs are long. The general plumage is a blueish shade or slate- 

 colour, clear all over the ground-colour, laced round the edges with black. The hackle-feathers 

 of the cock are a very good blue for the artificial flies used in trout-fishing. The plumage 

 of both sexes is alike, except the hackle and upper-feathers of the cock, which are many 

 shades darker. 



