Spanish. 
283 
perfected by the closest in-breeding ; and, as a matter of fact, no breed of Poultry crossed with anotficr 
strain of the same variety will deteriorate as much as the Spanish in required Fancy points if crossed. 
Spanish chickens, when young, are extremely difficult to select, and often those which give the greatest 
promise at an early age turn out disappointingly ; and, on the other hand, many that look anything but 
promising turn out the best of the season's breeding, so that it is well to give the chickens time before 
determining which are to be kept and which discarded. However, a rule which may be adopted without 
hesitation is to discard all chickens which are plain red in face ; those, on the other hand, which present a 
bluish appearance in face, with a gradual tendency to turn to white as they become older, will invariably turn 
out the best specimens for the Show pen. Spanish Fowls, with increasing age, frequently moult white 
feathers in the plumage, and in some instances moult completely white. This is no evidence of impurity of 
blood, as birds, though white or partly white in plumage, will produce chickens as black as could be wished. 
On the other hand, some strains will occasionally sport, some white chickens being produced ; and these, 
evidently being bred together, have produced the variety known as White Spanish. 
" One great feature in favour of the Spanish Fowl is that it will bear confinement well, and even under 
these conditions the hens will keep up their high character as layers of large white eggs in abundance. The 
pullets nearly always commence to lay at about six months old. The chickens are very precociou';, and the 
cockerels may be distinguished from the pullets at an early age. 
" In feeding Spanish, beginners are very apt to give the birds a quantity of heating and too stimulating 
food to prepare them for the breeding or Show pen. and in the majority of cases this class of diet brings 
about a most disastrous state of affairs, the face and lobes breaking out into eruptions, the breed then being 
considered delicate. The best course to follow, when preparing the variety for Exhibition or for 
breeding purposes, is to keep their blood cool by avoiding all over-stimulating diets. In preparing the young 
stock for the Show pen, the birds should be placed in separate houses, completely under cover, and in a 
semi-darkened state. By keeping them in separate compartments all risk of the birds pecking or injuring 
one another is avoided, the faces and lobes of this variety being highly susceptible to the slightest injury. 
The subdued light in the pens assists considerably in bleaching, thereby improving the appearance of the 
face and lobes. In feeding, to make the faces nice and white, bread and milk given warm in the morning, a 
few scraps of meat at mid-day, and good sound wheat at night, with a plentiful supply of green food given 
daily. This latter should never be neglected, as it is a most important factor in bringing the birds up to the 
state of perfection desired. A little hemp seed given about twice or three times per week, on alternate days, 
with the scraps at mid-day, will be highly relished by the birds, and in from three to four weeks with this 
treatment the birds will be in high condition for the Show pen. Next in importance to the feeding is the 
treatment of the face and lobes. To attend to this properly a piece of soft sponge, some nice soft soap such 
as borax or glycerine, a soft towel, pair of tweezers, some zinc powder, and a small powder-puff are required. 
Tie the bird's legs together with a piece of tape or calico, and place the bird's legs between your own. Take 
the tweezers and carefully remove the hairy feathers from the face and lobes, being careful to leave a row of 
feathers between the base of comb and white of face, after which thoroughly sponge the face, .comb, and 
lobes well with soap and warm water ; dry thoroughly, especially in the folds and creases (this latter is highly 
important), afterwards applying with the powder-puff some zinc powder. If this latter operation is performed 
daily, removing any hairy feathers which appear, the face and lobes will quickly develop and become 
beautifully soft and white, and it is also well to give the birds a large teaspoonful of castor oil once a week. 
This, in conjunction with the green food supplied daily, keeps the blood pure and cool — two important 
considerations in the successful preparation of Spanish Fowls for the Show pen. Very little further attention 
will be required beyond the washing of the legs and feet the night previous to sending the birds off to the 
Show. My beau ideal of a Spanish cockerel fit for Exhibition is as follows : The beak should be long and 
stout, and of a dark horn colour ; the comb medium or rather small, bright red in colour, single, perfectly 
erect, well and evenly serrated, stout at the base, running off gradually thinner to the edge, coming well 
down to the feathers on the back of the neck, perfectly straight in front, and quite free from thumb-m^rk or 
