AMERICAN BREEDS. 173 
suits make them very suitable for countless localities 
where larger and more valuable-looking fowls would be 
liable to be stolen. The merits of this breed will recom- 
mend it to persons residing in the country as well worthy 
of promotion in the poultry-yard, whether as producers 
of eggs or of meat, or as sitters or nurses. 
The color of their plumage may be described as a light 
steel-gray ground, with each feather distinctly striped 
or barred across with a darker or bluish-gray, the bars 
shading off gradually from dark into light. The cock 
is a very showy bird, with full saddle and hackle, and 
abundant well-curved sickle feathers. The comb should 
be a neat ‘‘rose” form; face, wattles, and ear-lobes 
should be red; wattles neat, well-rounded, and of me- 
dium size; legs bright yellow. 
WYANDOTTES. 
A breed which for some time was known as the 
«« American Seabrights” has many admirers, who were 
instrumental in having the variety admitted to the 
Standard at the meeting of the American Poultry As- 
sociation held at Worcester in 1883. At the same time 
the birds were given the name of Wyandottes. 
Breeders differ in their statements of the origin of this 
variety, but it is generally considered to be a cross of the 
Brahma and Hamburg breeds. It matters little, how- 
ever, what the history of the fowl is, so long as it pos- 
sesses the desired characteristics. When well-bred, the 
Wyandottes are good layers, sitters, and mothers, and 
their flesh is of the finest flavor. Their plumage is 
white and black, each feather having a white ground 
and being heavily laced with black, the tail alone being 
solid black. They have a small rose comb, face and 
