20 WYANDOTTES. 



less of the controlling influence of the females. The male does no 

 such thing, and it cannot be reasonably expected of him, as a higher 

 power has decreed that the male and female, of all organic things, 

 shall unite and share in producing an offspring like unto themselves 

 or a controlling ancestor. 



Far be it from us to underrate the value of a male bird in the 

 pen, but we cannot accept and indorse the current opinion among 

 fanciers, that all or nearly all of the high and distinguishing qualities 

 of the offspring are due to the male. We have already transcended 

 the limit of space intended for the subject of mating, but as the 

 whole season's success or failure depends on the breeding pen, the 

 suggestions may be beneficial to breeders, if they will bear them in 

 mind and scrupulously observe them when making up their breed- 

 ing pens. The suggestions offered here will apply to all other Wyan- 

 dotte varieties, and save us making special remarks on the breeding 

 fowls; color being the only exception, In fact, our remarks will also 

 apply to every standard or non-standard variety. 



SPECIAL MATING. The breeder should bear in mind that Silver 

 and Golden Wyandottes lose color by age and breeding, if no selec- 

 tion be made annually. The Silvers have shown a tendency to light- 

 ness of plumage from the beginning; so the amateur fancier is fore- 

 warned in time. Pullets nicely marked will, in the second or third 

 year, moult lighter, and there is no other way of securing color in 

 the breed than by mating either male or female a little darker in 

 plumage than is described in the Standard. 



The novice may be puzzled to account for this mode of mating 

 and ask, " Why not mate standard birds together for the production 

 of a standard offspring?" The breed has not been bred long 

 enough to establish a line of standard birds for breeding; and being 

 made up of crosses, each color struggling for mastery or controlling 

 influence, special matings will have to be followed in the majority 

 of cases, and two breeding pens, for the production of cockerels and 

 pullets, have already been adopted by some fanciers. 



If one could secure standard birds, one pen mating would suf- 

 fice. Some years ago Plymouth Rock breeders were troubled in 

 the same way, and many had recourse to two pens to produce 

 standard cockerels and pullets. The novice must not be led by the 

 cuts which he sees in poultry journals, to think that the plumage is as 

 dark in the living specimens as it is represented in the illustrations. 



The proper rule to follow in breeding Silver and Golden Wyan- 

 dottes, is to establish a line of standard breeders as soon as possible 



