66 BREEDS OF POULTRY 
length; four toes, usually three in front, these being united by a 
short web. The features of the body are large and coarse as com- 
pared to birds of flight. The males have brighter-colored plumage 
than the females. Their main feed is grain. Common represen- 
tatives of this order are domestic chickens, turkeys, pheasants, 
partridges, and grouse. 
Two Classifications of Poultry—Two general classifications of 
poultry may be made: First is the so-called standard classification. 
A book on this is edited and published by the American Poultry 
Association. The points in this classification are intended to 
guide judges and breeders of exhibition poultry. The book does 
not serve as a practical guide to the economic points of the breeds. 
This classification is based primarily upon the origin and distribu- 
tion of the breeds, and not so much upon their economic import- 
ance. In a great many cases their economic possibilities have 
been the direct outgrowth of environment at their place of origin. 
The second classification might be termed utility. It is based 
on the economic possibilities which the different breeds offer for 
market purposes. 
Either of these classifications must be relatively arbitrary. 
There are a number of breeds which possess characteristics, any 
one of which, considered singly, might place them in one class and 
then in another. 
STANDARD CLASSIFICATION. 
The standard classification of domestic poultry includes all 
classes, representing thirty-eight different breeds which contain 
109 varieties. It is impossible to give here a detailed description 
of each. The breeds and varieties are given in a classified form; 
this is followed by an outline of their historical development and 
distribution. 
Standard Classification of Domestic Fouls. 
Class No. and name. Breed. Variety. 
1. American....... Plymouth Rock: Barred, white, buff, silver pencilled, 
partridge, and Columbian. 
Wyandotte: Silver, golden, white, buff, black, 
partridge, silver pencilled, and 
Columbian. 
Java: Black and mottled. 
Dominique: Rose comb. 
Rhode Island Red: Single comb and rose comb. 
Buckeye: Pea comb. 
2. Asiatic.......... Brahma: Light and dark. 
Cochin: Buff, partridge, white, and black 
Langshan: Black and white. 
