The Illustrated Book ol Foultry. 
424 
small number at least half that are fit for exhibition. Just as the great natural disadvantages he 
has to fight against make the Scotch agriculturist the best in the world, so his small yard forces the 
English fancier, if he breeds his birds and does not buy them, to breed well ; while the unlimited 
space and food- supply of the American tempt him to a profusion and carelessness of procedure 
which greatly hinder fixity of type, and have hence caused some cross-breeds, which, though 
originally accidental, were evidently novel and valuable, and might with care have been preserved, 
to die out and become lost in either the parent varieties or a mongrel crowd. Without further 
preface, however, we will proceed to consider the principal American breeds of poultry. 
LEGHORNS. — Of the existing American varieties, this has been the longest known in 
England, though not perhaps as long as some others in America. The first specimens imported 
into the United Kingdom, so far as we are aware, were of the White breed ; Mr. Tegetmeier, who 
received them, breeding from them one season and then parting with the whole stock, which has 
since become tolerably diffused. Many other importations have since taken place, but many of 
these birds were somewhat too short on the leg and pale in the shanks to please the taste of 
the best American judges. Those represented, however, which were sent over specially for 
portraiture in this work, were excellent specimens, having the rather long and brilliant yellow legs, 
with the general “ high-bred ” look, so much sought by American fanciers 
The American Agriculturist for March, 1869, contains an article on White Leghorns, with an 
illustration, in which the editor states that his own knowledge of the breed “does not antedate ten 
years and that the earliest stock to which his attention was then directed “ generally ” had 
yellow legs, single combs, and white ear-lobes, and were principally bred from freshly-imported 
stock. As to the character of the fowls, he confesses himself rather puzzled, stating that while 
they had been called “White Spanish,” they knew of “no proper White Spanish” in the United 
States, and “ no true breed ” of them had been established, concluding with the opinion that they 
more resembled Hamburghs. Now we have already seen that there have been in England for 
many years true breeds, both of White Spanish and White Minorcas, though both of these breeds 
have either white, pinky, or dark legs. It is, therefore, somewhat remarkable to read in the 
same article that “ pink or white legs are of constant occurrence in the yards of the very best 
breeders, so far as we are aware, and to throw out either class of birds would clearly be doing 
injustice to their other good points.” We say it is remarkable to read this, because if the 
reader turn to the beautiful plate of White Leghorns which illustrates this chapter, and supposes 
white shanks in place of the yellow, it will be seen at once that the birds are White Minorcas in 
every point, and beyond a doubt belong to the Spanish family. This family, we have already seen, 
abounds all round the Mediterranean ; and there is no reason whatever to doubt, therefore, that 
the early birds were received, as it is stated many late American importations have been, from 
Italy, rather than from Spain ; indeed, it is rather probable than otherwise, for whilst it is 
evident enough that the birds are essentially Spanish or Minorca in all their external 
characteristics, as also in their non-sitting, it is fully as evident that they belong to a distinct 
strain or race of these birds ; for while most Spanish breeds are delicate, the Leghorns are extra- 
ordinarily hardy, besides being much superior as layers. That American breeders have improved 
one of these qualities, and the American climate the other, is very probable ; but however this 
may be, few who have kept the breed will feel inclined to dispute our conclusion, that in the 
Leghorns our American friends have given us a fowl essentially Spanish in every character, but 
which in hardiness and prolificacy is far superior to any of the older Spanish varieties, unless 
Andalusians may be an exception. 
