FIRST LESSONS IN POULTRY KEEPING. 



27 



pronounced types: the Pit Game, a compact round bodied, rather fine boned fowl; the 

 Exhibition Game, an abnormally elongated type of the Pit Game; the Indian Game, a 

 heavy, massive Game type, apparently an intermediate between the Pit Game and 

 Asiatic types. 



The breeder will find in every breed many specimens which are not of good breed shape; 

 many that approximate it; a few that are fine models of their type. Whatever his breed he 

 should study shape, and learn to distinguish shape of body as readily as shape of comb or color. 



Color of Plumage. 



Generally speaking, novices in poultry breeding are not so likely to make mistakes in color as 

 In shape. Color differences are more pronounced. In white and black are presented extremes 

 of color, which are exact opposites, while the most extreme shape types are in reality similar 

 types. Differences in shape resemble rather differences in shades of the same color. Hence we 

 find fanciers easily making the broad distinctions between color types, but when they come to 

 the finer distinctions meeting the same difficulties they do in working with shape. 



The colors and color combinations in poultry may be classed as follows: 



1. Solid colors. White, black, buff and red. 



2. Parti-colors. Which 

 may be sub-divided ac- 

 cording to the char- 

 acter of the markings 

 Into barred, laced, 

 penciled, spangled, 

 and mottled plumage 

 in varieties in which 

 one or both sexes 

 retain the same colors 

 and markings through 

 all sections; while in 

 varieties where the col- 

 ors vary systematically 

 in different sections, 

 we have combinations, 

 such as the black-red 

 combination seen in the 

 Black Breasted Red 

 Game and the Brown 

 Leghorn, the descrip- 

 tive name being the 

 color description of the 



male. Following the same method of describing the color type we would have a 

 black-white combination in the Silver Duckwing Leghorn and Silver Gray Dorking, 

 and a white-red combination in the Red Pyle Game. 



A complete classified description of colors would be too elaborate for this stage of the treat- 

 ment of the subject, If indeed it would be of any special use at any time, but it is worth while 

 for a breeder to make sure that he distinguishes between the different arrangements of color, 

 mid clearly understands just what he is trying to do. A good many breeders in the beginning 

 pay little attention to the study of markings. They merely see certain color effects without 

 knowing how they are obtained, and for want of a proper appreciation of the color qualities of 

 their fowls not Infrequently make the mistake of breeding from specimens not suitable for their 

 purpose or neglecting to use valuable specimens. Color is not to be sought at the sacrifice of 

 more substantial qualities, but if it is worth while to breed a variety at all, it certainly is worth 

 while to know its color requirements thoroughly, and so be sure that specimens that are good 

 in color as well as in other features will not be neglected. So I would urge the novice in any 

 breed to study his color description with live models before him, and make sure that he knows 

 just what the colors should be in each section. 



Barred Plymouth Mocks. 



