414 



POULTRY CULTURE 



United States, the Rhode Island Reds were developed as the 

 common fowls of the poultry-farming district of Rhode Island. 

 Since that time they have developed continuously by absorption 



Fig. 422. Single-Combed Rhode 

 Island Red pullet^ 



Fig. 423. Single-Combed Rhode 

 Island Red hen 



of the blood of almost all races that have attracted notice, the 

 red color and the general-purpose type being preserved through 

 it all. As bred on these farms 

 little attention was given, as a 

 rule, to selection for a partic- 

 ular shade or for uniformity of 

 color, though a few stocks were 

 selected with some care as to 

 such points. In size and shape 

 they varied much more than is 

 usual when any form of selec- 

 tion has long been practiced. 

 As has been said, the first Buff 

 Plymouth Rocks and Buff Wy- 

 andottes shown in America were 

 light-colored Rhode I sland Reds . 

 In the farm stock single, rose, 

 and pea combs were found, and 



1 Birds in Figs. 422-427 owned by Lester Tompkins, Concord, Massachusetts. 

 Photographs by Schilling. 



Fig. 424. Rose-Combed Rhode Island 

 Red cock 



