Anco.vas, or Mottled Spanish. 357 



ANCONAS — This variety resembles tlie preceding in the general shape which marks all the 

 Spanish tribes, the large comb, upright in the cock and falling over in the hen, and the large 

 wattles and ear-lobes. The face is red, approximating it to the Minorca rather than the Spanish 

 type; but the plumage is "Cuckoo". or Dominique in colour, the general effect of which, and the 

 marking of individual feathers, are accurately represented in the chapter on American breeds. 



We entertain scarcely any doubt that the origin of Anconas is to be found in accidental 

 " sports " of this colour from crossing Black and White Minorcas. Black and white being readily 

 interchanged, and White Minorcas being rather scarce, the latter have to our knowledge been often 

 crossed with Black, most of the produce being Black or White. The result of crossing any very 

 dark fowl with White is, however, often productive of a certain number of this " Cuckoo" marking, 

 (we have seen this already in crossing the Dark-grey with White Dorkings), and the " prepotency," " 

 as Mr. Darwin calls it, of this colour, when once produced, makes its transmission even from a 

 recent cross comparatively easy. 



Anconas are always scarce ; but we generally see a pen every two or three years, and they 

 could be easily perpetuated if desired. They are generally "good for a prize" in the "Any 

 Variety " class, and look decidedly attractive in a pen if of at all good points and quality. In the 

 only case where we were able to make personal inquiry, the owner — an innkeeper, whose hostelry 

 rejoiced in a name which must sur^y have conveyed the idea of Paradise to these lucky birds, 

 being no other than " The W/icafs/icaf'—Mormcd us they were hardy, and " no end at laying." Of 

 course ! how could they help it in such happy circumstances ? These qualities, taken in conjunction 

 with their scarcity, would be almost conclusive in favour of their origin in some cross ; and a 

 further corroborative argument may be found in the fact that all the specimens we can remember 

 to have seen have had shorter legs than any other variety or sub-variety of Spanish. 



Birds have been exhibited under the name of Anconas of other colours than that described, 

 We have known birds splashed black and white called by that name, and even brown and red birds, 

 almost the colour of Black-red Game. Such have, however, in every case, presented the general 

 characteristics of mongrels, and have no claim whatever to the title of a distinct breed, though the 

 latter colour named suggests some inquiry as to the origin of Brown Leghorns. 



LEGHORNS. — We have already remarked that these birds present nearly all the 

 characteristics of the Spanish race; but as they differ in some important respects, sliall defer 

 the consideration of them to our special chapter upon American breeds. 



It will have been seen that all the Spanish varieties agree in the principal characteristics 

 of general' shape, large combs, absence of the incubating instinct, and the abundant laying of 

 large white eggs. These point conclusively to a common origin, while the various differences are 

 obviously owing to the art of man, as in other varieties of fowls. It is to be regretted that some of 

 the best varieties are not more generally known and better encouraged at poultry-shows, the Black 

 Minorca especially being worthy of recognition, both as regards useful qualities, and for its 

 exceeding beauty when well-bred. As a table fowl, the Andalusian and Ancona varieties are 

 decidedly the best, being more juicy than the others ; but their laying qualities alone will entitle 

 the Spanish to be regarded as not only exhibition varieties, but most useful races of fowls. 



Most of the crosses make capital layers, the best in our opinion being that between the 

 Spanish cock and Brahma hen, to which we have already alluded. Both this cross and that with 

 the Cochin make capital sitters. The cross with the Houdan produces a nondescript bird which 

 often lays enormously, but usually sits at least once a year. In fact, as already remarked, good 



