Points and Qualities of Andalusians. 
359 
plumage seems to require. Mr. Leworthy writes of them that, according to his experience, they 
are larger birds than the Black, taller, closer-feathered, and fuller on the breast ; the cocks averaging 
seven and hens five and a half to six pounds. He found them more delicate than the black variety, 
and not such good layers, especially in the winter. The plumage should be a pure and spotless 
white all over, beak and legs being white also. 
Recent breeders, however, report the White Minorca as equal to the Black in hardihood and 
prolificacy. Some go off to a pale slate colour. 
White Minorcas are by no means destitute of attractions ; and a fine pen in the possession of 
a relative of our own were as hardy as could be desired, and moulted easily enough, but were 
not good layers. They must, however, be pronounced inferior to the newly-introduced American 
Leghorns, the yellow legs of the latter giving a much better contrast to the plumage, and the 
lively carriage also appearing to advantage, while as layers and in hardiness these are also far 
superior. For further particulars of this nearly-allied variety we must refer to the chapter on 
American breeds. 
ANDALUSIANS. — The variety known by this name is another which can be highly 
recommended for its laying qualities. Mr. Leworthy writes of these fowls as follows : — 
“ I have possessed birds of this variety ever since January, 1856, and I know that some at least 
of the first specimens were imported from the province of Andalusia, in Spain. I obtained my 
own first stock of the late Mr. Coles, Farham, Hants, who, I have been given to understand, 
purchased them from Mr. Richardson, an importer of foreign cage and other birds at Portsmouth. 
The latter obtained them in the first place from a Spanish trader, who landed at Portsmouth in 
1851. This information I obtained by letter from Mr. Richardson himself, who afterwards sold the 
imported fowls to Mr. Coles. These two gentlemen crossed them with the White-faced Black 
Spanish, in order to improve the variety, as many of the original hens had small stand-up combs 
like Game hens ; and I fear it will be some years yet before the effect of the cross disappears, and 
we get a really settled original type, many of the chickens at present coming black. Mr. Taylor, 
of Shepherd’s Bush, also had some imported birds of this variety. 
“ They are excellent table fowls, the cocks weighing about seven pounds and hens five to six 
pounds each. They are very precocious, feathering fast and kindly, and very prolific indeed as 
layers. Mine average five eggs per week each, and I find the eggs larger than those of any other 
fowl, even Spanish not excepted. In fact, taking weight as well as number of eggs to be a 
criterion, I think them the most productive birds of any I know. One of my first hens commenced 
laying in January, 1856, and up to the end of the year she had laid 220 eggs. I may also mention 
that their eggs are of an exquisitely delicate flavour. 
“ The comb of the cock resembles that of the undubbed Game fowl, but is rather larger ; the 
hen’s comb lies over on one side of the face, as in the Spanish, though many hens even yet are 
bred with comb erect, as in the original birds. The wattles are in proportion to the comb. The 
face is red, but ear-lobes pure white, and showing up very distinctly from the face, very much as in 
the Minorcas. The head should be taper, with as little red skin as possible over the eye. 
“ The cock’s neck is long, and hackle rather short ; the breast full and round ; tail large, 
and carried very high. The legs are long. The general plumage is a blueish shade or slate- 
colour, clear all over the ground-colour, laced round the edges with black. The hackle-feathers 
of the cock are a very good blue for the artificial flies used in trout-fishing. The plumage 
of both sexes is alike, except the hackle and upper-feathers of the cock, which are many 
shades darker. 
