36 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



In the Glossary, on pages 14 to 26, and in matter descriptive 

 of the different varieties of Plymouth Rocks, colors have been 

 defined as accurately as can be done in a few words, and it is 

 hoped that the reader will, from these descriptions, be able to 

 form a fairly accurate idea of the colors called for in these vari- 

 eties. In addition to these brief definitions, however, the follow- 

 ing explanations of color terms applied to Plymouth Rocks 

 doubtless will prove helpful to many. 



Reddish-Bay. This color is called for in the eyes of all 

 Plymouth Rocks and, as a rule, is a distinct red, but with a 

 brownish tinge. Bay in fowls' eyes varies from light to dark, 

 but the ideal is medium in shade. 



Black. Two distinct blacks are called for in Plymouth 

 Rocks. In Barred Rocks, the barring "stops short of positive 

 black." This black should be without greenish sheen. 



In all other varieties of Plymouth Rocks, black means either 

 a greenish-black, that is, a solid black with a greenish sheen, or 

 a dull, intense black. 



Green. Green does not exist as a positive color in the feathers 

 of fowls, but is produced by the structure of the feather, the 

 parts of which set somewhat like prisms, thus producing an 

 iridescent effect which in black feathers of a certain character 

 gives a brilliant green sheen. Under some conditions this sheen 

 gives a purplish effect, which is highly objectionable in Plymouth 

 Rocks. 



Brown. Brown and mahogany should be considered together 

 to get a clear understanding of these closely related colors. 

 Brown is composed of red, yellow and black, giving a color 

 darker and more somber than bay and, in fowls, shows little red. 

 Mahogany also is formed of red, yellow and black, but describes 

 a color verging on chestnut, though lighter in tone, i. e., con- 

 taining a little more red and yellow. Mahogany closely approxi- 

 mates the color of chestnuts when first taken from the burr and 

 is lighter and redder than the color of chestnuts as ordinarily 

 sold in market. 



Bluish. There is no blue in the feathers of fowls. The color 

 called blue is a mixture of black and white, the bluish tinge 

 being a faint iridescence. In Barred Plymouth Rocks the ideal 

 bluish tinge is produced mainly by the various modified shades 

 of black, grayish-black and grayish-white resulting from the 

 modified white and black of the barred feathers and from their 

 overlapping. 



