28 



'A LITTLE JOURNEY 



I consider the selection of a male bird very important, since this fowl is 

 the basis of flock vitality and large egg production. You can distinguish 

 the ideal Ancona bird by his full, deep breast, well rounded abdomen, power- 

 ful legs, set quite far apart, his broad, strong back, and here are some other 

 points to look for. 



Pick out a handsome fellow with a long back, slightly sloping downward to 

 the tail, with no apparent angle just a slight upward, sweeping curve at 

 the tail. His tail ought to be carried at an angle of 40 or 45, but it is better 

 to be a little lower than too high. The head, and expecially the comb, should 

 be as near perfect as possible. The comb is the first thing that is noticed in a 

 bird and is naturally very prominent because of its flashing red against the 

 black and white background of the body. 



I will quote the comments of the American Poultry Journal on one of my 

 Madison Square Garden Prize-winning cocks at this point: 



"First cock had balance, good head, nice back and tail; snappy ticking in 

 breast, fluff and wing bar. This question of balance is of primary importance 

 in the breed. Too many males are low behind, breast high and tail shooting 

 up. Get the legs in the center of the bird and he will have better balance. 

 To do this, breed females whose legs come out at their middle and not out of 

 their rear. Sheppard beat the others to it on balance in his males. He had 

 it in his males last year, and comes back again this year." 



You can see that I regard the shape and balance of the male bird as of 

 considerable importance, and that good shape is a characteristic of the Shep- 

 pard Strain. 



Ancona females of good shape have long bodies, and an easy, graceful 

 carriage. They possess what I would call a "capacious" body, with plenty 

 of room for the formation of eggs. 



