14 BPANISH FOWL. 



VARIETIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SPANISH FOWL. 



A full grown black Spanish cock weighs seven pounds; the heii, 

 about six pounds. The principal featiires, and those which form 

 the most striking contrasts to those of other fowls, are, its com- 

 plete suit of glossy _blaok, large face, and ear-lobe of white; 

 enlivened by comb and gills of excessive development. The 

 peculiarities of these contrasts induce me to describe them in 

 detail. The plumage is of a rich satin, black, reflecting, their 

 shades Of bluish, greenish purple, when exposed to the sitn's rays; 

 the feathers of the breast, belly, and thighs, are. blabk, of the 

 most decided hue. The hens are of a similar feather, but less 

 brilliant. The face and ear-lohes especially the latter, are of 

 pearly -vv^hiteness; the face should extend above the eye, encircle 

 it, and meet the comb; it still increases as the bird grows older, 

 continuing to enlarge in size, especially with hens, which seldom 

 have a really good show of face until two years of age, even 

 beyond the time of their full growth; and the more face and ear- 

 lobe, the more valuable either the, cock or hen. The comb of 

 the cook should be erect and serrated, almost extending to the 

 nostrils, and of bright scarlet; it should be fine in t«xture, and 

 exhibit no sign of excrescences. In hens this uprightness of 

 comb cannot be obtained, owing-to its abundant size and thin- 

 ness of base. The wattles are long, pendulous, of high' color, 

 and well folded. The head is long, and there should he no top- 

 knot behind the comb, nor muff round the neck. The beak is 

 long, and generally black, it should be slightly curved, and thick 

 at the base. The eyes are very full, bright and of a rich chest- 

 nut color: they are somewhat prominent. The neck is rather 

 long, hut strong and thick towards the base, the neck hackle 

 being a glossy black; the chest and body are br^ and black, 

 the former being particularly dark; the wings W.r«,^ a moderate 

 size, whilst the coverts are beautifvflly shaded, and. of a bluish 



