Taking its name from the town of Marans in France, this breed has in its make-up such breeds as the Coucou de Malines, Croad Langshan, Rennes, Faverolles, Barred Rock, Brakel and Gatinaise. Imported into this country around about 1929, it has developed as a dual-purpose sitting breed. Like other barred breeds the cuckoo Marans females can be mated with males of other suitable unbarred breeds to give sex-linked offspring of the white head-spot distinguishing characteristic.