220 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
percentage of the home blood in their composition if uniformity of type is desired in the progeny. This will 
prevent the tendency to reversion, which is strongly marked in the Wyandotte if crossed with another strain, 
one injudicious cioss causing no end of trouble. 
The bird thus shown as the one suitable to breed cockerels from, would be right up to standard 
requirements, being mated with stock hens, and the hens to breed pullets from, would be such as required to 
win in the show pen. Many hens in their second year, that were, as pullets, all that could be desired, moult 
out very faulty, but can safely be depended upon to throw chickens as good as they were when young, if 
properly mated, so on no account should be discarded ; but, on the other hand, a hen, no matter how perfect 
she may be in markings, if bred from light or off-coloured parents, will be totally unreliable for the breeding 
pen. 
The ^\■hite ^^ariety are generally recognised as a sport from the Silvers. In support of this contention it 
is fully admitted that Silvers do occasionally throw white chickens. The Whites are the same in general 
characteristics as the other colours. There are one or two important points on which too much stress cannot 
be laid, one of these is purity of plumage, not only on the surface, but the under-colour should also be pure 
white to the skin. In breeding this variety one difficulty to overcome is the very marked tendency the 
cockerels have to appear yellow on back, wings, and fluff. No doubt much of this yellowness on the surface 
Fig. 75.— Perfect Breast 
Feather of Sih'er-laced 
Wyandotte Pullet. 
Fig. 76 —Faulty Breast 
Feather of Silver-laced 
Wyandotte Pullet. 
Fig. 77.— Perfect Cushion 
Feather of .Silver-laced 
Wyandotte Pullet. 
Fig. 78.— Faulty Cushion 
Feather of Silver-laced 
Wyandotte Pullet. 
can be attributed to the effects of the sun, but this can easily be distinguished from a natural yellow tinge, the 
under-feather of a pure coloured bird remaining pure white. Many cockerels also fail in neck hackle, which is 
not apparent until the bird is handled, often the surface feathers hiding more or less yellow feathers. This is a 
most objectionable fault, and one which should cause a bird possessing it to be discarded for breeding. In 
the Whites the legs and beak should be the brighest orange colour, and the lobes should be rich bright red. 
More stress should be laid on head points in the Whites, and any deficiency in these points should be more 
severely dealt with than with the Laced varieties, as any self coloured variety is comparatively easy to breed 
in comparison. Another peculiar trait in breeding any white variety of poultry is that birds in their second year 
mostly moult out much purer in colour than in the first feather. The Whites are quite as hardy as the other 
varieties, the chickens grow quickly, and the hens as egg producers are quite the equal of the Laced. In 
breeding AVhites for exhibition great care must be exercised in selecting a cock bird to head the pen that is 
pure in colour, with plenty of feather, and good in head and comb. The hens to match should be of good 
frame, sound as possible in colour, and good in head points, beak, legs, and feet. 
The Black Wyandotte is rarely seen, and is also considered a sport from the Laced. Their plumage 
should be of a rich metallic black throughout, any other coloured feathers in the plumage being a fatal defect. 
The same rule may be followed for breeding as that given for the Whites, selecting as stock birds those most 
lustrous in plumage. 
