POULTRY. 517 



larger and coarser, and more particularly in the penciling being shaded gradually dark into 

 light, instead of the distinct and sharp contrast between the penciling and ground color that 

 characterizes the Penciled Hamburgs. The eyes are large and bright; wattles broad and 

 full, and are bright red, as are also the ear lobes. The beak and legs are bright yellow. The 

 hen is marked similarly to the cock in plumage, and together in their plain homespun&quot; 

 looking suit, although not beautiful, they are very suitable for many localities where a more 

 showy bird would look almost out of place. 



They are also desirable in plumage, in localities where the soot or smoke would soil the 

 feathers of a light or white plumaged bird. The carriage is upright and rather sprightly. 

 In breeding this variety, it is well to select a medium shade, or such as would be desired in 

 the chickens, in the plumage of the hen. The cock should be of a slightly darker shade 

 (since they are apt to breed a little lighter), carefully selecting those in both sexes free from 

 either red, black, or golden feathers in the hackle or elsewhere; by this means they may be 

 bred true to color and of a desirable shade. 



Merits and Defects Of Dominiques. Dominiques are hardy and consequently 

 bred with comparative ease; they are also superior table fowls, though not, of course, equal 

 to the Dorking in this respect, though they are superior to the Dorking in laying qualities, 

 and also the Scotch Greys, which they closely resemble in plumage. They make excellent 

 mothers, mature early, grow rapidly, and are a generally useful fowl. We can freely recom 

 mend them as such, though they will probably never be a very popular breed for showing, 

 not being very attractive in general appearance. They are excellent foragers. The cocks 

 average from seven to eight pounds, and the hens about six pounds. 



PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 



THE Plymouth Rock is preeminently an American fowl. It is of New England origin, 

 and supposed to have been produced by a cross between the Black Java or Cochin, 

 and the Dominique variety. It has now become a well established and popular 

 breed, and proves a very desirable and valuable acquisition to our American -bred varieties. 

 It is the general experience of those who breed Plymouth Rocks, that mating birds that have 

 a dark plumage in both sexes, produces a progeny too dark, with an indistinct marking, and a 

 tendency to dark colored legs and beak, instead of the bright yellow so much preferred by 

 American fanciers. This is especially true of the pullets, and can only be remedied by 

 selecting a light-colored cock with the dark-colored hens, or having both the cock and hens 

 nearly matching in color, and of the shade desired in the chickens, though the former is 

 considered by most breeders to be the most desirable method. The average weight of the 

 cock is about ten pounds and that of the hen eight pounds. 



The plumage is Dominique, that is, of a bluish gray, with each feather penciled across 

 with dark blue bars, the darkest specimens having the bars nearly black, yet the marking in 

 either dark or light shades, should be distinct and free from a clouded or blended appearance. 

 The medium shade is considered the most desirable color. Any mixture of other colors, 

 such as white, black, and red feathers (as is sometimes the case), is considered a great defect, 

 and such birds should be excluded from the breeding pens. They are symmetrical in form, 

 aave a plump body with well rounded breast and broad back, having in all the appearance of 

 compactness and solidity. The head is of medium size, and somewhat resembles the Cochin. 

 The beak is yellow in color, short, stout at the base, and well curved at the end. The comb 

 is of medium size, single, upright, and evenly serrated ; ear lobes and wattles bright red, an^ 



