POULTRY DBPARTMBNT. 429 



white, but the white are very scarce and not so desirable as the black 

 for general purposes. The black is a fine all-around bird. Their met- 

 alic black plumage makes them a "bird of beauty." 



They are among the best as layers, and can be kept on any soil, are 

 good fowls to hunt for their food, and small eaters. 



Black Spanish. This breed is a small eater, a great layer of large 

 eggs, bears confinement well, and formerly merited all that could be said 

 in its favor. It was at one time the most popular of all breeds, but that 

 was before it was ruined by the breeders. The fanciers have bred points, 

 the main one being the white face, until the original bird has lost its 



Strength and become a tender bird. 

 Though bred in this way, it is still a 

 good producer of eggs, but the chick- 

 ens are tender and hard to rear, slow in 

 feathering, and the moulting of the 

 full-sized bird seems to be attended 

 with dif&culty, and it is not a first-class 

 table bird. 



There are a few strains which not 

 having been bred for exhibition, retain 

 their old qualities. In these the White 

 face is not prominent, but they are 



WHITE FACED BLACK SPANISH, ^^^'^^^^ .*« S^^' " '"'"''^'^ ^^* th« 



Black M.norcas strength will be secured 

 and without injury to the laying qualities. 



The Black Spanish must be kept warm and in a dry soil. The chick- 

 ens need special care, and the adult fowl during the moulting season 

 requires special treatment. They have bright black plumage, white 

 face, sweeping tail, and black legs. The comb is single, laying over in 

 the hen, but erect in the cock. 



HamburgllS. The Hamburghs have the record of being the best 

 laying breed in existence. It is not an unusual thing for the hens ta 

 produce two hundred eggs a year. But as the eggs are small and the 

 fowls do not bear confinement, they are of little use to the general 

 farmer. 



They are now generally regarded as the fanciers' fowl, because of 

 their great beauty. The cock has a neat head, beautiful plumage, close 

 compact shape, sweeping tail, pure ear-lobes, and a handsome, well- 

 shaped rose comb. The hen is rich in color, sprightly in carriage, and 



