THE ORPINGTONS 



59 



it is sufficient to recall that the Ermine is largely, if not 

 «ntirely, White Orpington as to blood lines. After a num- 

 ber of years' breeding Buff, Black, White and Jubilee Or- 

 pingtons side by side, I found that the Whites were in the 

 lead as egg producers. I believe this is the experience of 

 all who have tried all varieties of the breed. Certainly it 

 is true as to my own strain of Whites, and it is from this 

 ■champion strain that the Ermines have been "made.'' 



Why Not "Columbian" Orpingtons 



I have been asked over and over again why I do not 

 •call the new Orpington "Columbian." The best answer I 

 can make is that this may even yet be done. When the 

 idea of a Light Brahma-colored Orpington first entered 

 my head, the Columbian Wyandotte boom was still in its 

 infancy and Columbian Rocks were practically unheard of. 

 The Wyandotte of this color was called "Columbian'' for 

 the reason that it was brought out during the year of the 

 Columbian Exposition. It can hardly be denied that naming 

 .a variety of poultry after an advent in history is more or 

 less absurd. But now that the \ ariety has attained wide 

 popularity and tlic Columliian Rock is steadily gaining 

 ground, with rumors of a Columbian Leghorn well under 

 way. it is entirely possible that as a matter of policy, the 

 name "Columbian" is the best one to be used for any new 

 variety of poultry bearing the colors of the Light Brahma. 



I chose the name Ermine for the reason that it means 

 something, Webster says: "Ermine (pronounced er-min) 

 a fur bearing animal — white except the tip of the tail, which 

 is always black," Also "the fur of the ermine as prepared 

 for ornamenting garments of royalty, etc, by having the 

 tips of the tail, which are black, arranged at regular inter- 

 vals throughout the white," Fowldom has already had the 

 Ermine Faverolle, the Ermine Antwerp-Biahma, the Er- 



mine Huttegem (the two latter Belgian breeds) and the 

 Erminette. 



So marked do I find the feeling among many of those 

 who have become interested in the new Orpington that it 

 should be called "Columbian," that I deem it advisable to 

 say here that one of the first duties of the Club which is 

 now in process of formation to promote and popularize 

 the new variety will be to decide upon which is the better 

 name, under all of the circumstances, to be used. 



BLUE ORPINGTONS 



This new variety was produced in England several years 

 ago, but few specimens have been exhibited up to the pres- 

 ent tiine. In shape and size it resembles its White and Black 

 Orpington ancestors; in color the same markings as found 

 in Blue Andalusians and Blue Wyandottes will be adopted 

 as Standard color. The latter in the Blue Orpington male 

 is — Head, Hackle, Back and Saddle: Rich lustrous black, 

 without lacing. Breast and Thighs: Clear silver blue in 

 ground color, with distinct black lacing on each feather. 

 Shoulders and wing-bows: Rich lustrous black. Wing- 

 bars: Same as body, with well-defined lacing on outer 

 edges. Secondaries and Flight Feathers and Main Tail 

 Feathers: Same color as the breast, the secondaries laced 

 if possible. Sickle Feathers and Tail Coverts: Purplish 

 black. In the hen — Head and Hackle: Rich lustrous black 

 without lacing in upper hackle, but showing broad lacing 

 on tips of the feathers at the base. Breast, Body, Back and 

 Thighs: Same silver blue ground color as the male's 

 breast with distinct black lacing on each feather. The 

 wing-bars should have well defined lacing; the secondaries 

 edged or laced if possible. Tail: Same as the body with 

 the ends laced up if possible. Beak and Shanks and Feet: 

 Dark slate. 



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BLACK ORPINGTON PULLET 



