White-faced Spanish. 
341 
If this be so, it would be most probable that the bird should come to England from Spain. 
France is too far north ; and though far nearer to England, it is doubtful whether that country 
had nearly so much intercourse as the Spaniards with the English of the Middle Ages — such 
intercourse, at least, as leads to the introduction of new varieties. Into the reasons for this we need 
not enter, though the maritime enterprise of the only nation which ever rivalled England as a naval 
power at once rises to the mind ; and it is sufficient to remark that, from the time when the Black 
Prince hobnobbed with the Dons in the Peninsula, and a little later, when Drake thrashed them so 
handsomely at sea, till the more modern days when Spanish and Portuguese wines drove Burgundy 
out of the English market, there was ample opportunity for the introduction and naturalisation of 
a fowl which is still found extensively to be the “ Spanish” breed of the present day. 
WHITE-FACED BLACK SPANISH. — No breed except the Malay looks so high upon 
the leg as the Spanish fowl; and perhaps even the Malay has scarcely so “stilty” or strutting 
a gait as the high-bred Spanish cock. The carriage, and the quick and frequent motion of the 
head and neck, make them very showy fowls, even independent of that white face which is their 
most striking characteristic, and the size, quality, and shape of which are the chief points in a 
show bird. 
Perhaps no point in any race of poultry could better show what may be effected by long and 
careful breeding than the face of the Spanish fowl. In every breed — even those in which it is a 
decided blemish — more or less tendency to white in the ear-lobe is constantly found ; and by 
selecting such birds a pure white ear-lobe might be developed with no difficulty whatever, and has 
been done in the Hamburghs as well as the Spanish. Whiteness in the face is more rare, but signs 
of it are observable now and then in nearly all white-eared breeds,* and it is evidently by selecting 
such specimens that the white Spanish face has received its present striking development. In 
perfection it should be of a soft and delicate texture, free from black hairs or feathers, and as 
smooth as possible. Birds deficient in the latter quality are often termed “ cauliflower-faced,” and 
though sometimes very showy as chickens, invariably look coarse and rough when older. A good 
shape to the white, the outline going well back behind the ear, is equally important. 
Of the comb we shall speak later on, and only add here that the long thin legs should be as 
dark a blue as possible, black not being objectionable, though a brighter colour is preferred. The 
natural tendency of all black fowls is to dark legs, and it is a little odd that many years ago 
Spanish fanciers demanded pale or almost white legs in show birds. These were bred with infinite 
difficulty and trouble, and legs not pale e tough were not unfrequently encased in poultices some 
clays before a show, in order to give the desired pale tint. The change to dark legs has removed 
one difficulty in breeding a fowl which is troublesome enough at best to produce and show at all 
approaching perfection ; but it is a little remarkable that the tendency to pale legs inherited from 
the old fanciers still exists. As Mr. Hewitt writes us, just as these pages go to press : “ A marked 
peculiarity of well-bred, thoroughly white-faced Spanish fowls is, the older they are the lighter 
coloured the legs naturally become, until between the toes of some of the very best specimens that 
were ever placed in a show-pen the tint was simply a very light lavender. As this arises from age, 
and not any artificial appliance, whatever may be urged to the contrary notwithstanding, I myself 
see no reason why this natural paleness should not be tolerated.” 
For the following most interesting notes on Spanish we are indebted to Mr. Richard Teebay 
of Fulwood, near Preston, one of the oldest and most experienced breeders. They are specially 
• See Mr. Serjeantson’s remark on the occurrence of white-face as a blemish in even Spangled Hamburghs. 
