SILVER WYANDOTTES HISTORY. 7 



appeared with rose combs, feathered with smooth legs, bluish white 

 with red earlobes, and blue with yellow legs. It is said that a black 

 fowl of the Breda breed was introduced in the crossing to enrich and 

 give permanency to the lacing, and the two productions being 

 crossed, formed the American Sebrights. 



On the presentation of the American Sebrights, the American 

 Poultry Association acknowledged the promising merits of the new 

 breed, but objected to the name on the ground that it was suggestive 

 of Bantam. They knew, too, that several types of the new breed 

 were being cultivated, and that the admirers of each were desirous 

 of giving new names. A new cross of Silver Spangled Hamburg 

 and Dark Brahma now appeared, and it was much in advance of 

 the other crosses in type and desirable qualities, although it possessed 

 a pea comb. One party earnestly advocated single combs. Mr. 

 Whittaker was in favor of rose combs, and Mr. Kidder strongly 

 pressed the advantages of a pea comb. The petition was so far 

 considered that Mr. Payne was appointed chairman of the committee 

 to settle on a name and standard for the breed; but the committee 

 failed to make a report and the American Sebright had to wait till 

 1883. 



Happily the delay prompted improvement, and the product of 

 the Hamburg and Dark Brahma, with the best of the other crosses, 

 evolved a more pleasing plumage and type, which appeared under 

 the name, Eureka. The combination of the two original crosses, 

 with the last named, formed a desirable breed; and from that time 

 on they grew in popularity and their sales became really marvelous, 

 though advertised as American Sebrights, Excelsiors, Eurekas, Am- 

 brights, Columbias, etc. In order to harmonize and settle on a name, 

 Mr. I. K. Felch suggested the name Hambletonian and prepared a 

 standard, which was the basis of the one made for the breed at 

 Worcester, Mass., in 1883, when it was admitted under the name, 

 Wyandotte. 



Mr. Fred. A. Houdlette, of Waltham, Mass, an enthusiastic fan- 

 cier and admirer of the new breed, suggested the name Wyandotte, 

 after a tribe of Indians, but possibly out of some inspiring recollec- 

 tion of his father's ship, which was named " Wyandotte." However, 

 the name was a surprise, and the pill which the fanciers of the 

 country had to swallow was somewhat disagreeable, though per- 

 plexed and confused by the number of names attached to the breed. 



Doubtless, much of the enthusiast and excitement over the 

 Silver Wyandotte was due to the little booms which the fanciers of 



