64 PO UL TR T- CRAFT. 



possible, the relative vigor of the less hardy breeds. All these terms should 

 be understood as of general application describing the average of the breed, 

 not specimens or flocks noticeably better or worse than the average. 



So the words, " sitters," and " non-sitters," must be understood as express- 

 ing general characteristics. It is doubtful whether there are any breeds 

 strictly non-sitters. In nearly all of the so-called non-sitting varieties hens 

 are sometimes found which show the desire to incubate. This does not 

 necessarily indicate impurity of blood. In some of the " sitting" varieties 

 are whole families or ''strains" in which the desire to incubate is nearly 

 lost.* 



Eggs are usually classed according to color of shell, as "white" or 

 " brown." In the white egg breeds the shells of the eggs are not pure white, 

 but slightly tinted with a cream or flesh color. Hens of these breeds rarely 

 lay eggs that are even a very light brown. In the colors of shells of the eggs 

 of the brown egg breeds there is great variety, tints ranging from a rich 

 brown to creamy white. The very dark shelled eggs are usually character- 

 istic of strains bred especially for market eggs. 



Descriptions of Pure Bred Fowls. t 



AMERICAN CLASS. 



72. Plymouth Rocks. General Description. Hardy ; general purpose ; 

 brown egg breed ; sitters ; medium to large in size. Standard weights, cock 

 9^ Ibs., cockerel 8 Ibs., hen 7^ Ibs., pullet 6^ Ibs. The typical Plymouth 

 Rock is a compactly built, strong, but not coarse boned fowl, the general 

 contour of the body presenting the "wedge" shape so noticeable in a good 

 dairy cow. This is more readily seen in the females than in the males, whose 

 more erect carriage and lesser abdominal development takes away somewhat 

 the wedge-like appearance of body. In all varieties the comb is single \ and 

 serrated, in size medium to small ; ear lobes red, tail of medium length, and 

 abundant. In beak, shanks and toes, deep yellow is the color coveted by 

 fanciers. The skin should be yellow. 



*NoTE. Those who raise chicks with hens will always find it worth while when buying 

 stock, to learn something of its incubating propensities ; otherwise they may be 

 disappointed in getting early chicks, for besides those families in which the hatching 

 instinct is bred out, there are others the hens of which regularly continue laying for from 

 three to five or six months after beginning without going broody. 



tNoTE. In describing varieties, a few non-Standard fowls, both domestic and foreign, 

 are included with the classes to which they would naturally belong if admitted to the 

 American Standard of Perfection, the arrangement of which is followed in these 

 descriptions. The descriptions are not intended to be minutely exact. The purpose is 

 to give to those not familiar with the varieties a general idea of the character and 

 appearance of each, which if not entirely accurate, will not be misleading. 



tNoTE. A variety with pea comb was admitted to the Standard, but failed to gain 

 popular favor, and was subsequently dropped. 



