THE DOMESTIC FOWL 39 



FARM 



Based on the Purity of Breeding. 



1. MONGREL OR MIXED BREEDS. ally not practised commer- 



Has no definite blood lines, cially for more than one 



but possesses a great variety year without going back to 



of the blood lines of the the original standard-bred 



standard breeds. bird. 



3. STANDARD BRED. 



2. CROSS BREEDS. Standard breeds as recog- 



Consist of standard-bred nized by the first two classi- 



birds bred together. Usu- fications. 



Standard Classifications. As was previously mentioned 

 the standard of classification is the one adopted by the 

 American Poultry Association, which groups domestic fowls 

 into fourteen classes, one distinguishing factor being the 

 point of origin. It is impossible to give here a detailed 

 description of every breed and variety, but the above 

 table gives a skeleton outline of these breeds. For a more 

 detailed description the student is referred to the " American 

 Standard of Perfection," published by the American Poultry 

 Association. This book should have a place in every 

 poultryman's library. The preceding table gives eleven of 

 the standard classes. 



Utility Classification. Utility classification is so termed 

 because it is based on the type and the value of the commer- 

 cial products yielded. The common breeds of domestic 

 fowls fall into one of four utility classes : Egg breeds, meat 

 breeds, general purpose breeds, and miscellaneous breeds 

 (Fig. 33). 



Examples of egg breeds are the Leghorns, Minorcas, and 

 the Anconas. These birds are distinguished by an active, 

 nervous temperament, possess great powers of flight, and are 

 hard to confine. As a class they mature comparatively 

 early; Leghorns often grow their main tail and wing feathers 

 at from three to six weeks. They are relatively poor sitters, 

 being too nervous and restless to stick closely to the nest 

 for three weeks, but are excellent foragers, roaming a long 



