356 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
high. Mr. Hopkins puts it at 226 each, counting four pens ; Mr. Physick at 184, counting seven 
pens , Mr. Amesbury at 180, and a few birds 200 ; the latter realised 200 in twelve months from 
one hen four years old. In addition to this the fowl is hardy, and a fair bird on the table, being 
more full in the breast than the Spanish, and considerably larger. Birds with slate-coloured legs 
are generally finer in flesh than the verv dark-lep , °'ed ones 
The oiiginal source of this fine breed appears to be correctly represented in its name, but it 
seems to have been derived from more than one importation. Mr. Leworthy told us that a Mr. 
\\ illis, whom he knew well, had known the fowl in Minorca, and of importations from thence long 
ago. 1 he Rev. Thomas Cox, of Castle Cary, was personally informed by Sir Thomas Acland that 
his fathei, the former baronet, brought some from Minorca to England direct in cither 1834 or 
*^ 35 ) an< 3 that from this importation the strain had been kept up at Holnicote many years, and a 
gieat deal distributed ; in fact, the Acland family generally believed that the introduction of the 
fowl into the West was due to this importation. There is no doubt that many strains did diverge 
thence ; but we think there is evidence that the breed was known years before, and there are 
certainly differences in certain strains, which bear out the supposition of distinct importations. 
One of the earliest breeders whom we came across was the late Mr. Leworthy, of Barnstaple, 
who gave us in 1872 the following short description of the Minorca fowl : — 
1 he comb of the cock is very large, straight, and upright, the spikes being very wide at the 
base and tapering to the points. The wattles are very large and pendulous ; the ear-lobe long, 
and as purely white and soft as a Spanish ; but the face is red, with a purple tinge under- 
neath the eye, the cheeks being very thin. The eye should be a very dark colour, and the 
beak dark horn. The shoulders are wide, legs short, and carriage rather low. The tail is very 
large and flowing. 
“ The comb of the hen falls over one side of the face, so as almost to conceal the whole of it 
and even the bill ; otherwise she corresponds closely with the cock, allowing for the difference of 
sex. The plumage both of cock and hen must resemble that of a rook, being a sooty kind of 
black. * The weight of the cock averages about five and a half pounds, and of hens four and a 
half pounds.” 
It will be obvious at once to every more modern breeder, that the standard of weight here 
given by Mr. Leworthy, to begin with, is very low. Cocks are now expected to weigh from five 
and a half pounds to eight pounds, and hens from five pounds to six and a half pounds. There 
was also a type of bird once often seen, more slender in make, and higher upon the leg, more after 
the proportions of the Spanish fowl. There is reason to think some birds of this type may have 
originated in a cross with coarse wasters from the Spanish race ; but many we knew never showed 
any apparent sign of such a cross at all. These tall birds were usually close-feathered and glossy, 
with green reflections ; and modern breeding has favoured considerably more gloss than indicated 
in the above description. On the whole, however, it may still be said that the Minorca is a black , 
as distinguished from a green fowl ; and the rather short leg, and deep and rather massive body, is 
recognised still as the true type. 
According to the standard agreed upon by the Minorca Club, the breed should now be 
characterised as follows : — The head of the cock is very large and broad, without which the large 
comb cannot be carried firmly ; beak dark horn colour ; comb single, large, upright, and straight, 
reaching well back, and rather rough in texture but free from sprigs, the spikes large and well 
defined ; wattles long and rounded at ends ; ear-lobes white, smooth, and flat, medium in size, and 
almond-shaped ; face fine and as free from feathers as possible, but quite free from white ; eye full 
and dark. The neck is long and arched, with flowing hackle ; body wide at the shoulders, square 
