SILVER WYANDOTTES HISTORY. 9 



Some writers think that a Silver Polish fowl was a likely 

 element in some of the crosses, but there is not the slightest founda- 

 tion for this opinion, because some of the points of the various 

 breeds in the combination have appeared at one time or another, 

 but no crested chick, none with bifurcated comb, none with cavernous 

 nostrils, and these could not be wholly bred out in so short a time. 

 If some advanced fanciers look on the Silver Polish hen as the ideal 

 for the Wyandotte hen, in lacing, that is no sign Silver Polish had 

 anything to do with the plumage of the Wyandotte. Seeing so few 

 hens of Sebright lacing, that of the Silver Polish can be more readily 

 attained by adding a solid black tail and a Dark Brahma hackle. 



It is useless to dwell on the object of the originator of Sebright 

 Cochins. We hardly think he had a variety of Cochins in view, by 

 using a Bantam, and it is doubtful that he sought to make a Cochin 

 Bantam, because he ceased further reduction of size. In all proba- 

 bility a medium-sized fowl was the ultimate object, but the white 

 ground color and black lacing of the Sebright were wanting; the 

 whole plumage presented a yellowish cast, being rather a mass of 

 lacing, penciling and mossing; too light in both sexes to be attractive 

 and pleasing. 



At this crisis in the breed, it was deemed advisable to fix a pre- 

 ponderance of black without changing other features, in order to 

 make the lacing distinct. The black fowl of Breda blood, mentioned 

 by Mr. Felch, offered a very suitable cross on account of its flesh 

 qualities and unique comb, but the addition of the Brahma cross 

 left the breed in a condition which would favor either the lightness 

 of the Hamburg plumage or that of a dark plumage with white 

 centers, as the partiality of fanciers should dictate. Breeders found 

 much penciling and mossing in place of clear and distinct lacing in 

 the light-plumaged birds. Mr. Felch always advised to make black 

 the preponderant color, as the tendency of the breed was to light 

 plumage, and we frequently advised the same thing. 



When we take a retrospective view of the Wyandotte, we are 

 surprised at the unprecedented boom it had, both before and after 

 its being admitted to the Standard. No breed up to that time had 

 ever been in such demand; perhaps no breed will ever enjoy such a 

 boom. But, with its popularity was created a greed for gain; 

 wretched specimens were put on the market, together with every 

 speckled fowl having a rose comb, which rapidly lessened their 

 popularity. A few far-seeing fanciers held on to their stock and 

 denounced jobbers and unscrupulous breeders for putting on the 



