178 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar., 1902. 
Are good specimens of Wyandottes easy to breed? Not particularly so, 
although the percentage of really good ones from a well-mated pen is now very 
much higher than it used to be, and every year sees a further improvement in 
this respect. This applies to the laced varieties; the Whites are comparatiey 
easy to breed, a considerable proportion of excellent specimens coming wit: 
most hatches. But, then, they do not draw the same good prices as equally 
good specimens of their laced relations, nor have they found the same wide- 
spread popularity, although they are quite their equal in all economic qualities. 
Buffs, being a comparatively recent creation, are difficult to breed, a good level 
rich colour being somewhat hard so find. Some of the latter introductions of 
necessity throw a good many usless sports also, but some of them are picking 
up standard points wonderfully. 
Tue Snape.—All Wyandottes are, or should be, characterised by a 
pleasing, well-balanced shape, somewhat cobby in outline. The head is ver 
neat and intelligent-looking, surmounted by a low-set rosecomb studded wit 
minute corrugations, and terminated by a spike which curves downwards to 
the contour of the neck. The neck is medium short, well arched, and well 
clad, with flowing hackle. ‘The back is broad across the shoulders, and takes a 
short sweep to the tail, which is well furnished but compact. The breast is 
broad and deep, and well rounded in outline. Legs and thighs are fairly short, 
and well set on at a nice angle. The hen follows its lord and master in body 
shape, allowing for the difference in sex. In all varieties the earlobes are 
bright red, the beak yellow or yellow and horn mixed, and the legs bright 
yellow. 
In the Silvers there are two colours, black and white. In the body feathers 
the white is the centre, and the black is the rich lacing round the margin of the 
feathers. The whole of the hen’s body is of this colour; her neck, hackle, and 
tail being the only exception. The latter is black, while the former is black, 
striped with white. The cock’s breast and wingbar are laced same as the body 
of the hen, while his top colour shows a silvery white. 
In breeding Silvers there are many faults to guard against. Pullets some- 
times come with clear, well-laced breasts, but too dark and mossy on top. 
Others have clear good tops, but are weak in breast lacing. The fluff is too 
white in some, which makes them unreliable breeders. Cockerels are sometimes 
too brassy on top, instead of a good silvery white; while the lacing at base of 
breast is often little better than spangling, deepening to almost solid black at 
top. There are thus plenty of channels to strive to avoid in breeding Silver 
Wyandottes. 
The stock birds should be carefully selected. If possible their breedin 
should be known for two or three generations; but in the case of purchase 
birds this is seldom ascertained. The longer they are bred in line, the better 
will be the stock produced, avoiding anything like too close breeding, though a 
little related blood on both sides, if from an excellent source, will be an 
immense help to the breeder. One thing a beginner must watch nowadays is 
to avoid putting a cockerel-bred cock to pullet-bred hens. By that I mean 
that many breeders employ a special mating to produce their cockerels and 
another their pullets. A very fine, well-laced cock, with silvery top, can, and 
frequently is, bred from hens with clear, densely-laced breast and wings, but as 
mossy on the top as a potato. Now, if you mate a cock bred this way to hens 
which are near standard points, clear laced and free from moss all over, you 
will never breed a pullet worth looking at, and very few cocks. So if you 
want a cock from a noted breeder, find out if he breeds mainly for show cocks 
or pullets, or if he is equally successful in both. Then you can negotiate for a 
bird for cockerel or pullet breeding as may be desired. 
This system of double mating is not, however, an ideal one. With a little 
care and a little time strains could be formed which would breed good cockerels 
and pullets from the same pen. A cockerel which would breed good pullets 
