UTILITY CLASSIFICATION 93 



Rhode Island Reds are gaining rapidly in popularity, owing 

 to the fact that they have proved to be good winter layers. They 

 are very hardy, and are somewhat smaller than the Plymouth 

 Rocks, having long, rectangular-shaped bodies (Fig. 60). Objec- 

 tions to them are the tendency to vary in color of plumage and 

 the variation in size and color of eggs. Compared with the Ply- 

 mouth Rocks and Wyandottes, they are more active and mature 

 considerably earlier, the pullets often reaching maturity in from 



FIG. 61. The Cornish Game, a close-feathered, heavy-meated breed. 



Hill Poultry Yards.) 



(Photo by Oak 



four and one-half to five months. In sections where they have 

 been introduced they are highly prized as farm fowls. 



Cornish Indian Games are sometimes included in the general- 

 purpose group. By some they are classed with the meat breeds. 

 They make very excellent table fowls when young. The hens are 

 good sitters and excellent mothers, but not prolific layers (Fig. 61). 

 Their distribution is on the decrease rather than on the increase. 



The Dorkings are an English breed which approaches the ideal 

 of general-purpose qualities more than any other foreign breed. 

 They are low, heavy-bodied birds and are very good layers. 



