66 



BREEDS OF POULTRY 



length; four toes, usually three in front, these being united by a 

 short web. The features of the body are large and coarse as com- 

 pared to birds of flight. The males have brighter-colored plumage 

 than the females. Their main feed is grain. Common represen- 

 tatives of this order are domestic chickens, turkeys, pheasants, 

 partridges, and grouse. 



Two Classifications of Poultry. Two general classifications of 

 poultry may be made : First is the so-called standard classification. 

 A book on this is edited and published by the American Poultry 

 Association. The points in this classification are intended to 

 guide judges and breeders of exhibition poultry. The book does 

 not serve as a practical guide to the economic points of the breeds. 

 This classification is based primarily upon the origin and distribu- 

 tion of the breeds, and not so much upon their economic import- 

 ance. In a great many cases their economic possibilities have 

 been the direct outgrowth of environment at their place of origin. 



The second classification might be termed utility. It is based 

 on the economic possibilities which the different breeds offer for 

 market purposes. 



Either of these classifications must be relatively arbitrary. 

 There are a number of breeds which possess characteristics, any 

 one of which, considered singly, might place them in one class and 

 then in another. 



STANDARD CLASSIFICATION. 



The standard classification of domestic poultry includes all 

 classes, representing thirty-eight different breeds which contain 

 109 varieties. It is impossible to give here a detailed description 

 of each. The breeds and varieties are given in a classified form; 

 this is followed by an outline of their historical development and 

 distribution. 



Standard Classification of Domestic Fowls. 



Class No. and name. Breed. Variety. 



1. American Plymouth Rock: Barred, white, buff, silver pencilled, 



partridge, and Columbian. 

 Wyandotte: Silver, golden, white, buff, black, 



partridge, silver pencilled, and 



Columbian. 



Java: Black and mottled. 



Dominique: Rose comb. 



Rhode Island Red: Single comb and rose comb. 

 Buckeye: Pea comb. 



2. Asiatic Brahma: Light and dark. 



Cochin: Buff, partridge, white, and black 



Langshan : Black and white. 



