REVIEW 243 



whether for meat or fancy points. An individual may be all that 

 could be desired with respect to certain characteristics, yet might 

 not transmit these particular traits to its progeny because it lacks 

 prepotency. 



Certain breeds are especially prepotent with regard to some 

 well-defined characteristics; for example, Games, when crossed 

 with other breeds, transmit their distinctive traits to a large per- 

 centage of the p^ogen5^ 



Prepotency in individuals varies greatly, and is indicated both 

 by the resemblance of the progeny to the parent and to one another. 

 Prepotency is increased in the individual and in the breeds with 

 increased purity of blood, stronger constitutional vigor, and in- 

 breeding. 



Sex Limitation. — The power of one sex to transmit character- 

 istics, and the limitation of the other sex in the same respect, 

 is a disputed point among the closest students. In the light 

 of recent work the general opinion seems to be that there is 

 such a difference between sexes, and that it is very important in 

 breeding poultry either for color pattern or for egg production. 

 In egg production the male parent is believed to have the 

 greater transmitting power. 



Importance of Pedigree Breeding. — Pedigree breeding in- 

 volves the mating together of birds both males and females of 

 known ancestry. It also involves the keeping of such records as 

 will make possible an exact record of the parentage of the resulting 

 chicks. It is only by practising pedigree breeding that one knows 

 anything about the efficiency of his breeding operations. Full 

 sisters mated to the same male do not breed alike nor does the 

 fact that two males are full brothers insure similar breeding results. 

 It is therefore necessary to keep accurate mating and breeding 

 records in order to know the ancestrj-^ of resulting progenj-, in order 

 to determine the breeding efficiency of certain individuals and of 

 certain families and lastly in order to build up pedigree lines of 

 inheritance which will make possible line breeding. The building 

 of pedigree and the keeping of accurate mating and breeding rec- 

 ords is the first requisite of successful poultry breeding. 



REVIEW. 



1. Define poultry breeding. 



2. In what respect is this science a complex one? 



3. Point out some facts which call for marked improvement in our breeds. 



4. Compare the composition of milk and eggs. 

 5- What is the chief aim of the poultry breeder? 



