General Considerations 7 



of the average poultry yard. The beak will be relatively 

 short and strong, thus correlating with the general confor- 

 mation of the head. Comb and wattles will be bright in 

 color and present a full-blooded, healthy, vigorous appear- 

 ance. 



The body of the bird of high constitutional vigor will be 

 broad and deep and well meated, with a frame well knit to- 

 gether, strong in the bone but not coarse. In fowls of strong 



Fig. 2. — Six Silver-laced Wyandottes, which have great constitutional 

 vigor and vitality. These birds averaged to lay 204 eggs each in a year. 

 Only birds in perfect health and high constitutional vigor can make 

 such records. (After D. S. Thompson.) 



constitution and great vigor all the secondary sexual differ- 

 ences will usually be well marked. In other words the males 

 will be masculine to a degree in appearance and behavior, 

 and the females correspondingly feminine. It must be 

 noted, however, that this last is a general rule to which there 

 are occasional exceptions. 



