308 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
The lobes of an almond shape, medium in size, and fitting moderately close to the head, fine in texture, and 
of a good white colour ; neck, long, and nicely arched with a full hackle ; body, large, broad at shoulders ; 
chest, very full and rounded. Many birds fail here, being flat and cut away like a Malay, and it is a fact to 
be regretted that so many Judges seem to be entirely ignorant on this point. Back, long, and nearly as wide 
the tail as at the shoulders. Again, many birds taper away like the Game. The tail well arched, and full, 
carried well back, with plenty of side or secondary sickles ; legs and feet, medium in length, fine in bone, 
the legs placed as near the centre of the body as possible, so that the bird is evenly balanced. The shape of 
the body should be square and compact, carriage almost level, so that the bird can move about with ease, 
and, however sharply he is stirred up, will never present a flat chest or squirrel tail, as is the case with the 
majority of upright carriage birds. 
" The hen should be neat in comb, arched if possible, so that she can see on both sides ; comb, very 
even in serration. I would be more severe on an unevenly-serrated comb on a hen than on a cock. The 
comb of good substance, firmly adhering to the head, and well finished at the back ; face, a rich, bright red. 
Most hens are darker in face than cocks, and have more hairy feathers on the face ; but a plucked face 
should always be passed. The lobes to stand well out, and look as if fitted into the face. I must admit 
that I like to see a large lobe on a hen. It seems to show up the head so much. Body, large, square, long, 
and deep behind ; tail, full, neat, and should be carried almost on a level with the back ; legs and feet, same 
as the cock's ; the plumage, a good glossy black, close and tight in feather. A great number of Minorcas 
are loose in feather, and appear larger to the eye than they really are, thus deceiving an inexperienced Judge 
as to their actual size. For that reason they should be handled when Judging. I have noticed birds 
winning with almost as much fluff and feather as a Cochin. 
" The Modern Minorca is a difficult bird to breed to anything like perfection, and the percentage of 
good birds that are bred from the very best stock is far below what should be. The best Show birds do 
not always ' nick well,' and for this reason I advise all Minorca breeders to avoid continually using fresh 
blood, without they first discover the pedigree of the bird or birds intended to be used, as, from my 
experience, an inferior-looking bird from a good strain is far superior to a large prize-winner loosely bred. I 
at one time obtained from England a very fine looking Minorca cockerel ; but after results pointed con- 
clusively to the fact that he was evidently bred from a very heavy-combed Minorca cock and a Black 
Plymouth Rock hen. In any case, both he and his progeny all went ' into the pot.' 
" As a Show bird and popular Fowl the Modern Minorca now stands at the head, the numbers now 
bred being enormous, and I hope this satisfactory state of aff"airs will long continue, and if Fanciers will try 
their utmost to breed to the Minorca Club's Standard, or at least give the Standard a little study, a great 
improvement will be the result." 
For the following additional notes on this variety we are indebted to Mr. Oscar Wilson, of the 
Bonaventure Poultry Farm, Mount Druitt, N S.W. Mr. Wilson writes : — 
" This breed has been improved greatly during the past nine or ten years, and the Minorca of the 
present day, with its sprightly, upright carriage, forms quite a contrast to the old low-legged type, with its 
dull, sooty plumage, immense coarse combs, and wattles. Has the change been for the better ? Yes, I 
think so ; and I consider the modern type of Minorca to be a much better bird in every particular than the 
old Leghorn type. In the first place, it is a far larger bird, thus being of more value for the table. I have 
frequently bred cockerels that weighed 7^ lbs., and one cock, I remember, reached the great weight for a 
Minorca of io| lbs. Then, again, they are, if anything, better layers than the old type, laying equally as 
large an egg, the latter proving to be a much hardier-constitutioned bird than its predecessor. The plumage, 
instead of being a dull, sooty black, is now of a brilliant purplish shade, and the comb and wattles fine as 
silk to the touch. An up-to-date Minorca cock should be very large in outline, deep bodied, well up on the 
leg, without being stilty, broad in chest, with long, flat back, and tail carried well back. The comb should 
not be too large, but evenly and deeply serrated, free from any thumb marks, twists, or side sprigs, being set 
