POULTRY DEPARTMENT. 425 



mother. The average farmer can make no mistake in introducing this 

 admirable bird for general use. 



I/egliorns. This bird has a peculiar history. It is a sub-variety of 

 the Spanish type of fowls, ard being principall5f bred in Northern Italy, 

 it is all over the continental part of Europe called the Italian fowl. It 

 was brought from Italy to the United States, and then taken again 

 across the water to be introduced into England. 



This is a breed of utility, and not a breed of fancy points. Originally 

 there w ere only two varieties, the white and the brown, but to these 

 have been added the black, the cuckoo, the darkwing, and the buff. 



The I,eghorns have a good-sized, single, deeply-cut comb, with saw- 

 tooth edges, which extends down well over the back of the head, and in 

 the hen falls over on one side, in a single fold; the wattles are long and 

 hanging; has white ear-lobes, yellow bill, red face, clean yellow legs, 

 and in the cock a sweeping tail. 



The body is small, but close and compact, and their general appear- 

 ance is pleasing. 



BROWN LEGHORNS, the subject of our illustration, have mark- 

 ings much like the brown-red game. 



In the cock the hackles are golden bay, striped with black; the back 

 is of general red color, each feather having a brighter bay stripe; the 

 breast is a rich black; their dark red wings are of good size and striped 

 across with bars of bay and a greenish-black; their long sickles are green 

 and black; and their legs are yellow. 



In the hen the hackles are yellow, striped with brown; the back is 

 brown with slight pencihngs; the breast is a light salmon-brown; the 

 remainder of the female bird does not varj^ much in appearance from the 

 male. 



The other varieties are named from their general color or peculiarities, 

 and are easily identified. The blacks are self-color, the cuckoos are 

 black and white mixed, the darkwings are very simihar to game, and 

 the buffs have yellow feathers. 



I,eghorns are good layers, and their eggs are fair size, the "White I^eg- 

 horns laying the largest eggs and the greatest number. 



They are a hardy fowl, bear confinement well, will thrive on any soil, 

 but are not first-class as a table-bird. They are small eaters, and when 

 at liberty will hunt diligently for food. As a producer of eggs for mar- 

 ket it is one of the best breeds that can be kept. 



