THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



and characteristics; and finally, as opportu- 

 nity offers, studies his breeding animals by 

 their own records and by their offspring, thus 

 coming in due time to know his animals most 

 completely." 



The beginner is usually convinced that two 

 perfect-looking creatures of any sort or kind 

 will produce their like, but unfortunately such 

 is not the case. A bird's ancestors have almost 

 more influence on its progeny than the indi- 

 viduality of the bird itself. For that reason it 

 is necessary to know the characteristics of the 

 ancestral progenitors of the bird that you de- 

 sire to cultivate, so that the signs of reverted 

 heredity can be recognized at once, and intel- 

 ligently combated by the next season's mating. 



As Plymouth Rocks were the first American 

 creation in poultry to achieve any public rec- 

 ognition, we will consider them first. 



Years and years ago there was in New Eng- 

 land a common fowl, often referred to in early 

 poultry literature as " the hawk-colored hen." 

 The birds are gray, with rather red wings and 



333 



