The Portland daily press., 1877-08-21
Brown Legh0rns.

All true Leghorns are destitute of leg-feath-
ering Clean shanks and short, thick thighs
are distinguishing characteristics of the
breed. None but Asiatics are allowed the
leg-featheriDg, and with them the heavier
the feathering the better. The Leghorn
body is 1.-the and birdlike. whereas the Asia.
tics are heavy, numbering fowls. The Leg
horn moves with grace and activity, but the
Asiatic waddles like duck, and there is
small grace and ease attached to the locomo-
ton of duck. Indeed, with but few excep-
tions, the whole European class Of fowls are
easy movers and full of life and activity.
The Poultry World for December, 1875.
says of Black Leghorns: "The first impor
tation of this breed from Italy, regularly bred
from, of which we have authentic account.
was made in 1871 by Mr.. Reed Watson, al
though stray specimens of black or very dark
fowls were no doubt brought over at yarious
earlier periods" Saunders Domestic PorI.
try, published in 1866, says: "There have
been several importations of the common
fowls OF Leghorn and vicinity, made of late.
These birds are OF all colors except back.''
BY which we infer that the breed under con-
sideration was at that time unknown to that
author. Wright makes no mention of any
Leghorns OF this character. There are trad-
tons, however, OF several dark or black hens
having been found among the Brown Leg
horns brought to this country at various
times since 1868. The first published ac-
count OF Black Leghorns appeared as an ed
itorlal in the Poultry World, October, 1872
which says:
"Mr. Watson's birds show the unmistaka-
bic Leghorn form, even to the details of the
comb and wattles, and are as thoroughly nom
sitters as any of our acclimated strains.
They are very vigorous and active. The
original fowls, three in number, imported a
year ago, are now surrounded by well
grown and numerous family. The old hens
have proved themselves remarkably prolific
layers, and the pullets of last April are now
following example. A brood of a dozen
chicks can be seen, Matched September LIST,
from eggs laid by pullets of this stock hatch
ed after the middle of April last; that is. the
pullets reproduced when less then four
months old.'
Among Brown Leghorns of this date
there will creep in some very dark birds-so
dark indeed that their purity is often called
into question. The very dark hens among
the Browns are almost invariably unexcelled
layers. They however, should not be too
dark. The brown and steel bars on the
wings of the cock should be clear and dis
tinct, and the edging of brown on the wing
primaries perfect, otherwise the purity of the
Dlrd Is questionable. From the imperfect
specimens no doubt have sprung the Black
Legnorn. A cross between the Black Span
ish and Brown Leghorn produces hens near
ly atac smile to Black Leghorn. The leg
coloring is exactly the same, being dark
slate or black ground, spread over the dirty
yellow, giving the shanks a soiled annear-
ance. The leg, or rather Its black colorne.
is pretty sure indication of the breed:
and when we discover a mixture of yello1
and black, or yellow and slate, producing
tawny complexion to the leg, one may be
sure OF cross. The leg of the dark Leg
norns among the Brown varieties are bright