60 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



the rec<->gMizc'd breeds and varieties, grouped in their proper 

 classes, with tlieir desei'iptioiis and disquahfications, and is 

 the official guide hy which all standard breeds are judged. 

 Most of the well-known breeds and varieties are standard, 

 Pit Games and Ithode Island "Whites jjrobably being the 

 most brilliant exceptions among chickens. 



A comi)lete list of chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and 

 guinea fowl as recognized by the American Poultry Associa- 

 tion includes sixteen classes, sixty-five breeds and one hundred 

 and fifty-seven varieties. Of these, twelve classes, forty-five 

 breeds and one hundred and twenty-seven varieties are of 

 chickens. There are eleven breeils of ducks, grouped in one 

 class, and subdivided into fifteen A^arieties. The six breeds 

 of geese are grouped as one class, and only one of the breeds 

 has two v'arieties. Turkeys are all of the same shape and 

 so all belong to the same breed, as \\ell as to the same class. 

 The breed is divided into six varieties on the basis of color. 

 The guinea fowl has but a single breed and variety. Pigeons, 

 pheasants, peafowl, swans, and ostriches are not dealt with 

 by The Standdrd. 



Breed Standards. — Each description of a breed with its 

 several varieties is termed a "breed standard." The Ameri- 

 can Standard of Perfection is in reality a collection of breed 

 standards. Each represents the composite ideal for the 

 breed as formed from breeders' conceptions of usefulness 

 and beauty. The use or harm of these standards depends 

 upon the balance preserved between those characteristics 

 that are of economic importance and those that are merely 

 attractive. The standard of any breed that does not find 

 beauty mainh' in utility is a false standard and if persisted 

 in will surely liring about the ec(3nomic downfall of the breed. 

 Strong breed characteristics, even though they add only 

 to the attractiveness of the breed, and of themselves have 

 no economic value, are assets to any individual and are of 

 value to the ]>roducer. Utility points being ecjual, that 

 individual which uK.ist strongly exhibits breed and variety 

 characteristics is likely to be the individual whose pedigree, 

 could it be examined, would show the most intelligent and 

 careful breeding. 



