WHITE WYANDOTTES HISTORY. 61 



Club, when Mr. Briggs was elected as president and chairman of 

 the committee on a standard for the variety. 



The White Wyandotte followed the Silver breed, and originated 

 from " sports ; " therefore, are thoroughbreds, and not a cross-bred 

 variety. They have all the distinctive characteristics of the original 

 breed, and their own distinguishing color. It is certain that the 

 pure Whites have shown a more pleasing type than either the 

 Silvers or Goldens; that is, the young of the Whites usually de- 

 velop to what judges deem an ideal for Wyandottes. "Silver 

 King," being one of the best specimens, in type, of his race, has 

 been accepted as an ideal by the club, and this will be a stimulant 

 to White Wyandotte breeders to attain this type in their flocks; the 

 living specimen being worth more to them than all the cuts and 

 profiles of the variety put together. 



This type for the White Wyandottes is not only universally 

 accepted, but is also universally commended for other Wyandotte 

 varieties. A well-known writer voiced the sentiments of Wyandotte 

 breeders, shortly after the Whites were admitted to the Standard : 

 " Type is to be one and the same for all, for we have all got to 

 breed to that outline that the committee of breeders or the Wyandotte 

 Club shall adopt. This is going to obviate all strain characteristics. 

 * * * The cockerel exhibited by Mr. Croffut, of Binghamton, 

 N. Y., was, by far, the best specimen that has yet been exhibited, 

 and, surely, no better type could be secured to outline the entire race 

 of Wyandottes. * * * They are now in the Standard, and, if a 

 decided stand is taken to adopt a pure Wyandotte type, free from 

 all Leghorn taint, and the breeders of them will guard jealously this 

 type, they will, in a few years, be proud of this new acquisition. 

 All new breeds suffer from a boom, for unprincipled men will sell 

 eggs during such a boom that are not reliable, and the race has to 

 live this evil down." 



A volume could be readily filled with testimonials of Wyandotte 

 breeders in commendation of this race, both for laying and market 

 purposes ; while all agree that the laced and self-colored varieties 

 are beautiful, comely and unique. It might be said of the Black 

 and White varieties that their popularity is due to the Silver Laced 

 breed, and that if there were no laced breed before them, they would 

 be considered mediocre. There is no disputing the fact that these 

 varieties have been boomed on the merits of the Laced, like the 

 White Plymouth Rocks on the popularity of the Barred variety; but 

 while conceding this, is it not equally a fact that these self-colored 



