600 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Buff Leghorn (fig. 22) is the most recent acquisition to the Med- 

 iterranean class. It is a beautiful bird, and one that will win its way 

 wherever bred. Buff-colored birds have many admirers, and those who 

 have bred them are pronounced in praise of their qualities. Besides 

 having the general characteristics of the Leghorn type, the Buff Leg- 

 horn cock has rich buff colored hackle and saddle, in shade from lemon 

 to cinnamon, but of even, solid color in keeping with the rest of the 

 plumage; the back and the wing bow exactly match the plumage; tail, 

 of the same general tint, but richer, deeper buff is preferable, the 

 standard giving for tail a rich, deep buff or copperish-bronze. The 

 remainder of the plumage is of a slightly lighter shade, but even in 

 color throughout, with no semblance of a patchy or mottled plumage. 

 White and black feathers in plumage are objectionable; solid white or 

 solid black feathers will disqualify the bird. The hen is of the same 

 color as the cock. 



Dominique Leghorns are not so generally known. Their color is 

 much like that of the American Dominique and Barred Plymouth Rock, 

 and is what is known as "Cuckoo" by English breeders. The body color 

 is grayish white, each feather regularly crossed with parallel bars of 

 blue-black, producing the effect of a bluish-tinged plumage. This color 

 is the same throughout. The ground color of each feather is a clear, 

 -light bluish gray. The shanks and toes are bright yellow and eyes bright 

 red. 



Silver Duckwing Leghorns are not generally bred in this country, 

 though they are frequently seen in the showrooms. They are considered 

 as profitable as any of the other Leghorn varieties, and in point of 

 beauty they are very interesting and fascinating. They take the name 

 "Duckwing" from the similarity of the steel-blue wing bar to that of the 

 Mallard or wild duck, the name being first given to a variety of games — 

 the Silver Duckwing Game. The hackle and saddle feathers of a Silver 

 Duckwing Leghorn cock are pure silvery white, without the slightest 

 straw or creamy tinge, with a narrow black stripe along the center of 

 the lower hackle feathers. Back, saddle, wing bow and wing bay, pure 

 white; breast, under parts, wing bar, and tail, dense lustrous black. The 

 Silver Duckwing Leghorn hen has a silvery gray hackle, with a narrow 

 black stripe through the center of each feather. The breast is light 

 salmon, shading off to gray toward the sides; the body color when viewed 

 at a short distance should appear gray, with a faint bluish tint all over. 

 A tendency to ruddy gray, either in ground color or penciling, is objec- 

 tionable. The tail is black or dark brown, except the two upper feathers, 

 which are light gray. The penciling or markings are irregular or wavy. 



The White Leghorn, like the Brown, is one of the most generally 

 bred of the Leghorn varieties. It is, no doubt, the most advantageous 

 to breed for profit, and the easiest to raise on the farm. Being of one 

 color in plumage these birds are more successfully raised and cared for 

 than the parti-colored varieties. Their plumage is pure white through- 

 out, and feathers other than white will disqualify them. It has been a 

 matter of much speculation as to which variety of Leghorns is most 



