CHAPTER XXVI 
CHARACTERISTICS OF BREEDS 
HILE this volume is written primarily for the man who 
\ } \ / is keeping poultry for profit, there are doubtless many 
whose interests extend beyond the more utilitarian 
breeds of fowls. The popular fowls are those which prove to be 
the best egg-layers, and these may be noted in the following 
approximate order of merit :—White Leghorns or White Wyan- 
dottes, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons (Black Orpington in 
Australia), Buff Rocks, Light Sussex, Anconas, Faverolles, Cam- 
pines, Houdans, Minorcas and Langshans. For egg-farming pure 
and simple the two first-named varieties have so far proved the most 
profitable, but that is largely because the Leghorn and Wyandotte 
have been carefully cultivated and selected specially for egg- 
production. It is quite open for anyone to argue that given the 
same time and attention to other breeds, such as the Rhode Island 
or Buff Rock, equally good results would be got. The evolution 
of the egg-layer is purely a question of trap-nesting and scientific 
breeding, and so far our experts working for profit have found the 
Leghorn and Wyandotte to yield the best returns. If the Govern- 
ment were to establish a breeding establishment with the sole 
object of evolving egg-layers irrespective of immediate gain, it is 
quite possible that practically any breed could be diverted in time 
to depart from its present habits and become an egg-laying machine. 
No doubt one or two varieties are better suited for purely utility 
purposes, and it is on these breeds that the private breeder will 
naturally concentrate. In describing the various breeds I give, 
of course, their present-day characteristics. 
THE ANCONA 
The Ancona belongs to the non-sitting variety of light breeds, 
If one were to guess at its origin one might assume that it was a 
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