THE EARTH'S BOUNTY, 



shapely comb; unsound lobes; light-colored 

 eye, etc. No one would think of using a bird 

 having all these defects; but the great ma- 

 jority of males have some of them in greater 

 or less degree. A male may be splendid in 

 shape in some sections and lacking badly in 

 others. This lack must be compensated for 

 in the female. If he is high on legs, select 

 for him females low on shanks ; if he is narrow 

 across the back, mate him to a hen with quite 

 an apparent cushion. Aim at low-set, blocky 

 chickens, and bear in mind that if you mate 

 two birds with the same shape defect you will 

 only aggravate and increase that defect in a 

 large percentage of their chicks. 



In the show-room, buff really means buff, 

 not red; but it must be buff down to the skin, 

 and of one uniform shade. The common color 

 defects are red on neck or near the tail, light 

 shading across the middle of the back; black 

 or white feathers in tail or wing; white or pale 

 under color. (Under color means the top 

 of the feather which lies near the skin, not, 



347 



