American Breeds. Leghorns. 
425 
Of the trio of White Leghorns sent over for portraiture to us, one hen unfortunately died 
just after receipt (appearing to have been injured in some way) ; but the other laid the very 
next day, and continued to do so. We note this fact as showing the adaptability to confine- 
ment, as the birds had been in a small coop for some fourteen days. The surviving pair were 
kept some time by a relative, during which time the hen fully maintained her character as a 
good layer. 
We should note that there is a difference of opinion among American fanciers as to the tail of 
the White Leghorn cock. One school holds that it should be carried very high over the back, or 
“ squirrel-tailed ” as we should call it, whilst others maintain that it should have the free and 
sweeping carriage of the Spanish fowl. The tail of the cock sent to us was rather inclined to be 
high, though not so much so as many American specimens of which portraits have been forwarded 
to us ; but coming to us with a note to the above effect, we exercised our own individual judg- 
ment in the matter, and represented him with the tail as we considered it should be carried. In 
this decision we have since been followed by all who breed Leghorns in England. 
The White Leghorn fowl has now been bred with care for a number of years by man) breeders, 
and is at present a medium-sized fowl with large comb (upright in the cocks, and falling over in 
the hens, just as in Spanish), pure white ear-lobes, red face, white plumage, and brilliant yellow 
legs. The character of the head and shape of body is decidedly Spanish in appearance. The 
comb and wattle should not be so large in proportion, however, as those of the Minorca fowl, and 
great care should be taken, by choosing strong stiff combs in the cocks, and those which spring 
well up before falling over in the hens, to keep the stock from any tendency to flabbiness or falling 
over. Some fanciers demand five spikes, but such artificial distinctions should be strongly resisted. 
The other chief points needing attention in breeding will be to keep up the size while avoiding the 
straw tinge which troubles the breeder of all white fowls, and to keep in perfection the rather long 
and brilliant yellow leg, together with the smooth creamy-white ear-lobe which so much sets off 
this attractive breed. 
A variety still more esteemed is the Brown Leghorn , which appears to have been bred for 
some time in the United States, but little known ; and the description in the earlier editions of the 
“ American Standard of Excellence ” was grossly inaccurate and incomplete, evidently owing to 
ignorance of the fowl. From an article by Mr. A. M. Halstead, in the New York Poultry Bulletin 
of May, 1873, we make the following extract: — 
“ The earliest knowledge we have of them is from Mr. F. J. Kinney, of Worcester, Mass., 
who writes : — ‘ The first I ever owned I bought on board a ship in Boston Harbour, in the spring 
of 1853. This was the first trio I ever saw, and I believe them to have been the first ever 
brought to America. I have since had two other small lots direct from the City of Leghorn, in 
Italy, and expect more soon from the same place. The first trio weighed nine pounds and three- 
quarters, and were yearlings. Their combs and wattles were very large and coarse ; ear-lobes 
entirely red , same as face, comb, and wattles. They were not Black-red Games, nor Black-red 
Leghorns, but Brown red , i.e ., the cock’s breast was dark brown, spotted with lighter brown, the 
dark brown running up the under side of the neck ; his hackle was light brown, striped with 
black ; the hens were feathered and coloured the same as the good ones are now, the colours 
being very distinct, and the pencilling the most beautiful of any fowl I ever saw, and the most 
distinct.’ ” 
We have seen that there is some doubt as to the origin ot the White breed ; but besides the 
above importation, many others from Leghorn have been maae since of the Browns, so that in 
