BREEDING FOR COLOR AND PLUMAGE MARKINGS 263 



Breeding for desired solid color is by selection and grading, 

 not by the formation of new colors from crossing of birds of differ- 

 ent colors. The latter procedure would result in progeny with the 

 characteristic colors of both sire and dam arranged in motley 

 array; while by selection through many generations it is possible 

 to attain different degrees of color and shade, as, for example, 

 variations in red and buff. 



Under color is of great importance in fixing external color, for 

 it affects the outside color by toning it down or intensifying it, 

 according to the contending combinations of outer and under color. 



Another interesting factor is that of color harmony or the 

 relation between certain colors, also their association with definite 

 colors in other body parts. For example, the Rhode Island Red, 

 or any red bird, with stripe in the saddle or hackle is invariably 

 accompanied with yellow shank and skin. Were the same plumage 

 to be combined with willow-colored or blue shanks, a lack of color 

 harmony would immediately be noticed. 



The same is true with all black plumage. For example, in the 

 Minorca and Black Langshan the black feathers are always asso- 

 ciated with blue-black shanks and white skin, since any other 

 color (yellow, for instance) would produce a lack of color harmony. 

 Furthermore, these relations seem to be very firmly fixed, and even 

 after repeated trials it is extremely difficult to substitute the 

 opposing color. There are certain black breeds which have yellow 

 shanks, yet this association is accompanied with a peculiar sheen 

 which might be described as a bronze tinge, while the true 

 black color of blue-shanked birds has a greenish sheen. There 

 might be named numerous combinations of colors which seem 

 to be fixed. 



" Brassiness and creaminess " are defects which may be due 

 in greater or less degree to one or more of the following three causes : 



An unequal distribution of black pigment in plumage of breeds 

 which have a slate under color of dark stripes on saddle or hackle 

 (for example, Columbian Wyandottes). This effect is especially 

 noticeable in newly established breeds before color pattern has 

 become thoroughly fixed. In its earlier stages this effect is termed 

 " smoky," but the cloudiness later changes to a slight yellowish 

 tinge. Such a defect can soon be bred out by fixing the color type. 



Creaminess or brassiness may also be caused in white breeds 

 by an excess of fat, induced in many cases by the feeding of too 

 much corn and corn meal. Not that the corn necessarily causes 



