252 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
streaked with dark color; lesser coverts reddish-buff, 
and in form standard. To such a sire mate pullets of 
the same rich buff color, free from white in flights and 
undercolor, tail chestnut or buff, dark color showing in 
flights. Pullets fully up to standard weight. With 
such a mating males and females would appear in the 
progeny of a high order. 
SELECTION FOR EGGS. 
The best time of the year to pick out breeding stock 
is when the hens are not laying very well, say in July or 
: August. Any hen 
will lay in the spring 
and the best ones can- 
not be selected. As 
soon as the best ones 
have been taken out, 
they are placed by 
themselves and a rec- 
= ord kept, in order to 
# find the average yield. 
The best laying type 
is usually rather large 
framed and long in 
é leg, neck and back, 
FIG. 98. TYPICAL LAYER (Leghorn). legs well apart, breast 
well developed, flesh firm, not inclined to fatness, eyes 
bright, never sunken, disposition active, appetite good, 
and great foragers. These characteristics will help in 
selecting layers. Patent contrivances have been invented 
for registering the number of eggs laid by each hen, but 
these have not come into general use. 
The best layers can generally be selected by careful 
observance of the general characteristics above noted. 
Good layers have always strong-vitality, and should be 
mated with strong males bred from a noted egg-laying 
