I ANCONAS IN ENGLAND :| 



»^Y first recollections of Anconas as we now know them, goes back a 



good many years. But as a recognised breed the last twenty-five 

 years practically covers their whole history. At that time ago, a few fan- 

 ciers were beginning to find out their sterling qualities, extraordinary lay- 

 ers, small eaters and prettier than any, with the exception perhaps of 

 Spangled Hamburgs. 



Picture to yourself a rather small, delicately shaped bird, about 

 equally mottled with black and white, with a large well-spread tail, and 

 very pale yellow legs, a rather long head surmounted by a comb of medium 

 size very deeply cut, and a general carriage that a Peacock might envy. 

 These birds gradually worked their way into the hearts of fanciers, who 

 were also lovers of beauty, until the few classes which were then provided 

 for them began to be well filled. 



But Englishmen are never satisfied for long,and a darker, squarer bird 

 began to find favor at shows. The purple sheen which up to this time 

 was general, was replaced by beetle green; the feathers instead of being 

 simply mottled, were black just tipped at the end with white; the legs in- 

 stead of pale yellow were now mottled with black. The general result 

 was, mere prettiness gave way to a really handsome bird. 



A good many people said the Minorca had been largely used to get 

 this result, but no real proof has ever been advanced to this effect. I lived 

 within three miles of Mr. Cobb, the man to whom the change was chiefly 

 due, and I frequently saw his stock, although not personally accquainted 

 with him, and in consequence never saw what he did in private premises. 

 I think I should have noticed if Minorcas had been run with Anconas, 

 especially as I was always interested in the latter. 



However this may be, the fact remains that our Standard was built 

 on these lines. A great outcry was made by some of those who kept the 

 breed for laying only, more stout indeed than by those who bred for ex- 

 hibition as well as utility qualities; most of the latter were quick to recog- 

 nize the improved bird would be of more value than the older type. 



But looking back I am not at all certain if type had not been to some 

 extent sacrificed in getting size and color in the new bird; still, there was 

 the standard, and fanciers soon got their birds somewhere near right, and 

 so far as my own stock was concerned at no apparent loss as regards lay- 

 ing qualities. The squareness noticable in some strains when the alter- 

 ation took place, has now been entirely eliminated and we now have the 

 beautifully rounded body and the grand carriage of the older birds, to- 

 gether with the small white V-shaped tip at the end of each feather. 



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