PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 207 



Different interpretations will, naturally, be placed upon such 

 color terms as reddish-bay and mahogany-brown, but on the 

 whole, breeders, exhibitors and judges agree very well as to the 

 correct and incorrect shades. Lighter shades of mahogany- 

 brown are, of course, preferred if the male is inclined to be too 

 dark, and darker and richer shades if the male of the mating is 

 rather too light or bright. Females that have the required 

 number of distinct pencilings which conform closely to the out- 

 line of the feather and which are carried out in detail in all 

 sections, particularly in body and thighs in which the penciling 

 is usually the weakest, are as highly prized for breeding as for 

 exhibition purposes, and even more so, though they may be one 

 or two shades removed from the shade of mahogany-brown most 

 accepted as ideal, and will be selected for the best matings. 



The conclusion will be rightly drawn that such matings will 

 produce splendid females, but there must exist a tendency toward 

 weak hackle and saddle striping which may become so much in 

 evidence that the high quality of the males is very seriously 

 impaired. 



In that case, and if one is determined to breed males of the 

 highest exhibition merit, special matings for that purpose must 

 be employed. (See illustration, Plate 101.) 



Of the male for this mating little or nothing need be added 

 to the description in the Standard of Perfection and the explana- 

 tions already offered herein. It is merely necessary to repeat the 

 old rule so often repeated, to use the best male available; that 

 is, the one that most nearly conforms to the Standard require- 

 ments, other qualities, particular lines of breeding and length 

 of the breeding lines being on par. This means one with a 

 strongly striped saddle as well as hackle and solid, lustrous black 

 breast, body and wing-bar. (See illustration, Pate 103.) 



The females selected would, of course, as far as the color is 

 considered, be those which had particularly rich, red color and 

 strength of black striping in the neck. In making selections for 

 richness of color, do not overlook the short, small feathers under 

 the throat. A rich color or medium to rather rich shade is very 

 desirable for females that are to be used for breeding exhibition 

 males exclusively. (See illustration, Plate 102.) 



A Word of Caution. "Two dangers must be avoided if we 

 wish to succeed, either in perfecting or improving fancy fowls. 



