CHAPTEE V. 

 NEW. POPULAR BREEDS OF POULTRY. 



WYANDOTTES. II. WHITE WYANDOTTES. III. WYANDOTTE BANTAI 



IV. LANGSHANS. V. AMERICAN JAVAS. VI. THE ORPINGTONS. 



I. Wyandottes. 



The Wyandottes are one of the strictly American breeds, and were 

 originally known as American Seabrights from their peculiarity of 

 marking. When admitted to the American standard in 1883, they were 

 given the name Wyandotte. Their origin, so far as known, was a cross 

 between the Brahma and Hamburg. As now carefully bred, their char- 

 acteristic markings are distinct and constant. The plumage is white 

 and black, each feather having a white ground heavily laeed with black, 

 the tail being entirely black ; the plumage is in fact the white and black 

 speckled of the Hamburg with the black tail of the Brahma. The legs 

 are yellow as are those of the Brahma, but bare like those of the Ham- 

 burg. They have the rose comb of the Hamburg, but not so large, and 

 in size they approach the Brahma. 



^The birds feather early, are plump broilers when young, and retain 

 plumpness with age. They are yellow skinned, thrift}^, hardy, and reach 

 a capacity for broiling early. In the adult birds the feathers are white, 

 bordered red with black, giving them a bright, even, speckled appearance. 

 The hackle is penciled white and black, and the tail is quite black. The 

 eggs are medium in size, of a dark buff color, and the laying qualities of 

 the fow.s are generally good, but as in the case of any variety, the de- 

 scendants of cross-bred fowls will depend somewhat on care in selection. 

 The illustration represents highly bred fow^s of this variety. 

 II. White "Wyandottes. 



Early in the breeding of the Wyandottes (1872) some pure white 

 chicks were observed in a clutch of the laced Wyandottes of Mr. Geo. 

 H. Towle, of New York State, as having the same characteristics of the 

 dark variety. They were bred together until 1886, when they were ex- 

 hibited in Boston, Mass. This variety are reported to be prolific layers 

 and hardy ; are pure white with yellow legs and skin, but yet (1911) 

 they are not generally disseminated. 



III. "Wyandotte Bantams. 



Whenevei a r.ew and well received breed is brought out, there are 

 aWays some who seek to get money out of alleged variations. There 



1143 



