LEGHORNS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 366, 8 May 1889, Page 4

LEGHORNS.

We are once more asked for some descriptive remarks on this breed. These inquiries upon subjects treated of folly in ormer, issues we must of course expect, while so many new readers are being added to our circle every month. ' The following information must suffice for this time:—e :—:—: — A Leghorn cock has an erect comb, and a large tail, well carried up and full, with fine flowing hackles, the tail being a most prominent feature in the Leghorn. In the hen the tail is upright, bub, of course, has no sickle?, and the comb falls gracefully over to one side. In both sexes and ail varieties of Leghorns, the legs and beaks are yellow. The chickens are most piecociou?, they grow I'apidly, commence laying very early, are very abundant layers, and though not very ileshy, make passable table fowls, e^oecially for what our American friends call " broilers." The varieties are whites, browns, Cuckoo?, blacks, and Piles>, the last-named secured by crossingthe brown? and the whites, and not known in Italy. These are all described under their respective names. On the Continent there are other colours, such ns the ermines, the buffs, and tho browns are divided into btowns and parbridge-co'oured. Brown Leghorns have been for several years great favourites, both in America and Europe, their fine economic qualities winning them hosts of friends. Fowls of this colour are very common in the district around Leghorn, in Italy, but they have been very much improved by American and English breoderp. They partake of the Leghorn character, given above, and in colour resomble very much the black-red Game fowls, though they do not attain the same richness of plumage. For somo time they were bred so much in England for high colour that there was a danger of the value being losb so far as their laying powers were concerned. This was due to crosses with Che Game fowl, which hardened the plumage and reduced the size. Fortunately the folly of this was seen, and now the brown Leghorns are resuming -their old form, and to a considerable extent their old popularity. The large, well-shaped comb and pendulous wattles, which together with the face, are of a bright red, the neat white ear-lobe, the striped golden bay neck hackle the deep, black breast, the rich metallic black tail, the red back, and the red, blue, and black wings,all combine to give the cock bird a very handsome appearance. The hen has a falling comb, a rich yellow hackle, a salmon covered breast, and a body colour of light brown, finely pencilled with black. Brown Leghorn hens are prolific layers of good-sized eggs, and W. Lemoine hap testified that with him this \ ariety averaged 190 eggs per annum, each egg weighing 2oz. 99 grains.