I'LYMOLTH ROCK ST.\\ /MA'/) AND BKKK1) HOOK 47 



produce exhibition males and no exhibition females. The same 

 principles hold true for the exhibition female line ; both male and 

 females of the exhibition female line are expected to produce 

 exhibition females. The males are in turn used to breed exhibi- 

 tion females, but the males are not expected to be exhibition 

 birds, or to produce exhibition males. That is, as already ex- 

 plained, the province of the male line. 



Though already stated, the fact should be emphasized that 

 this system of mating is commonly practiced only by breeders 

 of parti-colored fowls. The conclusion can be clearly drawn 

 that separate matings to produce standard males and standard 

 females are necessary on account of color requirements. Seldom 

 are separate matings used, or even thought to be necessary, to 

 produce the requirements for shape of either males or females. 

 Such expediencies have been resorted to very infrequently and 

 the practice has passed almost entirely out of use. It is generally 

 considered that the standard shape of male and female coincides 

 when due allowance has been made for natural difference in 

 shape of male and female. In this regard the experiences and 

 practices of poultry breeders do not differ in any particular from 

 those of breeders of other animals. The breeders of forms of 

 animal life in which little attention is paid to color, never think 

 of, let alone use, a special or separate line of breeding for 

 each sex. 



From the facts as stated, it appears that we must find our 

 excuse, if excuse it may be called or if an excuse is necessary, 

 which is doubtful better should we call it a necessity for spe- 

 cial or double matings to produce the males and females that 

 nearest approach the standard descriptions among parti-colored 

 fowls, in the color requirements alone. 



The first question that comes to mind is, why not adopt a 

 standard description for males and females of the parti-colored 

 fowls that would coincide, making due allowances for the natural 

 color differences of the two sexes, as we have in shape? 



The answer to this question is found in others like it. Can 

 it be done? When has it been accomplished? If a standard 

 could be written in which the color description of both males 

 and females of parti-colored fowls would be such that standard- 

 colored males and standard-colored females, mated together, 

 would produce standard-colored males and standard-colored 

 females, would breeders and exhibitors be satisfied with the 

 appearance of both sexes ? It is conceded that the best males to 



