PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 221 



of ancestry have been related, as an equitable adjustment be- 

 tween the white of the White Plymouth Rocks and the red of 

 the Red fowls, contemporary with and analagous to the pro- 

 genitors of our present Rhode Island Reds, that Buffington, 

 Aldrich and probably others used for the foundation of Buff 

 Plymouth Rocks, was not possible during the early stages of its 

 development. 



This description as first found in the 1898 Standard, and the 

 agreement upon this shade and description was the result of ex- 

 tended research and investigation of certain prominent breeders 

 of Buff Cochins. It has met general approval, as shown by the 

 fact that the slightest change has never been suggested. 



Aside from its beauty, this shade of buff is one that can be 

 bred from and reproduced with much more certainty than some 

 of the delicate shades that were popular years ago. Further- 

 more, it is a shade that holds from year to year, while the light 

 shades in vogue years ago lose color very appreciably with age. 

 This fact lends aid to establish and maintain the popularity of 

 the rich, golden buff of the last three Standards. 



COMMON DEFECTS OF BUFF COLOR 



Too Dark or Too Light in Shade of Surface. The popular- 

 ity of all the Buff varieties is largely due to the unique beauty 

 of the shade of surface color required by the Standard, which is 

 described as a "rich, golden buff." 



A word description of rich, golden buff that can be accurately 

 understood is almost if not quite unattainable, as word descrip- 

 tions capable of conveying an accurate conception of color to the 

 mind without the aid of the eye are absolutely impossible. But 

 we may state early in this treatise what it is not: It is not the 

 cream, nor lemon, nor is it the deep buff shade, so common 

 during the early years of the variety, which bordered on red in 

 the males' and cinnamon or brown in the females' plumage. It 

 can hardly be described as a mean between these extremes, yet it 

 approached it. The term "golden buff" as used in the Standard 

 is as accurate in its suggestion to the eye as any of the colpr 

 terms that have been used. This description clearly suggests 

 that the surface of both males and females be the same color as 

 unalloyed gold, which is described in our old books on chemistry 

 as a "bright yellow" metal. This is suggestive of the true shade 



