FARM ANIMALS 367 



called the Asiatics. The principal representatives of 

 this class are the Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshans. 



The General Purpose Breeds. --This class of fowls 

 occupies a middle ground between the egg breeds and 

 the meat breeds. The bodies are medium in size. 

 The hens become broody and make good mothers. 

 They produce more eggs than the meat breeds and do 

 not break so many of the eggs in sitting as the clumsier 

 and heavier hens. They are gentle and easily handled. 

 They do well in confinement and make good use of a 

 large range if they are allowed the privilege. They 

 produce a fair number of eggs in a year and their 

 bodies furnish a good quantity of flesh of good quality. 

 These breeds are easily adapted to varying conditions 

 and have been bred towards egg production, making 

 " laying strains " that are excellent for this purpose. 

 They have also been increased in size till in weight 

 they equal many of the meat breeds. The principal 

 general purpose breeds are the Plymouth Rocks, 

 Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, and the Orpingtons. 



Egg Breeds Described. Leghorn (White, Single 

 and Rose Comb White, Silver Duckwing, Brown, 

 Dominique, Black, Rose 

 Comb Brown, and Buff). 

 The name of this breed was 

 probably derived from the 

 city of Leghorn, Italy, from 

 which place they are sup- 

 posed to have been brought 

 to America. This is the 209. - Rose ^Comb Brown Leg- 



typical egg breed. All va- 

 rieties are comparatively small and are so active that 

 it is difficult to fatten them. They are persistent layers 



