BLACK SPANISH. 



5 BLA.CE SPANISH : HAMBUB6S. 



hens are excellent layers, and their eggs are of a very large 

 size. They are, however, bad 

 nurses ; consequently their 

 eggs should be placed in the 

 nest of other varieties to be 

 hatched. The Dorking is the 

 most suitable for this purpose, 

 the hensofthisspeoies remain- , 

 ing longer with their chicks 

 than any other. " In pur- 

 chasing Spanish fowls," says 

 an authority, " blue legs, the 

 entire absence of white or coloured feathers in the plumage, 

 and a large white face, with a very large high comb, which 

 should be erect in the cock, though pendent in the hens, should 

 be insisted on." The flesh of this fowl is esteemed ; but, from 

 the smallness of its body when compared with that of the 

 Dorking, it is not. placed on an equality with it for the table. 

 Otherwise, however, they axe profitable birds, and their hand- 

 some carriage, and striking contrast of colour in the comb, face, 

 and plumage, are a high recommendation to them. For a town 

 fowl, they are, perhaps, better adapted than any other variety. 



The HAJtBTJUG Fowl is a very usefiil and important denizen 

 of our poultry-yard. The hen lays nearly every day until the 

 moulting season ; hence they have obtained the name of " ever- 

 lasting layers ;" but they very seldom sit. This, in all proba- 

 bility, is owing to their confined condition in this country, for 

 it is said that when the birds have a free woodland range, they 

 frequently set themselves to the task of incubation with as 

 much diligence as other fowls, Mrs. Blair says, — " If not inter- 

 fered with, like the pheasant, in a fine season the hen will rear 

 all her brood, but like her, is 

 quite dependent on weather. 

 If confined to a yard, I have 

 never found the Hamburg sit ; 

 and their range, even if firee, 

 must be viild, to induce a de- 

 sireto perpetuateher species." 



Of this fowl we have three 

 varieties. The first is the Pen- 

 cnxED Hambttrs, which is of 

 two colours, golden and sil- 

 ver, and is very minutely 

 28 



PENOILLEI) HAMBUBOS. 



