334 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



extent. The shank is a good indicator of weight-carrying 

 capacity. A small light shanked bird in a flock is an indication 

 of the blood of a Wyandotte 'sport.' The true Rock has a 

 broad, deep breast, a long, broad and deep body, m with only a 

 slight concave rise of back to the tail. The thighs and shanks 

 are strong and of medium length, avoiding either the low-set 

 Dorking or stilty Langshan. 



Color. "We have learned from Brahma breeders that the 

 tendency of this color is to breed lighter unless kept well rein- 

 forced by strong colored males at the head of pens, and that a 

 flock of birds of this color will, if turned loose without intelligent 

 mating, gradually revert to white. 



"The breeder of a Columbian variety should bear the follow- 

 ing fundamental facts constantly in mind when mating his breed- 

 ing fowls : 



"That while a pullet with a clear white back and white under- 

 color is a bird to be admired, she should be mated to a male with 

 strong black in neck and wings, well-striped saddle, with cape 

 full of black and white dark slate undercolor, if we would sustain 

 the color of the chicks. 



"That the male has much to do with producing and empha- 

 sizing color, and, therefore, very light and faded males should 

 invariably be sent to the block. 



"That by the use of strong colored males, females that are 

 somewhat weak in color can be profitably utilized." 



Mr. Clemans describes several matings utilizing different 

 grades of birds. These descriptions will be of service, especially 

 to the beginners: 



The Ideal Mating. "This mating requires birds of rare show 

 quality. Many, of course, cannot afford such a mating, but the 

 breeder with a good sized flock to select from can often make a 

 number of such matings. For the male, select either a cockerel 

 weighing seven to nine pounds or cock nine to ten pounds, when 

 in good breeding condition, with big, strong, bright yellow 

 shanks, bright reddish-bay eye and in general type as nearly 

 Standard as possible ; wing flights, nearly solid black ; cape, over 

 one-half black ; hackle, flowing full over the shoulders and with 

 broad, deep black stripe ; saddle showing some black striping: 

 near tail; sickles solid black, with lesser coverts nicely edged 

 with white. 



"For females choose either six to eight-pound hens or five to 

 six-pound pullets showing clear yellow, strong-boned shanks, 

 good eyes, flights over half black, stripe in hackle strong and 



