226 



EARL W. BENJAMIN 



the length character is somewhat predominant over the width; other- 

 wise one would expect to find more than 50 per cent of round progeny 

 when both sire and dam are round. 



Both the size and the shape of the egg seem to be about equally trans- 

 mitted to the progeny by the dams and by the sires. These two factors 



Round sire 

 Long dam 



Long sire 

 Round dam 



FlG. 16. RELATION OF PROGENY SHAPE CHARACTERS TO SIRE AND DAM 



The white area in each case designates the proportion of progeny showing the same character as that of 



the sire 



appear, however, to be independent, as is shown by an entire lack of 

 correlation between them (Benjamin, 1912). Such a condition as is 

 found here is the reverse of what might be expected if the results obtained 

 by other workers (Pearl and Curtis, 1916) on Barred Plymouth Rocks 

 were borne out with the strain of White Leghorns used in these experi- 



Brown 

 White dam 



Brown sire 

 Brown dam 



White sire 

 White dam 



FlG. 17. RELATION OF PROGENY COLOR CHARACTERS TO SIRE AND DAM 



The white area in each case designates the proportion of progeny showing the same character as that of 



the sire 



ments. Pearl and Curtis found the index figure and the weight of eggs 

 to be negatively correlated. 



The study of the color inheritance (fig. 17) shows about equal influences 

 of sire and dam. When both parents are of the " white" character, 

 they seem to be able to transmit their character more definitely than when 



