both the single and double comb, and the shanks and feet were yellow in color. It is claimed for this variety that it was brought to this country by both the French and the Dutch. This is of but little importance, for such birds might be produced at will.

The Dominique color is a combination of black and white. It comes as one of the results of crossing black and white fowls. The mottling of the Java and Houdan and the Ancora are other results of the same methods of mating pure black and pure white fowls together. When the poultryman of the past began selecting the Dominique for improving into a breed that would reproduce itself he preferred birds with the rose comb, the full sweeping tail, and the light-gray ground color barred with the bluish gray. In order that we may have a better conception of the top cross that produced our Plymouth Rocks, the American Dominique as seen in its prime will be described.

The general appearance of the American Dominique was not unlike our present large-sized Brown Leghorns. They were somewhat fuller in breast and deeper in abdomen. The female had a slight inclination toward both fluff and cushion formation; main tail feathers like our present Leghorns, only not quite so extended; breast full and carried rather forward, the male being quite like a large Brown Leghorn male in shape, with a tail almost as full as seen on the Hamburg. Their combs were rather larger than the Hamburg comb, but of the same form, type, and carriage, the rear end, or spike, turned upward, quite unlike the Wyandotte comb, which follows the shape of the head. They had a neck that was arched and covered with very full hackle plumage. Back broad and medium in length; in color and barring quite like an inferiorly marked Barred Plymouth Rock of the lighter shade of color. Such was the general make-up of the Rose Comb American Dominique.

SINGLE-COMB FAMILY.

When we consider our American made or adopted breeds some must be mentioned that are not included in the list of so-called "Standard fowls." Some of them must be considered because they were used in creating a portion of our standard varieties, while others have had a position among our standard breeds, but have become obsolete from lack of admirers. At this time those only will be noted which belong to the single-comb family, for they alone will conform to the demands of our Plymouth Rocks. The Rose Comb Dominique has been described first, the object being to keep it entirely separate from the single-comb fowls.

The single-comb fowls which belong to the American classes are these: The Java, the Plymouth Rock, the Jersey Blue, and the Rhode Island Red. All of these are classed as truly American-the Java by adoption and improvement, the others the result of crosses.

THE JAVA FOWL.

From all information obtained we learn that the early Java (which formed one-half of the original cross which produced the Plymouth Rock) was of Asiatic blood. The illustrations of what were then called the "Great Java" are quite similar to the illustrations of primitive Cochin China fowls, and these, combined with the written description of the Java fowl, point conclusively to Asiatic origin. The importations of these fowls were named after the ports from which they came; thus the same breed came to us under several names.

single comb and

The Java is described as a large black fowl with smooth legs, weighing from 18 to 20 pounds per pair. They are spoken of as being among the most valued fowls of the day, and their prolificacy in eggs suggested union with the Dominique, in the hope of gaining a better egg producer than either. Those who made the cross did so without a proper consideration of the result. Both of these breeds had already the highest reputation in this respect, and those who knew their valuable qualities exchanged stock, hoping that by intermingling the new blood they would gain an increased precocity in future stock.

Javas, as we now find them, are simply an improved or modified type of the original. Their general make-up is a long, broad, and deep body. They are the longest in back and body of any of our American breeds. As of Standard formation, they represent the most extended type, the Wyandotte filling the position of compactness, the Plymouth Rock the middle position-giving us three distinct formations. When we bear in mind that the Java type calls for the long back and body, no cushion, and but little inclination toward fluff, full tail and sickle feathers, we have before us the cause of many faults that are continually cropping out in our Plymouth Rocks. Much trouble and delay could be avoided were due consideration given to ancestral conditions when contemplating improvement.

THE PLYMOUTH ROCK.

When first produced no other name was needed; they were simply the Plymouth Rock fowls, and became well known under this .itle the world over. No other fowl has ever enjoyed equal popularity in this country, and we presume they are better known, and at the same time less understood, than any other fowl of minor reputation. More has been written about them than could be read in years, and there have been almost as many opinions and theories placed before us as there are writers. This has caused considerable confusion, until the alarm sounded ascribing retrogression to the breed, when the attention of those best able to cope with the difficulty became attracted, and marked improvement soon followed.

There seems to be no condition, surrounding, or climate unfavorable to the Plymouth Rocks. Their constitutional vigor appears to have no limit. Where any fowl can live they will prosper. They stand confinement, and when allowed freedom prove excellent f ragers. They are prolific in yielding medium-sized brown eggs of the richest flavor. Under all conditions they will produce fully as many eggs as any thoroughbred fowl. Below is given their record in competition with others, from which it will be seen where they stand in comparison: Yearly contest and calculated egg yield.

