THE RELATION OF PLUMAGE TO OVARIAN CON- 

 DITION IN A BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK 



PULLET. 1 







LEON J. COLE, 

 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AND 



WILLIAM A. LIPPINCOTT, 

 KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The assumption by female birds of plumage and other ex- 

 ternal characters which ordinarily distinguish the male is not an 

 uncommon phenomenon and has long been noted. While it is 

 known to occur among wild birds (Hunter, 1780, p. 532), it has 

 been much more commonly observed in domesticated varieties 

 or others retained in captivity, where the opportunity for close 

 observation is obviously much greater. An excellent general 

 summary of the literature on the subject, including a most useful 

 bibliography, has recently been published by Larcher (1916). 



Cases have most frequently been reported in fowls, pheasants 

 and ducks, and it is probable that most poultrymen of wide 

 experience have known of their occurrence. A careful search 

 of the poultry journals would doubtless reveal mention of many 

 cases, though the proportion which gets into print must be rela- 

 tively small, and the number that receive scientific attention 

 even smaller. One such has been reported recently (Dent, 

 1917) of a mongrel Barred Plymouth Rock which was claimed 

 not only to have laid eggs but also to have treaded hens. It was 

 stated, furthermore, that the eggs from these hens with which 

 the hermaphrodite mated w r ere successfully hatched. The bird 

 in question was also said to crow at times and to sing like a hen 

 every day. A photograph accompanying the letter shows a 

 bird with a head like a cock, but body more resembling a hen. 

 If confirmed, this would be an extreme case of hermaphroditism. 



1 Contribution from the Department of Genetics, Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, University of Wisconsin, No. 14, and from the Kansas Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station. Published with the approval of the Directors. 



I6 7 



