BREEDING 



131 



its mother, since it is less vigorous and normal than she 

 was. Thus the. weakness is passed on from generation to 

 generation, tending all the time to become greater." 



The Vigorous Type. — ^There are certain characteristics 

 which are correlated with that maximum efficiency of all 

 organs which we term constitution. The characteristics 

 are relative, however, rather than absolute. While a long, 



Fig. 66 



Single Comb White Leghorn laying 295 eggs in first laying year. Note 

 body capacity. (Courtesy of D. Tancred, Kent, Wash.) 



straight, narrow beak is undesirable on any breed, the beak 

 of a Leghorn cannot be expected to be as short, stout 

 and of the same curvature as that of a Brahma or even a 

 Plymouth Rock. Breed characteristics must be given due 

 consideration and the comparison of these characteristics 

 should be between members of the same breed. 



The head should be of fair size because of its breadth and 

 depth rather than its length; show a pair of keen, alert, and 



