428 
The Illustrated Booh of Poultry. 
Similar directions for matching have since been published in “ The Leghorn Fowl,” by Mr. 
L. C. Verrey, subsequently secretary of the Club. Mr. Verrey also points out, with justice, that 
the colour of the Leghorn ear-lobe is properly of a creamy white rather than the brilliant white of 
the Spanish fowl, which is not natural to any bird with bright yellow legs, and that both breeds 
have been injured by crossing with Minorcas to get ear-lobe, and the Brown further injured by 
crossing with the Game to get brighter plumage. Owing to the latter cause, the Brown Leghorn 
became perceptibly smaller, and the eggs lost in size still more ; but this is now being recovered 
from, and the true shape, also partially lost by injudicious crossing, is being regained. 
CUCKOO LEGHORNS. — There is very little doubt that this variety is the result of a cross. 
Mr. Verrey contests this view on the ground that it is found in Italy, and that it breeds true ; but 
all colours are crossed alike in Italy, and it is just under such circumstances that Cuckoo fowls 
originate ; whilst this colour generally does breed true, as Darwin points out, when once it has 
appeared. Moreover, the stronger propensity to white in tail shows the Cuckoo Leghorn to be 
even less established than most other Cuckoo varieties. 
The plumage will be dealt with more fully a page or two later on, in connection with other 
American breeds ; and we only need say here that it will require the usual precautions, never 
mating two dark or two light birds together, and rigorously rejecting parents with white, black, 
or straw-coloured or red feathers. 
BLACK LEGHORNS. — These only differ in the black plumage. They must not be con- 
founded with Minorcas, with which some appear to be crossed, but from which a true Leghorn 
should be distinguished by its smaller comb and wattles, creamy and broader deaf-ear, brilliant 
yellow legs and beaks, and slimmer proportions. There is, however, great difficulty in getting 
yellow legs with the black plumage, and for this extra difficulty we see no compensating advan- 
tage, especially with the powerful competition of the Black Minorca. 
PILE LEGHORNS. — Pile Game being known to be a combination of White and Black- 
red, and Leghorns possessing the same colours in White and the so-called Browns, it was a 
natural idea to produce Piles in them also, and the task was accomplished by Mr. G. Payne, 
whose specimens have taken prizes at the Crystal Palace on many occasions. No other cross was 
employed, so that the breed is a pure Leghorn, though an artificial production. 
DUCKWING LEGHORNS. — This variety was admittedly produced by crossing with Duck- 
winged Game and Silver-grey Dorking, and the foreign blood is still to be seen in the shape of 
most of the specimens exhibited. 
BUFF LEGHORNS. — This is the most popular and beautiful, and appears to us likely to 
be the most useful, of recent varieties, though the latest. Its origin is uncertain, but it began to 
appear in 1889, and in 1892 the entries exceeded Browns at the Crystal Palace Show. The 
proper colour is that of the richer or deeper lemon-buff Cochins, which seems to suit the Leg- 
horn type particularly well, while the size of this variety appears also slightly larger. Breeders 
are at present troubled, as early Cochin breeders were, by black ticking in the hackles and else- 
where, white splashes, and mottled colour ; and the even colour is to be bred by similar rules, when 
we anticipate that it will soon settle down. The Buffs lay extremely well, and we believe will 
extend the popularity and usefulness of the Leghorn family. 
