Silkies. 1 2 1 



Black Spanish. 



This breed was at one time the most popular of all, and 

 certainly merited everything that could be said in its favour, 

 as it was a small eater, a prolific layer of large eggs, and bore 

 confinement very well. But that was before it had been 

 spoiled by the attentions of the fanciers, who, by breeding for 

 fancy points, have almost ruined it ; we mean by the foolish 

 development of the white face, which has been at the 

 expense of its stamina and strength. It is still a good 

 layer, but the chickens are troublesome to rear, are very 

 slow in feathering, and the adult birds get through the moult 

 with great difficulty, and it is poor as a table bird. In a few 

 stiains, which have not been bred for show purposes, and in 

 which the white face has not been unduly developed, these 

 failings are not so much found, and the birds have all the old 

 strength and value ; but these are very scarce and difficult to 

 obtain, and we should advise any one who wishes to keep 

 Spanish for profit, to cross them with the Black Minorcas, as 

 by this means strength will be secured, and without injury to 

 the laying properties. As will have been seen from what we 

 have said, Spanish need a warm, dry soil, and special treat- 

 ment during chickeuhood, and the moulting season. The 

 plumage is bright black, the comb single (erect in the cock, 

 lying over in the hen, as is shown in the illustration), the face 

 white, the tail sweeping, and the legs black. 



Silkies. 



These are scarcely to be regarded as commercial fowls, but, 

 as they are often used for hatching other eggs, for they are 

 exceptionally good mothers, and as they are of great anti- 

 quity, they cannot be regarded as out of place here. They 

 are small in size, have purple coloured faces and flesh of a. 



