315 



CHAPTER XX. 



WYANDOTTES. 



IT does not appear possible now to determine 

 either the precise origin of the Wyandotte, 

 or the date of its production, respecting 

 which a great deal has been published that is 

 self-contradictory and certainly erroneous. We 

 can only state one fact, but that is from personal 

 knowledge and recollection. We saw every 

 issue of all the earlier American poultry journals, 

 and it was in 1873 that large laced birds were 

 first mentioned in these, under the name at that 

 date of Sebright Cochins, and with the general 

 description that they had been produced by 

 crossing Cochins with Silver-spangled Ham- 

 burghs and " other blood." These birds 

 were figured and described as with smooth 

 yellow legs and rose-combs, which latter, ac- 

 cording to illustrations of the time, did not 

 turn downwards at the back as now, but were 

 far more Hamburgh in character and some- 

 what larger, as can be seen in the illustration 

 we have reproduced a few years later in date 

 than this, but of these earlier American birds. 

 The Iticing in this illustration is a great deal 

 idealised, being much better than anything 

 really seen at that time, but the Hamburgh 

 type of comb, as then bred, can be recognised 

 distinctly. In the main, however, though per- 

 haps slightly less cobby in shape than the 

 present birds, there are all the characteristic 

 features of the Silver-laced Wyandotte, which 

 was the original type of all the varieties now 

 known under that name. 



As Sebright Cochins, or American Sebrights, 

 a name which was also given to these birds, they 

 never became widely popular, and it is somewhat 

 uncertain whether this original 

 stock did not die out. The name 

 was not American or distinctive 

 enough for popularity, and for 

 several years it is difficult to trace 

 any such fowls at all. But about 1880 similar 

 large laced birds began to be freely written about 

 again, and it is significant that regarding these, 

 there was always an impression, and there were 

 many actual statements, that the Light Brahma 

 had been the Asiatic race employed. They 

 were now also termed Wyandottes, and the 



History 



of 

 Wyandottes, 



comb, while still rose in character, had assumed 

 that downward curve at the back and of the 

 spike, parallel with the top of the head, which is 

 now a recognised Wyandotte point. This kind 

 of comb would probably result from a Brahma 

 cross ; and upon the whole the evidence, though 

 not conclusive, tends to show that some time 

 before 1880 the Wyandotte had not only been 

 re-named, but actually re-made, upon a Light 

 Brahma and Hamburgh foundation, with possible 

 aid from Polish stock, as " crested " birds are 

 mentioned in one account we have seen. The 



Early American Wyandottes. 



first importation we were able to trace into 

 England, was one by Mr. J. Pilling, of Ashton, 

 near Chester ; and the first English-bred speci- 

 mens to be exhibited were, we believe, shown by 

 Mr. T. C. Heath, at the Staffordshire show of 

 1884. The history of the breed in England, 

 therefore, only dates from that time ; and the 

 progress made since, both in popularity and 

 multiplication of varieties, is remarkable. 



This is not without solid reason, for the 

 Wyandotte is an undeniably valuable and 

 generally useful fowl. It is a capital layer of 

 tinted eggs, when bred with any reasonable 

 care to maintain that property ; is very hardy 

 and easy to rear, feathering well and easily in 



