The Brahmas include two princ.i.p.al varieties, the light and the dark.

The general color is black and white, and they have yellow legs, red wattles, ear lobes, and comb, the latter being of the kind called a pea-comb, which is of small size in the c.o.c.k.

There are four varieties of Cochins, the Buff being much more raised than the Partridge, the White, or the Black. The Partridge somewhat resembles a dark Brahma, but has red and brown plumage. Cochins have single combs, yellow legs, and a general fluffy character to the plumage, that of saddle and hackle meeting, thus giving a characteristic appearance to these fowls. The eggs are not quite so large as the other two breeds of this cla.s.s.

The Langshans are smaller and more active than the two breeds just described. They have black legs, the feet are not so heavily feathered, and in general these fowls are much less awkward in appearance. There are two varieties, the White and the Black.

The Mediterranean Cla.s.s includes those breeds raised chiefly because of their great egg-production. They are active birds, often troublesome because of their ability to fly over high enclosures, so that when kept in the city it is usually necessary to clip one wing.

They are not so good winter layers as a rule, but are non-setters.

They all lay white eggs. The chief breeds included are the Leghorns, the Minorcas, and the Black Spanish.

The Leghorns--the most popular of these breeds--include two chief varieties, the Brown and the White. The comb is most commonly single, falling to one side in the hen, the wattles long and pendulous, the ear lobes white, and the legs yellow.

The Minorcas are glossy black in color, with a large drooping comb in the hen, and long, thin, pendulous wattle. They lay a very large egg.

The Black Spanish resemble the Minorcas, but are distinguished by the white face and cheeks and the white on the inner edge of the wattles.

The English Cla.s.s includes the Orpingtons and the Dorkings. The Dorkings are one of the oldest breeds of fowl, and sufficiently identified by the presence of a fifth toe. There are three varieties--the White, the Silver-gray, and the Colored. The White Dorking has a rose comb; the Silver-gray has a single comb and silvery-gray plumage with black markings, the hen having a salmon-colored breast; the Colored Dorkings have sometimes single and sometimes rose combs, the plumage of the c.o.c.k being black and straw-colored and that of the hen being black and gray with the breast salmon marked with black.

The Orpingtons are short legged, with close plumage. They are of large size, the hens being from seven to eight pounds and the c.o.c.ks from nine to ten pounds. There are three varieties--the black, the buff, and the white. The black, except for shape, might be mistaken for a Minorca, but has red ear lobes and black shanks. The Orpingtons have the reputation of maturing early, some strains being known to lay when four months old.

The Dutch Cla.s.s includes the Red-caps, the Campines, and the various varieties of the Hamburgs--of which there are six: the Golden Spangled, the Silver Spangled, the Golden Penciled, the Silver Penciled, the Black and the White. They are all good layers and non-setters, "but lay a small egg, white in color. They are readily recognized by their peculiar rose comb with its long, spikelike projection in the back, their red face, white ear lobes, and bluish legs. The prevailing color of the golden varieties is a reddish bay marked with black and of the silver varieties white marked with black. The c.o.c.k usually has more dark markings than the hen.

The Red-caps are large fowl with a red and black plumage. The comb is similar to the Hamburg's but larger, and the ear lobes are red.

The Campines resemble the Hamburgs, but have a single comb.

The French Cla.s.s includes the Houdans, the Crevecurs, and the La Fleche. The Houdans are mottled black and white with pinkish white legs, with a fifth toe like the Dorkings, and are easily recognized by their peculiar crest.

The other breeds of fowl, like the crested Polish, Bantams, and game fowl, have less interest for the poultry raiser, though often seen in exhibitions and poultry shows.

To sum up, we may group all these breeds according to their value into (1) the egg breeds, including the Leghorn, Minorca, Spanish, and Red-cap; (2) the meat breeds, including the Brahmas, Cochins, and Langshans; (3) the general purpose breeds, including the Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, Dorkings, and Orpingtons; and (4) the fancy breeds, including the Polish, Bantams, Games, etc.

_Definitions._

American Standard of Perfection, an ill.u.s.trated volume published by the American Poultry a.s.sociation, indicating the desirable points of each recognized breed of fowl.

_Comb_, the fleshy outgrowth on the head.

_Single comb_, a thin, upright comb.

_Rose comb_, a flat comb with a rough or corrugated surface.

_Pea comb_, resembling three single combs, united at the back.

_Wattles_, the fleshy outgrowths from the underside of the throat.

_Ear lobes_, the fleshy structure in the region of the ear.

_Under-color_, the color noted when the coverts are raised.

_Hackle_, the feathers on the neck.

_Cape_, the feathers back of the hackle.

_Saddle_, the feathers in the posterior region of the back.

_Sickle_, the curved feathers of the tail in the c.o.c.k.

_Penciling_, small stripes or color markings on the feather.

_Spangling_, large spots or splotches of color on the feather.

_Shanks_, the exposed scaly portions of the legs, usually spoken of as the "legs."

_Questions and observations._

1. Make a diagrammatic sketch of a fowl and locate the princ.i.p.al regions used in the description of the various breeds.

2. Observing the specimens or the pictures of the fowls at hand, note the size and kind of comb, the appearance of the wattles, the color of the eyes and ear lobes, the color in the various regions of the body, the color and any peculiarity of the legs and feet. If you wish, you may record your answers in tabular form.

_Topics for investigation._

1. Look up and report upon the average number of eggs laid annually, and the number of eggs to the pound, in the case of the Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, Dorking, Brahma, Leghorn, and Minorca.

2. Explain the terms "non-setter" and "winter layer."

3. When do hens moult? How does this affect the laying? What schemes have poultry men to bring this moulting at the most favorable season?

4. What is a "balanced ration" as applied to fowls? What are some methods of feeding which tend to secure greater egg-production?

5. Explain some of the special features of such methods of housing and keeping chickens as the Philo System, Corning System, etc.

6. What precautions must be taken in raising chickens so as to prevent disease and attacks of enemies?

7. What does it cost per year to keep a dozen hens? How many can a person keep profitably on a city lot, if he is not to make a special business of chicken raising?

8. How do chickens solve the problem of the garbage can?

9. What are some of the objections made to keeping chickens in the city? Are these objections well founded, and if so how may they be met?

10. Find out what breeds of chickens are kept in your neighborhood, and note some of the reasons that are given for keeping these particular breeds.