GENIJTIC STUDIES IN POULTKY. 



I. INHERITANCE OF LEG-FEATHERING. 



By R. C. PUNNETT, F.R.S, and the late 

 Major P. G. BAILEY, R.F.A. 



[The results recorded in this paper are the outcome of some 

 experiments started in 1910 and designed to throw light upon the 

 inheritance of certain features in poultry, more particularly of weight, 

 broodiness, and egg-colour. The data presented here are but a by- 

 product of these other investigations, but in view of the economic im- 

 portance of the species to which they relate I have thought it worth 

 while to place them on record. From 1911 until the outbreak of war 

 the work was carried on jointly by Mr Bailey and myself. Thence- 

 forward he was unable to take any active part in it though his interest 

 never flagged until his death in action last year. Nevertheless, deep as 

 is my regret that it must be so, responsibility for the views expressed in 

 this paper rests with me alone. R. C. P.] 



The data recorded below were derived from two distinct crosses. 

 In each case the Langshan was the parent with feathered leg, the clean- 

 legged parent being in one case the Brown Leghorn and in the other 

 the Gold-pencilled Hamburgh. 



Some of the later experiments involved a mating between a bird 

 derived from the Langshan-Hamburgh crosses and an F^ hen ex 

 Langshan x Leghorn. 



The relation between the various birds used in the whole series of 

 experiments is set out in the pedigree on p. 204 ; the actual data are 

 given in the tables on pp. 206-207. 



The type of Langshan used was what is known as the Croad Lang- 

 shan. In our experience the leg-feathering is not very heavy but 

 extends fairly uniformly down the leg. It was found in all the birds 



Journ. of Gen. vii 14 



