PHENOMENA AND PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING 473 



development of the reproductive organs. When a hen is not lay- 

 ing, the comb becomes smaller and loses its bright-red color. If a 

 sufficient number of cases is considered, a comparison of egg pro- 

 duction of hens with large and hens with small combs will always 

 show that the size of the comb is not correlated with laying capac- 

 ity. Neither as between varieties or breeds, nor between individuals 

 in a variety, does the size of the comb indicate laying capacity. 

 Many uncommonly good producers have very small combs. 



The shape of the comb and the size and shape of the wattles 

 sometimes appear to be correlated with reproductive capacity in 

 both cocks and hens. Many instances are noted of fowls with 

 poorly developed combs and wattles that are lacking in vitality. 

 Males of this kind are often marked as poor breeders. In these 

 cases the failure to develop is not peculiar to the comb and wattles. 

 The body is not well developed, and in the males the lack of 

 development of the male plumage is noticeable. 



The alleged egg type in hens is a long-bodied bird, appearing 

 wedge-shaped, with the broad part of the wedge at her rear 

 when she is viewed either in profile or from above. The type de- 

 scription is borrowed from the favorite description of the dairy 

 type of cow. It applies with varying accuracy to most hens when 

 laying heavily, but the records of experiment stations which have 

 investigated this point confirm the view of careful observers among 

 poultrymen that there is no correlation between shape of body and 

 laying capacity. 



Quite a long list might be made of supposed correlations of 

 external features with internal characters or qualities. A few will 

 show the general character of all. White birds of all kinds are 

 popularly considered weaker in constitution than others, but not 

 the slightest foundation for the idea can be found in a general 

 comparison. A red eye is considered by many as an indication 

 of reproductive vigor, but, except as heightened color of the eye 

 gives a brighter, bolder, expression and reflects good physical con- 

 dition, it would be hard to show foundation for the idea. People 

 who prefer a special color of skin often aver that there is a corre- 

 lation between color of skin and quality and flavor of flesh. Some 

 justification for this view may be found in the fact that the meat 

 types of western Europe, with white or gray skin, are of better 