The first column gives the figures reported from a test under very high feeding and best possible attention. The second gives the figures obtained in selecting from over fifty lots, all reported monthly for a year. In the third column are presented the figures arrived at by calculation and accepted as nearly correct, as results that can be obtained under the best management.

This table records the egg yield of the different lots of fowls entered for competition in annual test, conducted by persons who have had to rely upon the statements of those owning and entering the fowls; and while we naturally hesitate to claim knowledge of their authenticity, at the same time the studious attention bestowed upon the work should assure us that the above figures are a fair average for the fowls competing.

ORIGIN OF THE PLYMOUTH ROCK.

The first fowl to bear this name was created by intermingling Cochin, Dorking, and Malay blood, the result of which was a mongrel of little real'value. The knowledge of this inferiority brought an influence against what was to be the most popular breed ever produced. This we know from the fact that when the present Barred Plymouth Rock was first announced those best informed believed it to be the same as before, under other guidance.

Our present type of Plymouth Rocks is the outcome of careful handling of fowls secured from crosses made on the same lines as those reported to have been made in Connecticut almost sixty years ago, where they mated Rose-Comb American Dominique males with SingleComb Black Java females. These same crosses, also others of like character, are claimed to have been made by persons who had obtained much the same results, but the Rev. H. S. Ramsdell, residing in Connecticut at the time, gives the name Woodstock as the town of their origin, and persons interested he names as Giles, Clark, Thayer, Spaulding, and himself. While this removes all doubt of the origin of this one strain of Plymouth Rocks, it can not detract any credit that may be due to the Messrs. Upham, Pitman, Felch, and others for the part they took in originating this type. However, be this as it may, the real point of interest is, How were they originated and advanced to their present position among high-class, standard-bred fowls?

There can be no reasonable doubt as to the make-up of the original cross having been as stated above, the product of which was grizzled gray and speckled. They were not of solid color, neither were they barred like the Dominique. In size and form they resembled the Java, while their color bespoke the influence of the sire. Those having the best color and single comb among those produced were selected and bred together as the real start of the present perfect fowl. Many subcrosses have since been made, some of which, it may be almost positively recorded, were the Cochin, Dorking, and Brahma,

all of which had a tendency for future trouble for those who attempted to produce high-class Plymouth Rocks.

PLYMOUTH ROCK SHAPE.

No matter what variety of color they be, the form or shape of all must be the same. The presence of what are known as breed characteristics must be so strong as to stamp them with the unmistakable emblem "Plymouth Rock shape." The importance of this is shown in the fact that some persons can select a White Plymouth Rock from a White Wyandotte only by the difference in comb. This is the outcome of not demanding greater attention to type in the show room, where size, color, and comb are given more credit than is due and too little to the breed emblem-shape.

An effort is here made to make plain the proper shape of a Plymouth Rock and all sections, including head and its belongings, are described as minutely as possible, omitting reference to color, which will be taken up separately.

The head of the male should be medium size, rather round when viewed from the side, fairly prominent in front, back short and stout and nicely curved. The comb single, rather below medium, never large or coarse, but of proper size to give a finished, neat appearance in conformity with size of the specimen; it should be straight, upright, and free from all defects, a perfectly even surface throughout. The serrations must be regular and in uniform proportion, grading fore and aft from the center, where they are largest. The rule is five serrations. The points of the comb must be even and regular. The comb, from the front, where it rests on the beak, should curve gracefully back, finishing with a nicely shaped heel, just forward of the juncture with the head and neck. It should form a half oval over the head, being highest in the center, gently declining either way, neither high in front nor in rear. A twisted, uneven, or thumb-marked comb is much despised; a perfectly formed comb, the crowning effect. A long head or beak is quite improper and should not be tolerated; it destroys the whole appearance of an otherwise handsome specimen.

Wattles should be moderate in size and nicely rounded and of even size and fine texture. When il! shaped or uneven they are a deformity. Ear lobes should be neat, fine, and of equal size, nicely placed on the face below and in the rear of the eyes. A nice, prominent pair of wattles and ear lobes, if of good shape and texture, add much to the appearance of the head.

Eyes should be round, large, bright, and red in color. In the Standard the color is called a clear, rich bay. Weak-colored or pearl eyes are almost a deformity. They look bad, and, in addition to their ill appearance, indicate poor breeding or delicate constitution. The eyes of a strong, vigorous specimen are usually very bright and striking in appearance.