MiNORCAS 89 



birds of both sexes. Then again, there is a little game in them and 

 they are more on the fight than the White variety. This streak of 

 game also shows at times in the eggs which are not so pure white in 

 color as the others. But that they lay more of them is a certain fact, 

 for I have kept both and a good strain of Brown Leghorns cannot be 

 beat as layers. 



The single comb variety is most popular here and in size they are 

 decidedly in advance of the Whites. As egg producers they stand Al, 

 and the table qualities are slightly better than the White 



Color of Male and Female. — Head of male is dark red, beak horn; 

 eyes, reddish bay; comb, face and wattles, bright red; ear lobe, creamy 

 white; neck, brighter red than the head with a greenish black stripe 

 running through each feather and tapering to a point at the end; wing 

 bows, rich brilliant red; primaries, black; secondaries, black with 

 streak of brown on lower edge; coverts, greenish black; back and 

 saddle, brilliant red with a greenish black stripe, tail greenish black; 

 breast, black; body and flufT, black; legs, yellow; toes, yellow or dark 

 slate. The hen is dressed in the more sober color of brown, both 

 golden and dark, yellow legs and toes and face bright, with red comb 

 and wattles. No prettier bird walks than a well-bred Brown Leghorn. 



Minorcas. — There are three varieties of Minorcas, the Black, White 

 and the Buff. The last named variety was originated by the Lingren 

 Brothers of Kingsburg, California. Whether the California variety 

 can be called Mediterranean I do not know, but the white and black 

 are of the Mediterranean class. These are the largest of the Medi- 

 terranean class. Cock should weigh 9 pounds and that is a good 

 weight for a light bird. Hen, 7>4, pullets S% and cockerel IVi. Color 

 of male and female, black with black beak, dark brown eyes, white 

 ear lobes and dark slate color legs. The plumage, though black, is 

 set off by a lustrous green on the surface of both sexes, and this, with 

 the striking white earlobe and strong stately carriage of the male, 

 makes a picture worth looking at. 



The comb of the male is large and upright while that of the female 

 droops on one side of the head. 



The Minorca is noted for its large white egg. As a table fowl they 

 are not to be despised, though in the black variety their plumage is 

 against them. The meat is good, and only for the black feathers the 

 Minorca would be considered one of the best general purpose fowls. 

 They are usually kept where a select trade in eggs can be worked up, 

 as the eggs, pure white in coloil, are of large size and good shape, also 

 they are laid in numbers. In fact, it is difficult to find a breed of fowls 

 that can outlay a good strain of Black Minorcas. 



White Minorcas. — The white variety have the same weights as the 

 black, the only difference being in the white plumage, and white in- 



