Qualities of Brown Leghorns. 
427 
the same gentleman that one of the pullets attempted to sit. If it be remembered that the 
birds here spoken of were hatched on August 1st, it will be seen that they laid unusually 
early. They would also be smaller than usual, for the same reason. 
Our decided opinion is that in intrinsic value the Brown Leghorn is the best of all the 
American breeds, especially if size as well as number of eggs be taken into consideration ; and 
as a layer we consider it the best fowl we ever met with for moderate confinement, d he con- 
stitution is hardy ; the shape and carriage sprightly ; the flesh very good ; the growth quick ; and 
the eggs both large and numerous. It also struck us as a very neat and attractive fowl even in 
appearance, and we were much disappointed to find that when the stock spread a little, and it 
began to be exhibited, the judges for a good while seemed determined, from motives which were 
well known, resolutely to ignore it in the Any Other Variety class. They, in fact, treated it 
with open ridicule, though often giving a prize to the White. The fowl, however, steadily made its 
way ; a Club was formed to cultivate both varieties ; and at present the Brown Leghorn outnumbers 
the White considerably, and has classes at nearly all the large shows. The following notes on the 
breed are from Mr. S. L. Bradbury, formerly secretary and treasurer to the Leghorn Club : — 
“ My experience with Brown Leghorns commenced about two years after their first intro- 
duction into this country, and jointly with my brother, I have bred them largely ever since. After 
long experience and close observation, both with imported and English-bred stock, I can fully 
endorse all that has been said of their hardiness and laying qualities. This useful and beautiful 
fowl has now become exceedingly popular in this country, and will assuredly, in a few years, 
rank with some of our oldest breeds in the number of its admirers. It breeds very true to colour, 
much more so than four years ago ; in fact, one of my earliest importations produced several 
black chickens and a grey one ; but I attribute that to indiscriminate crossing of speculative 
American breeders. I have found no such thing occur with English stock. 
“ For several years after their first importation into England, the ear-lobe was a weak point 
and difficult to produce, but it has now become tblerably well fixed ; though I fear that breeders, 
in their anxiety to produce the white lobe, have neglected colour somewhat ; for I do not consider 
that there has been such a large proportion of good coloured birds shown during the last two years 
as previously. I would, therefore, urge upon breeders to endeavour to improve the colour as much 
as possible ; for it is a more difficult point to obtain in perfection than the white lobe. It is 
very desirable to breed good birds of both sexes from the same parents ; but I doubt if there 
is any breed of fancy poultry (of colour and marking) in which this can be done. While this 
problem remains to be solved in the future, we must do the best we can with the present. I would 
say, therefore, for cockerel breeding, take a clear, bright-coloured cock, having good ear-lobes, and 
that has been bred from a hen whose sire had good lobes (this is important, as good lobes are more 
difficult to obtain in cocks than hens) ; mate him with sound coloured hens having evenly serrated 
combs, and which carry their tails rather low. This mating will be found to produce beautifully- 
coloured cockerels, with good ears and comb, and free from “ squirrel-tail.” For pullet breeding, 
take a darker cock, with heavily-striped hackle, comb and wattles fine in texture ; mate him 
with well-pencilled, partridge-coloured hens (rather ashy than warm in colour), having good lobes, 
comb and wattles fine in texture, and face as clean as possible from hair or feathers. This mating 
will produce pullets very even in colour, not dark, free from rust on wing, and good in head. 
“ The colour that I recommend in the cock for cockerel breeding is the colour for the show- 
pen ; but when I say bright, I do not mean washy in hackle and bricky on wing. The hackle 
should be clear of striping, and wing-bow clear bright crimson. The cock recommended for pullet 
breeding is rather too dull in colour for the show-pen.” 
