Hi Tim,
Found some more historical info on Eminettes.
Bantam Breeding and Genetics - Page 183
books.google.com/books?id=TRxBAAAAYAAJ
Fred P. Jeffrey - 1977 - Snippet view - More editions
Erminette There is no Erminette Bantam but one could be made from the large Erminette should an enterprising breeder decide to do so. Hutt (1964) established the genetic basis of this pattern: In typical Erminettes the plumage is variegated, ...
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The Poultry Monthly - Volume 22 - Page 133
books.google.com/books?id=zNJJAAAAYAAJ
1900 - Read
AN ERMINE WYANDOTTE.
BY GEO. H. BRACKENBURY.
I believe that it was Clarence J. Reddig, of Shippensburg, Pa., who originated a strain of Erminettes with rose combs, and I think it was he who gave them the name Erminette. A year or two later, certain, Massachusetts breeders were booming Single Comb "Erminettes" (?). There have been differences of opinion as to the comb an Erminette should wear ever since that time, and it is owing to this difference of opinion among the breeders of the Erminette, that they are not now in the Standard. I believe that those who favor the Single Comb, also favor feathers on the legs, but I am not certain as to this. Those who breed them with rose combs, prefer to breed them with clean legs. Were I to take them up, my preference would be those with rose combs and clean legs, and I would breed them as near to a Wyandotte type as I could, by the infusion of White Wyandotte blood. In fact, I would make an Ermine or Ermine Wyandotte. The Erminettes, as they were bred by Mr. Reddig, were quite near to a Wyandotte in type and it is a wonder to me why they were not given the name Ermine Wyandotte when first brought out.
I have known of several large flocks of Erminettes not more than two or three miles from my residence, and one in particular, about six miles away, that were of splendid Wyandotte type, and perfectly marked, with the purest of white ground color. I was so pleased with the appearance of his flock of ermine-colored fowls, that I turned my horse and drove in to see them. The owner was pleased to give me his method of breeding. He said he had bred them for several years, and liked them very much. He had originally bought the eggs of an Erminette breeder, and had bred them several years until he felt the need of new blood; not knowing where to secure new Erminette blood, he had introduced White Wyandotte blood through the male a few years previous, and bred on up to that time (about five or six years ago). By the infusion of the White Wyandotte blood, he had secured great
uniformity of combs (all rose combs), splendid Wyandotte type, and had, perhaps, lightened up tlie general appearance of their plumage; there were just enough dark feathers, dotted here and there among the white, to make their appearance most pleasing, and they came nearest to the real ermine color of any flock of Erminettes I have ever seen.
It seems a great pity that there is no fowl of this color in the Standard. I would suggest to those who are breeding these fowls with rose combs, that they introduce the White Wyandotte blood; in reality, makes an Ermine Wyandotte. The name would be most appropriate, and the birds as charming as any other variety of Wyandottes to the true fancier. I am sure there can be no one to object; perhaps I would better put that a little differently, and say that there ought not to be any one to object to a fowl having the ermine plumage and Wyandotte type. We have given the key, now will not some of our experimenters who are breeding Erminettes, produce a Wyandotte of the above description?
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American Poultry Advocate - Volume 26 - Page 129
books.google.com/books?id=jCtJAAAAYAAJ
1917 - Read - More editions
Erminettes.
(D. VV. R., Ohio): Erminettes are the result of crossing the Spangled Game with the Light Brahma and White Cochin. At least those were the breeds used in the specimens first exhibited at Hartford, Connecticut, in 1872. They have cropped out from time to time in our exhibitions, sometimes being shown with smooth shanks, and sometimes with shanks feathered. They have never been satisfactory enough to secure them to become completely bred. Single comb, white mottled with black, and shanks feathered, was the character of those first offered for exhibition. There is nothing in them to recommend as being better than the old-fashioned Spangled Game fowls.
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S.P.P.A. Breeders Directory
books.google.com/books?id=c2FMAAAAYAAJ
( Karen, this is a snippet, need the whole Directory for the rest of the story)
Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities - Snippet view - More editions
A flock of fowl that retain the unique Erminette pattern has also come to SPPA attention.
While not genetically pure, the pattern is probably traceable to actual Erminettes
and the type is close enough to the original that simple selection will establish a
representative population.
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S.P.P.A. Bulletin - Volumes 5-11 - Page 5
books.google.com/books?id=6l5MAAAAYAAJ
Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities - 2000 - Snippet view - More editions
What is the difference between Ermine and Erminettes? Ermine is another term for Light,
Light Grey or Columbian, all color patterns that designate a white chicken with black on the neck and tail.
Erminettes are white chickens with a scattering of black, or partially black, or small groups
of black feathers in the plumage."
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Bibliographic information
Title Poultry Topics and Western Poultry News, Volumes 11-15
Publisher State Journal Company, 1901
Original from Cornell University
Digitized Oct 6, 2009
" Erminettes are a cross between a small pair of fowls brought from the West Indies."
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Everybody's Poultry Magazine - Volume 31 - Page 52
books.google.com/books?id=vZlOAAAAYAAJ
1926 - Snippet view
" A pen of spotted Brahmas- a new breed- was on exhibition.
They have the markings of the old time Erminettes--though showing
less black."
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Fundamentals in Poultry Breeding: A Complete Guide to the ...
books.google.com/books?id=pCLZAAAAMAAJ
John Henry Robinson - 1921 - Read
Pages 42 and 43.
"At one time a breed called the Erminette was developed with the colors of the modern Ancona and Houdan
reversed (white with small black tips and flecks), which were not as regularly distributed as in good
specimens of Anconas and Houdans, yet presented some regularity."
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Principles and Practice of Poultry Culture - Page 602
books.google.com/books?id=ML5BAAAAIAAJ
John Henry Robinson - 1912 - Read
Page 520
"A variety called the Erminette, white with black spots in the plumage, the converse of the Houdan,
was at one time bred in America, and there may still be some in existence."
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Best,
Karen
thanks everyone.... Im glad we are all looking more into this.... Im really curious to how they just dropped off the face of the earth?
