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shoulders; the Cochin wings smaller and almost hidden by the fluffy 
plumage of cushion and fluff. Langshan breast full, deep, and carried 
well forward; Cochin breast not so full and deep, but broader. Lang- 
shan legs medium in length, small bone, long tapering toes, color of 
shank, bluish black showing pink between scales, which are nearly 
black; Cochin legs shorter, stouter, larger bone, toes shorter and stouter, 
color of shanks black or yellowish black. 
There are two varieties of Langshans—the Black and the White. 
The Black in plumage of neck, back, saddle, sickles, a glossy metallic 
black, with greenish sheen; breast, primaries, secondaries, tail, fluff, 
shank, and toe feathers, black. The undercolor is black or dark slate. 
The White Langshan is pure white throughout. 
The standard weight of cocks for both varieties is 10 pounds; hens, 
7 pounds; cockerels, 8 pounds; and pullets, 6 pounds. 
LEGHORNS. 
Leghorns are the best known of the egg-producing varieties or Med¬ 
iterranean class. They are the premiers in laying and the standard by 
which the prolificacy of other breeds is judged. As to the origin of 
the Leghorns there are differences of opinion, and there is but little 
information to be found anywhere concerning their early history. It is 
generally conceded that a race of fowls bearing a close resemblance in 
many respects to the Leghorn has existed in Italy and other parts of 
the Continent of Europe for a long period. That this race has been 
widely disseminated admits also of little doubt, inasmuch as at the 
present day it is known in Denmark and other countries as the Italian. 
There seems to be good ground for the statement that Leghorns were 
first introduced into America from Italy. The story goes that as early 
as 1834 a vessel from Leghorn brought to this country as a part of its 
cargo a small shipment of fowls, which were at once named u Leghorns.” 
They immediately became popular, their prolific laying and nonsitting 
qualities being recognized at this early date. 
White and Brown Leghorns were the first varieties known. Modern 
breeders are responsible for some of the subvarieties of the breed; and, 
in point of color at least, exhibition birds of to-day, even of the older 
varieties, vary considerably from those seen at the present time in Italy. 
The Leghorn fowl holds the same place among poultry that the Jersey 
holds among cattle. The question of profit in poultry has been decided 
in favor of egg-producing breeds. Leghorns are lively, active, and of 
a restless disposition, the best of foragers, and will pick up a good part 
of their living during the year. They are light eaters and the cost of 
raising them to maturity is about one-half that of the Asiatic varieties. 
They mature early, feather quickly, the pullets often begin laying 
when 4 months old, and cockerels crow at the same age. They are the 
best layers, averaging between 150 and 200 eggs per year. Their eggs 
