Ermine or Columbian Orpingtons 



Story of the Origin of a New Variety of Orpington Produced in America by the Originator 



Angler L. Goodw^in 



THE Ermine Orpington, the latest of the new va- 

 rieties of poultry to become recognized in this 

 country, originated in my yards in Fairfield, 

 Maine, and Melrose, Massachusetts. One of my regular 

 Orpington matings produced a "sport" chicken which 

 developed into a cockerel of strikingly good Orpington 

 type, but in color resembling a fairly-well marked Light 

 Brahma. The exact parentage of this bird cannot 

 be told. He may have been a "sport" from the White Or- 

 pingtons or from the Blacks, or possibly resulted from an 

 accidental cross between the two, or between one of them 

 and the Buffs. One thing is certain, he was an Orpington, 

 and all Orpington. 



This cockerel impressed me with the idea that if I 

 could produce the strikingly handsome colors of the Light 

 Brahma upon the low-built massive form of the Orping- 

 ton, I would have a combination that was well worth striv- 

 ing for. I mated him with a pen of choice White Orping- 

 ton hens, selecting with two things especially in mind, 

 viz., trap-nest record and true Orpington type. This 

 mating resulted in practically all pure white birds. I did 

 get three nice-colored cockerels which were kept for next 



ERMINE (JKI'INliTON COCK 



Ideal Color Markings of the Ermine or Columbian Orpington 



Male, illustrated expressly for "The Orpingtons" by 



A. O. Schilling. 



year's matings, and several good-colored pullets were add- 

 ed to the original female stock. By using females of true 

 Orpington type and from the fact that no foreign blood 

 entered into any of the crosses on either side, it has not 

 been nece-^ary at any stage of the matings to cull out 



severely for non-Orpington type. Each succeeding cr^ 

 has made a distinct advance in color, so I now feel tha' 

 is time to give the new Orpington to the public and i 

 pedite a general introduction of the va/iety. 



First Time Shown 

 I took a pen of Ermines to the Boston Show, Janui 

 12 to 16, 1909, and it is a modest estimate to say that 1 

 display was one of the features of this big exhibitii 



ERMINE ORPINGTON JIEN 



Ideal Color Markings of the Ermine or Columbian Orplngtoi 



Female, illustrated expressly for "The Orpingtons" by 



A. O. Schilling. 



Not only prominent Orpington men, but leading breede 

 of many different varieties were earnest in their exprt 

 sion of praise and congratulation. It should be said th 

 in color, the Ermines are not yet all that they ought to t 

 and for this reason, do not compare over-favorably wi 

 the old established IJght Brahma; and those who belie 

 that a new variety of poultry should not be exhibited u 

 til color points are perfected, naturally refuse to becor 

 enthusiastic over the Ermines as seen at the show. T 

 compHments came and continue to come, from those wl 

 are disposed to be willing to see the possibilities in . 

 Orpington, the handsomest fowl of all in type, shape ai 

 carriage, clothed in the plumage of the Light Brahn 

 for f^fty years admitted to be the most striking col 

 combination which nature conceived. 



As to Utility 



It must be apparent that the new Orpington, in bea 

 ty, cart pass unchallenged. As to its utility value I belie 



