84 AM ERIC. \\ I'Ol 1/l'IfY ASSOCIATION 



siders it wrong, and that the plumage should be described 'same 

 as Dominiques,' but in any case it widely differs from Dr. Ben- 

 nett's, and accordingly, by degrees, a totally different account of 

 the origin of the breed begins to appear. The first authentic 

 account we were able to obtain came to us in answer to a special 

 inquiry in a letter from Mr. W. Simpson, Jr., of West Farms, 

 New York, dated August 12, 1871. In this letter he says of 

 them: 'If bred with care, they will make a fine variety. They 

 are an Improved Dominique, being just like them except in comb 

 and size ; they have a single comb and are larger, as they have a 

 touch of Asiatic in them.' He adds : 'They do not breed very 

 straight yet.' In another letter dated April 26, 1873, enclosing 

 the revised and corrected 'Standard of Excellence' for the vari- 

 ety, which will be found at the end, and which, after careful 

 study of the bird, we have also followed in our own schedule for 

 judging the fowl (no alteration being made further than to re- 

 arrange the various points in the order adopted after full con- 

 sideration throughout this work), the same gentleman adds the 

 following particulars, first premising that the 'already printed 

 Standard is very incorrect, particularly in color of plumage and 

 tail.' He then proceeds as follows : 



" 'After a little careful breeding I think the Plymouth Rock 

 will be a grand fowl and second to none for all purposes. As 

 yet they do not breed quite true always and their eggs are all 

 colors and sizes. They are handsome, good setters, and good 

 for table, and I intend myself to stick to them and try and get 

 them right. They were produced from single-combed Domi- 

 niques crossed with Asiatics. Dominique fowls are the same in 

 color, and are a useful variety ; but twenty years ago when the 

 Shanghaes made their appearance, these took their place in the 

 estimation of the public, and the Dominiques were much neg- 

 lected by fanciers, so that they do not breed any straighter now 

 than the Plymouth Rocks.' ); 



Referring to the article by Rev. H. S. Ramsdell in the Poul- 

 try, Pigeon and Pet Stock Bulletin, March, 1873, already quoted, 

 Mr. Wright comments : 



"The Black Java fowl referred to in the above extract is evi- 

 dently an Asiatic bird (either pure or cross-bred), containing a 

 great deal of the Malay. We have made inquiries of other 

 American sources and, while some affirm the Cochin cross to 

 have been employed, every correspondent, without exception. 



