PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 267 



same time. Only a few months or, at the most, a year or two 

 separates them at the starting points. It takes several years to 

 attract popular attention, and by that time a matter of a year or 

 two in priority is difficult to determine. After the advent of the 

 Partridge Wyandotte it was but natural that a Partridge Plym- 

 outh Rock should suggest itself to some one; and if to one, 

 why not to several persons ? And that appears to be just what 

 occurred, for we find records of two or three early strains that 

 were developed in the East, and one that was originated and 

 developed in the West, all of which became very prominent. 

 The incentive in the latter case was the admiration or love of 

 the originator of this strain for the Partridge plumage combined 

 with the desire or necessity of keeping a variety that would 

 develop flesh rapidly and that would produce large egg yields. 

 This line was originated, developed, and bred for many years 

 by S. A. Noftzger of Indiana, and for the following facts and 

 particulars we are indebted to him. 



(Note. We find this story corroborated in several other pub- 

 lications. See catalogue of Mr. M. N. Perkins of Freeport, 

 Illinois.) 



THE NOFTZGER STRAIN 



Acting upon the incentive just related, Partridge Cochin 

 females of scanty leg-feathering, which had proved to be great 

 layers, were selected as the foundation from- which to derive the 

 Partridge plumage. The first cross was with a Cornish male, 

 then called Indian Game. The following account is given in Mr. 

 Noftzger's own words, excepting for a few minor alterations in 

 language. 



The Original Cross. "The first matings were made in 1898, 

 and consisted of scantily feathered Partridge Cochin females and 

 Indian Game males. The female offspring from this first cross 

 were mated (in 1899) to Golden Wyandotte males, most of which 

 were single-comb sports. The young of this second cross were 

 then, in 1900, mated back to the opposite sex that were bred 

 from the original scantily feathered Partridge Cochins. 



"The result of the first cross was quite satisfactory in some 

 respects, but simply disheartening in others. It was wonderful 

 how the feathers disappeared from the shanks, some of the first 

 cross being almost free from feathers on legs, but nearly every 

 one had the shape and high station of the Game, besides the 



