27 
The Minorca fowl is large in outline, well bodied; stands well up on 
its legs; has a broad chest, and a long, flat back, with-tail carried upright. 
Many breeders dispute as to the carriage of the tail. The standard 
says “upright”, while the preference is almost universally expressed by 
breeders that it should be carried “well back”. The upright position 
gives the tail the Leghorn type (see fig. 17), while the typical Minorca 
differs somewhat from it by being more horizontal, as shown in fig. 24. 
The body of the Minorca male is long, square in front, tapering from 
front to rear. When standing erect, the body of male is at an angle of 
nearly forty-five degrees. Thighs are stout; shanks, medium in length, 
stout in bone, and in color dark slate or nearly black; comb, single^ 
large, perfectly straight and upright, evenly serrated, and extending 
well over back of head. The comb of the Minorca is larger and more 
bulky than that of the Leghorn. Wattles are thin and pendulous, 
corresponding with size of comb; ear lobes, pure white. The female is 
in body of the same general appearance as the male, rather long, broad, 
and deep. Her comb is single, large, and drooping to one side; like 
comb of male, her comb is perceptibly larger than that of the Leghorn 
female. Black Minorcas are in plumage a rich, glossy black through¬ 
out, and gray tips are considered serious defects. The White Minorca 
is as popular as the Black, and takes the same position as does the 
White Leghorn in its class. The standard qualifications are equal for 
the two except in color, and that must be pure white throughout, 
feathers other than white disqualifying; the other qualities are equal, 
as to profitableness, between the two varieties. The comb, face, and 
wattles are bright red, free from white in face; eyes are dark hazel or 
red. 
Before concluding in regard to Minorcas, it is worthy of note that the 
latest acquisition to the breed is the Bose-comb Black Minorca. The 
only objection that has ever been raised against the varieties of the 
Mediterranean class is their susceptibility to frostbite of the comb. 
Their combs are so large, that continued cold or exposure is sure to 
result in this injury. To obviate this one defect, if it may be so termed, 
in this valuable class of birds, has been the purpose of breeders in pro¬ 
ducing a bird that qmssesses the other qualifications, but with low rose 
comb. There are two standard varieties of Minorcas—the Black and 
the White. The Bose-comb Black Minorca is not recognized as a stand¬ 
ard variety as yet, but indications point to its admission as such in the 
near future. Many good specimens have been bred and exhibited at 
the recent shows, and success in making this variety seems assured. 
The head of the Bose-comb Black Minorca male should be medium in 
length; beak, stout and black; eyes, dark red; face, smooth and red; 
comb, rose, straight, and set close and even on the head. In size the 
comb should be between that of the Wyandotte and the Leghorn; 
wattles, medium in length and not so large as in single-comb vari¬ 
ety; ear lobes, pure white, large, smooth, and almond shaped. The 
head of female is similar to that of the male—medium in size; face, 
