76 



INHERITANCE OF CHARACTERISTICS IN DOMESTIC FOWL. 



The proportion of whites agrees closely with expectation. If this is 

 not the case with the other two classes, the discrepancy must be attributed 

 in part to insufficient observations and in part to the difficulties of precise 

 classification in the early stages. The result is so close, however, as to lend 

 strong support to our hypothesis as to the gametic constitution of the 

 parents. Nothing is more striking, and to the unprejudiced mind more 

 convincing, than the appearance of typically Game-colored birds in the 

 grandchildren of wholly white parents. 



3. SILKIE X BUFF COCHIN. 

 (Plates 7, 8.) 



By hypothesis this cross is between cJmox and CjnwX. The first 

 generation should give the zygotic formula CcJjn^w^Xx, or, more simply, 

 CcJjXx. The formula differs much from that of either parent, and the 

 progeny themselves are no less remarkable. They have a washed-out buff 

 color (since they are heterozygous in both C and X), and the Jungle pattern 

 shows itself in the black tail and slightly redder buff of the wing-bar and 

 hackles in the male. Since the hybrids are heterozj^gous in respect to 3 

 pairs of characters, when segregation occurs each parent produces 8 kinds 

 of gametes, as follows: CJX, CJx, CjX, Cjx, cJX, cJx, cjX, cjx. In Y^ 

 the types listed in table 61 may be expected in 64 offspring. 



Table 61. Distribution of colors, theoretic classes. Probable frequency in 64 progeny. 



The classification here employed can not be used in detail in comparing 

 observed results with expectation, for the distinction between buff and 

 buff-and-black appears onl}^ in chicks that have acquired the permanent 

 plumage. Consequently it will be found necessary to combine these two 

 classes into one and then make the comparison as is done in table 62. 



Table 62. Dislribution of colors, combined classes. 



