56 WYANDOTTES. 



solid black with black beaks, dark combs and faces, and, also, black 

 shanks and toes, with the bottom of the feet yellow. The reversion 

 to the Silver variety is more apparent in the cockerels, and they are 

 less certain in plumage; white shows very frequently in places above 

 named, and also in tail. Improvement, at best, is of slow growth, 

 but there is a determination among Black Wyandotte breeders to 

 conquer existing faults, and make their favorite variety second to 

 none in richness of plumage and intrinsic qualities. 



Much of the future success of this variety, depends upon har- 

 mony and united action of their breeders, in bringing them before the 

 people in a presentable condition, which can be depended on to be 

 maintained in their breeding. The standard should not be too arbi- 

 trary on the color of legs, and judges should not provoke or increase 

 obstacles to their cultivation, by dealing too severely with them in 

 the show-room. But, whilst admitting a certain policy of leniency 

 towards the Blacks, for the present, their breeders must not cease in 

 their endeavors to obtain a pure, glossy black plumage and pure 

 yellow leg, which is so strikingly handsome. 



MATING AND JUDGING. 



Little need be said on mating solid black or white fowls, if their 

 physical qualities are faultless, or as near perfection, in vigor 

 and health, as can readily be obtained. This secured, color is the 

 next object of importance, and, in Black Wyandottes, metallic black 

 should be the ideal for both sexes, and not sooty or dead black, 

 lacking in intensity of color, brightness, hardness and smoothness 

 of finish and lustre. In black varieties there is little to do beyond 

 these two distinctions in color, and each mating must tend to 

 establish this richness of plumage. 



It is best, at all times, to mate metallic black males and females 

 together, but, if one is limited in breeding stock, he must make the 

 best use he can of others. If the male's plumage is a rich, lustrous 

 black, and that of the female dead or sooty black, most of the pullets 

 will come in fair plumage, much richer than that of the dam, but 

 the cockerels will be inferior to the sire in hardness, smoothness and 

 polish. The union of a metallic black male and a dead black female 

 will, in time, restore the color, and improve and beautify it, if a 

 skillful selection of the progeny be made, and put with those of the 

 black metallic mating. 



There may be a disposition to mate males with white in wing or 

 tail otherwise good to prime colored females, in the hopes of 



