86 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



the Cochin always with the Cochin, but not once with the 

 Java. Evidently, the early Java is a bird with which he is not 

 familiar and, therefore, has no reason for discussing it. His 

 only comment on the Java is: "The Black Java fowl referred 

 to in the above extract (RamsdelPs article), is evidently an 

 Asiatic bird (either pure or cross-bred) containing a great deal 

 of Malay." 



Mr. Wright's position upon this is not quite clear to Ameri- 

 can poultrymen, but the statement justifies the comment that the 

 Java is a fowl evidently unknown to him. To quote Mr. Wright 

 once more : "We have made inquiries of other American sources ; 

 and while some affirm the Cochin cross to have been employed, 

 every correspondent, without exception, states that one of the 

 parents was the Dominique fowl." 



After a mention of the English importations from America, 

 note that Mr. Wright describes our American Plymouth Rocks 

 in this language : "The variety is now brought to something like 

 perfection almost precisely resembles a Cuckoo Cochin with 

 smooth legs. * * * In all its economic qualities it closely 

 resembles the Brahma, etc. a capital fowl, giving all the good 

 qualities of the Cochin without its principal drawbacks the 

 combs will require the same careful breeding and the same pre- 

 cautions against premature showing, which w r e have already 

 treated of in Cochins." 



From what does the Plymouth Rock acquire these Cochin 

 characteristics if not from the Cochin? If from the Java, must 

 not the Java have been a Cochin ? 



Apply, if you please, the fact suggested by Mr. Wright's line 

 of reasoning in the sentence: "Our own strong opinion is - 

 Plymouth Rocks, Danver Whites and nearly, if not al 1 , American 

 breeds also owe much to a Cochin cross." 



We are told by several of the writers of the period which fol- 

 lowed closely the appearance of the Plymouth Rock, that several 

 origins were probable. What do we find the origin to be in these 

 instances ? The component parts of other strains ? According 

 to all prescribed accounts, Cochin or Brahmas with the Domi- 

 nique. The Drake strain was the best known of those that were 

 developed by crossing year after year, and we have corrobora- 

 tory evidence that Drake used Dominique or hawk-colored hens 

 and an Asiatic male. His own statement which, according to 



