Heads, Combs, Wattles, and Ear-Lobes 



The Siogle Comb of the Leghorn— II is a Type of Comb Fitted to be the Crowning Glory of These Sprightly 



Ilirds— A Perfect and Defective Head Shown by Sewell Drawings— Attributes of a Standard 



Head — Defects and Merits Found in the Head and its Adjuncts Illustrated 



by Photographs of Many Prize-w^inning Leghorns. 



Kranblan 



HE original Ballus Bankivus 

 'or jungle fowl that authorities 

 claim was the father of all the 

 domestic races of chickens had a 

 small, trim single comb, such as 

 is usually found on small game 

 fowls. There have been many 

 variations from the single type 

 of comb, due to domestication 

 and changes of environment and 

 conditions. They are quite un- 

 e.xplainable, but nevertheless 

 marked and definite in their ten- 

 dencies and they frequently recur 

 in old established strains. 

 The single comb, as we would naturally expect, is the 

 commonest type of comb and on many kinds of birds this 

 style of comb proves to be the most attractive. It is 

 usually found on the races that have large tails, adding a 

 bright touch of gay 

 color which balances 

 well with their form 

 and is in harmony 

 with the symmetri- 

 cal make-up of a 

 particularly showy 

 bird. On the grace- 

 fully plumaged Leg- 

 horn the single 

 comb has long 

 been bred to a def- 

 inite ideal by Amer- 

 ican fanciers in or- 

 der to establish 

 qualities that are 

 recognized as being 

 beautiful. It must 

 be kept in mind that 

 qualities of beauty 

 in a comb as well 

 as in plumage are 

 best when of such a 

 nature that they will 

 not easily spoil or 

 become out of shape 

 by a little abuse in 



transportation. Especially is this true if the fowl is to be 

 of value as a show bird. 



The comb of the male must be of such substance that 

 it will not fall over with slight bruising or become flabby 

 and lop when placed in the warm temperature of an ex- 

 hibition hall. It must stand erect and firm, therefore must 

 have good gristle and fiber. 



When a bird is in vigorous health its comb, if of the 

 right kind, should keep its shape as well as its bright color 

 in spite of the changes suffered in transit and while being 

 shown. 



Resides being erect, firm and straight on the head 

 from ir.jnt to rear, one of the chief aims of exhibiting 



74 



L. Se« 



ell 



An ideal Leghorn comb showing the 

 desired ■ five points with properly 

 shaped blade and rear point. For de- 

 scription see text of article.— F. L.. 

 Sewell. 



fanciers has been to produce the comb with "just five 

 points," besides the one at the extreme end of the rear 

 blade. 



The outline of an ideal (which we present herewith) 

 will express this form of comb having the desired five 

 points better than words can describe it. It takes con- 

 tinued, precise selection and breeding, using only five- 

 pointed combs in both sides of the parent stock, to estab- 

 lish the habit in any strain of producing many finely 

 formed combs with the ideal number of points. 



The five-pointed "Leghorn" comb was long ago de- 

 cided upon as the nearest approach to ideal form and 

 symmetry on the head of the breed. It certainly would 

 be difficult to conceive a more elegant decoration for the 

 heads of these birds than the present handsome comb. 



The entire blade and main part of a fine Leghorn 

 comb is not thick and coarse, but comparatively thin and 

 fine. The points or spikes are rounded as they approach 

 the tips, but oblong where they join the main blade. In 

 fine combs the sur- 

 face is minutely 

 grained and might 

 be compared to fine 

 grained leather. 



The height of 

 the comb from 

 above the eye is 

 apt to be about 

 equal to the length 

 of the wattles and 

 the wattles are 

 about twice the 

 length of the ear- 

 lobes. The front or 

 first point should 

 always be the smal- 

 lest and each point, 

 excepting the fifth, 

 is larger than the 

 one next forward. 

 The third and fifth 

 points are usually 

 about equal in size 

 on nicely formed 

 Leghorn combs. 

 Fanciers prefer to 

 see the points lean very slightly backward rather tha» to 

 have them appear to be radiating from one center, or as 

 someone has expressed it, "like the teeth on a circular saw." 

 The last point at the end of the rear blade gives a nice 

 finish and' smartness to the comb when its tendency is to 

 bend very slightly upward; and it is a fine feature of a 

 show comb when the blade terminates in just a single 

 point. A comb that is free from irregular indentations is 

 much to be desired. The removal of irregularities of the 

 comb has always been a sore temptation to the exhibitor 

 who may be inclined to unfair competition. 



The blade of a fine Leghorn comb stands out toward 

 the back, clearing well away from the head. As the Stand- 



wattles and ear-lobes that are often 

 found and that make a bird a cull no 

 matter now well bred.— F. L. Sewell. 



