124 THE AMERICAN BREEDS OF POULTRY 



writing up the class, we said: "This winning cockerel is a wonderful 

 bird; his type could hardly be improved, and his barring was truly 

 ringlet in effect, while his color was as clean cut on his back and tail 

 as on his breast." 



This 1907 cockerel sired a cockerel late in 1909 that was too young 

 to show at New York that winter. However, he was bred in 1910, 

 being mated to his own blood line, for Mr. Thompson, like all great 

 breeders of all livestock, has always appreciated the importance of 

 intensifying the blood of fine individuals. A cockerel was raised from 

 this mating in 1910 that won 1st and champion male at the Garden 

 show of 1910-11. This cockerel in turn sired the 2d cock of 1913. 

 The 1913 cock was not only a wonder as he stood in the garden, but 

 proved to be a great producer. 



The other line of blood which we shall trace was prominent in 

 the winning at the New York show of Dec. 28, 1908, to Jan. 2, 1909, 

 when Mr. Thompson won second on a wonderful cock. In writing 

 up the show that year, we said: "The second cock was a big bird, 

 strong in color and of good appearance; third, another good bird, 

 but not as good in comb or as well finished in tail as second." Of 

 the first cock, all we said was: "First, about Standard size." It is 

 plain to understand from this old report that it was the second cock- 

 that filled our eye. Mr. Thompson exhibited another cock of similar 

 quality, a brother of the second cock, but unplaced because hens had 

 picked off some of his comb while he was yet a cockerel. Roth birds 

 were clear blue in color and finely barred. 



This second line of males goes back to the cock that won at the 

 Pan-American Exposition. October. 1901. The Pan-American cock 

 again won 1st at the Garden in 1902. He sired the first prize cock 

 at the Garden in 1903. That was the bird of which Mr. Scudder, who 

 judged the Barred Rocks at the Garden for many years, said: "He Is 

 a bright colored fellow. If you pull out a feather and lay it on a piece 

 of paper, you observe that the white bar is white and dark bar Is 

 snappy, yet the plumage as a whole is very even and very blue in tone, 

 one section blending into another, leaving an even color." 



A Thompson cockerel can usually be picked out by his big face. 

 A chicken has a face although many fanciers have failed to get the 

 full significance and value of the point. There are features in these 

 birds that their breeder would never think of mentioning because 

 they have become second nature to him. He has secured them, he 

 has established them, and he has passed on to other more intricate 

 problems. 



Some buyers want a neat five-point comb. Such a comb, like 

 bright, yellow legs and beak, does not add anything to a $3 chicken, 

 but it is a fine thing to have in a $200 bird. Some buyers want under 

 color: it is of no value and no prominent breeder in America wants 

 it; what these men want is underbarring. A silver Camoine has under- 

 color galore. That isn't what you want in a Barred Plymouth Rock. 

 You want a consistent, clean underbarring. 



