POULTRY. 449 



in a hen, cushion, however, being restricted to a very considerable development, as in Cochins, while 

 &quot;saddle &quot; may be applied to any breed. 



Secondaries. The quill feathers of the wings which are visible when the wings are folded. 



Self -color. A uniform tint over the feather. 



Shaft. The stem or quill part of a feather. 



Shank. The lower and scaly joint of the leg. 



Sickles. The long, curved feathers of a cock s tail, properly applied only to the top pair, but 

 sometimes used for one or two pairs besides. 



Spangling. The marking produced by a large spot or splash on each feather, differing with that 

 of the ground-color. 



Spur. The sharp defensive weapon on the heel of a cock. 



Squirrel-tailed. The tail projecting in front of a perpendicular line over the back. 



Stag. A term used for a young cock, chiefly used by Game Fanciers. 



Station. An ideal standard for games embodied in style and symmetry. 



Strain. A race of fowls that has been carefully bred by one breeder, or his successors, for a num 

 ber of years, and has acquired an individual character of its own. 



Symmetry. Perfection of proportion; often confounded with carriage, but quite distinct, as a bird 

 may be nearly perfect in his proportions and yet &quot;carry&quot; himself awkwardly. 



Tail-coverts. The soft, glossy, curved feathers at the sides of the lower part of the tail, usually of 

 the same color as the tail itself. 



Tail-featliers. The straight and stiff feathers of the tail only; the top pair are sometimes slightly 

 curved, but they are generally, nearly, if not quite, straight, and are contained inside the sickles and 

 tail-coverts. 



Thighs. The joints above the shanks, the same as the drum-sticks in dressed fowls. 



Top-knot, Same as crest. 



Trio. A cock or cockerel and two hens or pullets. 



Under-color. The color of the plumage seen when the surface has Deen lifted. It is manifested 

 chiefly in the down seen about the roots of t the feathers. 



Vulture Twck. Stiff, projecting feathers at the hock-joint. The feathers must be both stiff and 

 projecting to be thus truly called and condemned. 



Wattles. The red, depending structures at each side of the base of the beak, chiefly developed in 

 the male sex. 



Web. The web of a feather is the flat or plume portion; the web of the feet, the flat skin between 

 the toes ; of the wings, the triangular skin seen when the wings are extended. 



Wing-bars. Any line of dark color across the middle of the wings, caused by the color or marking 

 of the feathers known as the lower wing-coverts. 



Wing-bows. The upper or shoulder part of the wings. 



Wing-points or Wing-butts. The ends of the primaries. 



Wing-coverts. The broad feathers covering the roots of the secondary quills. 



VOL. II. 26 



