612 Production of Brown or Tinted Eggs, [jan., 



fact, which is perhaps generally acknowledged, that the colour 

 of the shell does not affect the quality of the egg, the prefer- 

 ence indicated above exists, and must be taken into account. 

 It is therefore desirable to note which breeds produce eggs 

 which will meet the requirements. 



The breeds which produce tinted eggs are without exception 

 sitters ; and of the breeds which are commonly kept the follow- 

 ing list includes those which yield eggs of the desired 

 character : — Langshans, Cochins, Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, 

 Game, Wyandottes, Brahmas, Faverolles, Coucous de Malines. 

 In addition there are other breeds which are not kept for egg 

 production, notably the Indian Game and the Malay. Of the 

 varieties named the Langshan produces the most beautifully 

 tinted egg, and this perhaps explains why that variety at one 

 time attained such popularity. 



Unfortunately, some of the breeds mentioned lay eggs which 

 are small in size, but in this connection it must be borne in 

 mind that small eggs may be more acceptable to the consumer 

 if tinted than are larger white eggs. Crosses are frequently 

 made with a view of increasing the prolificacy, and at the 

 same time securing larger size generally. This results in the 

 shells being less highly tinted than would otherwise be the 

 case. 



In crossing two breeds producing respectively white and 

 tinted eggs, it is necessary to depend chiefly upon the females 

 for conservation of the tinted characteristic, and it is advis- 

 able that in such crossing the male only should be selected 

 from the white egg-producing races. The following crosses can 

 be recommended both for the colour of the shell and the 

 number of eggs so produced : — (i) White Leghorn — Langshan ; 

 (2) Ancona — Langshan ; (3) Minorca — Langshan. These are 

 given in order of merit. If the colour and size of the egg 

 only be regarded, the last-named cross would no doubt be 

 preferred ; but both the Minorca and Langshan are slow-grow- 

 ing and slow-feathering races, and to cross these two breeds 

 confirms a weakness, which is in itself objectionable. 



Others which may be mentioned are : — (4) White Leghorn — 

 Buff Orpington ; (5) Brown Leghorn — Buff Orpington ; (6) 

 Minorca — Buff Orpington ; (7) Ancona — Buff Orpington. Of 



