LAWS GOVERNING THE BREEDING 
white, stay-white birds have been fed on yel- 
low corn for years. But it is a fact beyond 
dispute that even stay-white birds will throw a 
yellowish tinge to the plumage, and white corn or 
any feed which causes overfat will produce this 
same yellow tinge. The very fact that it can be 
removed by proper washing or even bleaching 
proves that it is on the outside of the feather and 
not on the inside where the supposed yellow corn 
color would locate if, as is believed, it came through 
the system. All the bleaching and washing in the 
world would not remove that color from the in- 
side of the feather. There is no other way except 
the long pedigree through in and line breeding to 
make permanent this stay-white quality so much 
desired in white birds. To breed for white birds 
should be the aim, instead of to feed for white 
birds. 
Black feathers or flecks of black called ticking 
are sometimes found in the whitest birds and are 
but the sign and seal of the law of atavism. Red 
feathers are indications of close relation to col- 
ored blood, just as strong brassiness shows a short 
pedigree. Lack of care or not enough shade in 
summer accentuates brassiness but does not pro- 
duce it in stay-white birds. When in the choice 
for breeders one finds a male with creamy or yel- 
low under-color with clear white surface, and. 
another with brassy surface and snow white un- 
der-color, take the first mentioned in preference 
always. The brassy surface is bred in and can 
never be removed, while the creamy under-color is 
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