LEOSORNS. 126 



jlru2aJu«f(in«.— These fowls have beoome established favorites both in England 

 and America. la size and weight they resemble the Black Spanish; in color the 

 plumage varies from dark slate to dove color; the hens being a bluish grey. 

 The legs and feet are blue, and totally destitute of feathering ; the combs, both 

 of cock and hen, resemble those of the Spanish ; the wattles are well-developed. 

 The ear-lobes are white, but the face is red : the breed, in this respect, resembling 

 the Minoroas. 



The Andalnsiana are good layers and non-sitters ; their chicks are hardy and 

 feather early ; in disposition they are inclined to be rather wild. 



Mhurrcas. — ^These are a variety of the Black Spanish, resembling that breed 

 in plumage, comb, ears, shape and laying character, but being without its white 

 face — ^the ears only of the Hinorcas being white — and being somewhat larger 

 and shorter legged. They are said to be very popular in the west of England, 

 and would seem to be worthy x>t more attention than they have received in this 

 country, especially for crossing with other breeds. 



White Spanish. — ^This is a white variety of the Black Spanish, originally pro- 

 duced, no doubt, by the well-known tendency of black birds and animals to pro- 

 duce the white sports called albinos. 



Neither this breed nor the preceding is recognized in the Amwicam, Sttimdardf 

 showing that they are considered of little value in this country. 



LE6H0KNS. 



-Uke many, and in fact most of the other breeds of fowls, the name of the 

 Leghorns i» not a sure index of their place of origin. Indeed, their special 

 characteristics are due to the care and skill of American, rather than of Italian 

 breeders, as is evidenced by the fact that it was from America that they were 

 first, and are still, chiefly disseminated as a separate breed. Their origin is 

 traced to importation by ships trading to the Mediterranean ports. Whether 

 they were first obtained at Leghorn, at Padua, or at some other Italian port, 

 cannot now be determined. 



There are several sub-varieties of Leghorns, of which the 



WhiU Leghorns have been longest known. The White Leghorns closely re- 

 semble the old White Spanish, the principal difference being in the color of 

 the legs; those of the Spanish being gray or blue— those of the Leghorns yel- 

 low. The following description of this breed is from Tegetmeier, as it appeared 

 in the second edition of his "Poultry Book " (1873): 



"To our American cousins is due the credit of having introduced certain ad- 

 mirable breeds of poultry. Thh Brahmas are undoubtedly second to none as 

 useful fowls, being unsurpassed for size, hardihood and fertility amongst the in- 

 cubating breeds. Another race, which is equaUy popular in the United States 

 as being at once most useful and ornamental, is that known as the White Leg- 

 horn. These fowls are hardly, if at aU, known in thip eountry; but, having 

 tested their merits for two seasons, 1 can report most favorably of them, and 

 fully indorse all that has been said in their fa,vor on the other side of the 



Atlantic. 

 "White Leghorns axe birds ef the Spanish type, but with white in the place of 



