CHAPTER IX 



Origin of Anconas. 



HE first history we have of this remarkable breed 

 is from Ancona, which is a large maritime town 

 of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea, 134 miles northeast 

 of Rome. It is noted for its fine harbor adapted 

 for building and repairing ships. It is said to have 

 the finest marble arch in the world. Last, but not 

 least, it is noted as being the original home of 

 " ^ this great and noble breed of fowls. About half a 

 decade before this town became a part of the Italian kingdom they 

 were first introduced into England, in the year 1852, where they 

 have gained great prominence. In about 1890 they were imported 

 into America. They have made wonderful progress against the 

 strong competition of other breeds. 



The origin of these birds is not known definitely. There is a 

 difference of opinion on this subject. Some claim one thing and some 

 another. Most breeders agree that they have Black Leghorn blood. 

 To the average fancier it matters little what blood lines they have, 

 so I will not discuss this matter any further. It is results that 

 count, and it is their remarkable qualities we wish to discuss more 

 fully, and which I will refer to later. 



Color. 

 Color of the Anconas 



Their feathers are black with a white tip. The ideal feather 

 must be of a greenish sheen, dark to the skin, with a V-spangled white 

 tip, the white portion being clear and distinct. The defective points 

 most common have been white feathers in tail and wings, with light 

 undercolor. By scientific breeding these objections have been greatly 

 reduced in many of the better flocks. In fact, splendid birds with 

 dark undercolor, dark wings and tail are becoming quite common at 

 the largest shows. In these specimens the predominant fault is the 

 lack of mottling in some parts of the body, generally on the back. 

 The old Standard required a white tip on each and every feather. 

 This has been a very dlflicult point to produce. It is objectionable 

 on account of too much white having a tendency to make the birds 

 too light in color, which detracts from their beauty. The revision 



