12 WYANDOTTES. 



object of breeders is to give each breed a distinctive type. One can 

 see in the Wyandotte the bold, erect form of the Brahma, especially 

 in the male ; the high rump and tail, the full neck, the face, the fluff 

 and heavy stern; also the shank, although featherless, is the limb of 

 the Brahma, as also is the beak indeed, the general structure is that 

 of the Brahma, with just such modifications as the Hamburg cross 

 would give. 



The primary object with this breed, as stated before, is to obtain 

 a well-made, compact and blocky bodied, clean-legged fowl, of as 

 large a size as is considered suitable, clad in the garb of the Silver 

 Sebright; that is, as near as can be obtained in most features except 

 tail, which is black, or should be so ; but a great many cock birds 

 have their primary sickles edged with white, and the edged sickles 

 are invariably accompanied with clear markings on rump, as opposed 

 to sooty or rusty saddle and entirely black sickles. 



The comb, being a low rose, admirably fitted for our cold winters, 

 is a valuable feature in the breed. In good specimens, it is narrow, 

 and partaking of the curve of head. It is hard to get a good comb, 

 and considerable deviation is seen in a lot of cockerels in one you 

 can see a shapeless, wide comb, in others the Hamburg spike and 

 more coroneted comb ; but the narrow and close-fitting comb, curved 

 with shape of head, is the desired object. 



As sitters and mothers, the Wyandotte hens will perform their 

 duties faithfully. They are steady sitters, and very few will desert 

 their nests after the work of incubation begins. They are not quite 

 as industrious foragers and scratchers as the Game and common 

 hens, but, otherwise, they are kind mothers They are not so rest- 

 less and nervous as the small hens, and, having a strong dash of 

 Asiatic blood, they do not lead the young far away, nor exert them- 

 selves in diligent search for food. There is a quiet and contented 

 feeling in their nature, which insures confidence in the young, though 

 they may be from a restless and shy breed. This is of small import, 

 as the majority of fanciers now coop the mother hens. 



The Wyandotte is unquestionably a splendid breed and holds 

 first rank among American fowls. It is a breed that commends 

 itself in various ways, utility and beauty being two of its chief recom- 

 mendations two good qualities in combination; essential properties 

 which no real fancier is disposed to ignore, nor which, indeed, in the 

 interests and progress of poultry culture, should be overlooked or 

 underrated. 



