The Book's Colophon:

The animals featured on the cover of Java Cookbook are Barred
Plymouth Rock chickens.  Barred Rocks are domestic chickens
produced in the United States from a Dominique male with a Black
Java female. The breed was recognized as distinct in the U.S.A. in
1874.  The barred pattern is due to a sex link gene.  The male
carries two of the genes and the female one, which accounts for the
slightly lighter overall appearance of the male.

Barred Plymouth Rocks are classed as an American, heavy, dual
purpose breed used for both meat and eggs.  The skin colour is
yellow.  Wattles, comb, face and ear lobes are bright red.  Plumage
is white and black barred, with a narrow dark tip.  Beak, shanks
and toes are yellow.  Hens lay brown eggs.  Males mature at a
weight of 8 to 9.5 pounds, and females grow to 6 to 7.5 pounds.

The Canadian Heritage Strain, known as the Shaver Strain, is
derived from the old University of Saskatchewan R.O.P. strain
dating to the 1920s.  It is smaller than the O.A.C. strain bred by
Frey's Hatchery in St. Jacobs, Ontario.  Egg numbers, fertility, and
hatchability are excellent.  The hens are devoted mothers.

This heritage strain has the status "Watch" by Rare Breeds Canada
because the number of people raising this breed has been declining
in favour of the more specialized hybrids for meat and eggs.  

At the time of the first edition, Ian Darwin's wife and three children were
raising this breed, believing that it complements Ian's book writing, as the
breed was "cooked up" from the Dominique and Black Java breeds.