-26 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



America. I have since had two other small lots direct from the city of Leghorn, in Italy, and 

 expect more soon from the same place. The first trio weighed nine pounds and three-quarters, and 

 were yearlings. Their combs and wattles were very large and coarse ; ear-lobes entirely red, same 

 as face, comb, and wattles. They were not Black-red Games, nor Black-red Leghorns, but 

 Broivn-rcd, i.e., the cock's breast was dark brown, spotted with lighter brown, the dark brown 

 running up the under side of the neck ; his hackle was light brown, striped with black ; the hens 

 were feathered and coloured the same as the good ones are now, the colours being very distinct, and 

 the pencilling the most beautiful of any fowl I ever saw, and the most distinct.' " 



We have seen that there is some doubt as to the origin of the White breed ; but besides the 

 above importation, many others from Leghorn have been made since of the Browns, so that in 

 their case at least the name is appropriate enough. Of this fact we have not the slightest question, 

 having had it confirmed from numerous American correspondents, who testify to having seen birds 

 recently imported cither from Leghorn or other ports in Italy ; but as to another point named by 

 Mr. Kinney, the colour of the ear-lobe, there seems to be a great difference of opinion among 

 American fanciers— Mr. Halsted and some others believing that the deaf-ears on the earlier 

 importations were red, while Mr. A. Beard, Mr. W. E. Bonney, and other breeders, say the early 

 birds had -cvhite ears. The natural supposition would be that both were imported ; and the difference 

 is of little consequence, since all agree that the deaf-ears ought to be white. Of this there can be 

 no question, as it not only agrees with the whole Leghorn or Spanish type, but is incomparably 

 superior in appearance. There is, however, yet much difficulty in breeding all the chickens with 

 white ears, but this, no doubt, will be accomplished before long. 



American breeders have unquestionably much improved the Brown Leghorn since its first 

 importation, which would account for the breed only lately coming into notice. Mr. W. E. Bonney 

 writes of them : — ■ 



" In Brown Leghorn fowls, their gay plumage, lively appearance, and, in fact, every feature 

 connected with them is attractive and pleasing ; and in this class we must soon recognise the 

 leading variety, whether for fancy or profit. They mature early; I have known pullets to commence 

 laying at three months of age, and continue laying during the entire season. They are non-sitters ; 

 and I never saw a case of roup or any hereditary disease among my fowls during the whole period 

 of my successful breeding. I have bred all classes of fowls, and by far give the Brown Leghorn 

 the preference ; I shall continue making a speciality of them, adding fresh-imported blood when 

 needed. I have bred them since i860 (the first importation ever made into this country being in 

 1855), and when I commenced to breed they would hatch all colours — brown, black, Dominique, 

 and in 1S62 I had one white chicken (a pullet). Since then I have added fresh blood, sparing no 

 pains to get select stock, and by careful breeding have accomplished their hatching true to colour." 



The first Brown Leghorns ever received in England were sent to ourselves, by the kindness 

 of Mr. A. M. Halsted, specially for portraiture in this work. They arrived on June 17th, 1872, 

 one hen again being unfortunately injured in some way, bleeding profusely from the beak, and 

 dying a few hours after receipt. The other hen laid next morning, and continued for a few days, 

 when she stopped ; this fact, as in the White birds sent us, showing well the la}'ing qualities of the 

 breed. We might describe the birds very briefly as combining the Spanish comb and type of 

 head and body, with the colour or plumage of Black-red Game of a rather darkish type ; the 

 cock being a black-breasted bird, with hackles orange-red striped with black, and the hen salmon- 

 breasted, with rest of the plumage partridge-marked, or brown finely pencilled over with dark 

 markings. They are somewhat larger than White Leghorns, and rather shorter on the leg, 

 averaging about half a pound heavier in the opinion of American breeders. 



