ORIGIN OF THE ROSE COMB RHODE ISLAND REDS 



AN OLD-TIME BREEDER HAS SATISFIED HIMSELF THAT THE RED ROSE COMB FOWL 

 BROUGHT FROM JAVA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PRODUCING THE ROSE COMB OF THE R. I. RED 



H. G. DENNIS 



{Note: — As there has been considerable dispute and many theories have been advanced as to the origin of the rose comb 

 variety we believe the following, taken from "Red Hen Tales" of 1908, entitled to a place in this historic account. The argu- 

 ments set forth by Mr. Dennis that the rose combs originated from the red Javas are quite plausible and we present them here- 

 with that the breeder may have all the historic facts from which to draw his own conclusion. — Ed. 



HAVING seen a number of articles in agricultural 

 and poultry journals on the origin of the Rhode 

 Island Reds, and being positive in my belief that 

 I know where the progenitors of the rose comb 

 variety came from, with your permission will say: 



Forty-five years ago, to my knowledge, there could be 

 found on the incoming whaleships, and in the yards of the 

 sailor boarding houses, and those of the Portuguese and 

 other foreign residents of that part of New Bedford border- 

 ing on the water front known as Fayal, as well as on a number 

 of farms within a radius of ten miles of the city, many speci- 

 mens of Red Rose Comb fowl that were brought from Java, 

 and the adjacent islands, by the whaleships, and called by 

 the sailors Red Javas. 



The Red Javas would come as near, 

 or nearer, to meeting the requirements of 

 the Rhode Island Red Standard than 

 do the best Reds today. In plumage they 

 would excel the present day Reds. They 

 were an even colored, rich, dark red of 

 a shade difficult to describe. Both male 

 and female were dark. The males had 

 an elegant, glossy plumage, and what was 

 called in those days a bottle green tail. 

 The females were more subdued in color 

 and had a black tail. They had combs 

 of a fine slant, and of medium width, ter- 

 minating with a spike, comb full and 

 with prominent serrations, legs of reddish 

 yellow and medium length. 



In conformation they were very long 

 on the keel and straight on the back. 

 They were very active and great foragers 

 and layers. In color there were three var- 

 ieties of Javas — red, white and black, all of 

 the same conformation and character- 

 istics. 



That the Javas were a true or distinct 

 breed is my belief, as many bantams, min- 

 iature productions of the large variety, 

 were to be found in the places that I have 

 before named. 



ships, others were bought from the foreign residents along 

 the water front. We kept them in a barn in the center of 

 the city. They soon caused a protest from the neighbors, 

 and we had to dispose of most of the males. They were 

 sold to farmers who brought produce to the city from Little 

 Compton, Adamsville, Westport, Dartmouth, and to farmers 

 of the towns to the north and east of New Bedford. 



As many of the officers of the ships came from the towns 

 above named and westerly along the coast to New London, 

 and vessels sailed from Westport Point and New London, 

 it is fair to presume that some of the Javas found their way 

 to those sections through that channel. 



I have kept the Reds many years and would not keep 

 any other breed. That the Red Javas were the progenitors 



Bred by EUenwood Farm. Artist Schilling said of them. "In type they are exceUeut 



models having that peculiar carriage and style which characterizes a true 



as a whole, or in part, of the Rose Comb Reds of today is 

 In company with some schoolmates we had at one time my belief, and there is no theory that can be adjanoed or 



about twenty-five specimens of the Red Javas, about two- arguments brought forth, that would have any effect on my 

 thirds of them males. They were obtained in part from the version of the matter. 



l.J 



