TYPES, BREEDS, AND VARIETIES OF FOWLS 363 



Originally all were single-combed (as they are still in Spain), the 

 rose-combed subvarieties having been made recently in America. 



Castilian fowls are in appearance unimproved Minorcas. They 

 are supposed to be the original breed from which the others are 

 derived. According to tradition they were brought to Spain by the 

 Moors at the time of the Moorish invasion. If that could be estab- 

 lished,' it would indicate a third line of movement of fowls from the 

 starting point across northern Africa. Such traditions, however, 

 are most unreliable, and in a 

 broad survey of the movement 

 and development of these races 

 it appears far more probable 

 that the Spanish races were 

 developed from the Italian. 

 The difference in color of skin 

 and legs is no obstacle to this 

 theory, for yellow-skinned races 

 produce many individuals with 

 white skin, and popular pref- 

 erence for black fowls would 

 lead to the establishment of 

 white or gray skin and dark 

 legs as race characteristics. 

 The Castilian fowl is in size 

 between the Leghorn and the 

 Minorca, with color of skin 

 and shanks like the Minorca, 

 while the comb is more of the Leghorn style, and the ear lobes are 

 white tipped with red. Black is the preferred color, but there are 

 also whites and mixtures (especially the darker shades) of black 

 and white. Castilian fowls, particularly the black, were introduced 

 into England and Holland several centuries ago, and from them 

 came the two varieties next described. 



Minorcas (two color varieties, black and white, single-combed 

 and rose-combed subvarieties of both) were long called Red-faced 

 Spanish. English breeders made the Minorca, as afterwards they 

 made their Leghorns, more on meat-type lines, — made it larger 

 and heavier ; and the fanciers breeding for exhibition carried the 



Fig. 352. Silver Duckwing Leghorn 



cockerel. (Photograph from owner, 



Thomas Peer) 



