34 "A LITTLE JOURNEY 



Mating and Breeding Anconas 



The Kind of Male to use in Breeding Pens 



A few years ago I reluctantly parted with a splendid first prize pen 

 Madison Square Garden, New York I am serious when I say "reluc- 

 tantly" for 3500.00. 



Permit me to explain in this book just about as I did to the purchaser of 

 this prize pen, how I made my stock produce the beautiful birds that com- 

 manded "millionaire" prices and are still the most intensely practical of all 

 breeds. 



The sire of this noble pen was a first prize cock at the Garden the previous 

 year. I considered him almost an ideal specimen. He weighed about six 

 pounds, very fine head points, a splendid comb, a good long back with ex- 

 cellent tail carriage, well spread out and carried at the proper angle. I 

 appreciate that some breeders advise "Don't get the tail too low." Look 

 over their flock and you will see that there is mighty little danger of their 

 ever getting the tails too low! Where you find one tail a little bit low, you 

 will find ten thousand altogether too high. They should be just high enough 

 to maintain the carrage of vigor and good balance not drooping in a slouchy 

 way and decidedly not stuck up straight like the tail of a gray squirrel. 



This fellow's body was long and deep. I have mentioned body shape on 

 a previous page. Many birds have long bodies but are hot deep enough for 

 good Ancona type they mustn't be too slim. This fine specimen had a good 

 pair of yellow shanks and he certainly stood up splendidly on them. His 

 legs were well spread. The light green sheen on his dark color was entirely 

 free from purple barring. His mottling was fine and distinct and evenly 

 spread in nearly all sections. His tail was solid black with white tips, and 

 almost black wings with many feathers tipped with white. 



While we're on the subject of the kind of male to use in breeding pens, 

 take a look at that royal specimen across the page. Note the proud, regal 

 carriage, the broad, full sweep of that perfect tail, the beautifully formed 

 head, the sturdy legs. He's a regal bird is Richard and he knows it! 



