THE LEGHORNS 



77 



comb is shapely. The blade is straight and free from 

 wrinkles. The first point in front has not been preserved 

 and the fourth and fifth points are too long and narrow. 

 The rear blade would be finely shaped but for the pro- 

 jection extending a little way out at the back. The wattles 

 are too short and small for the size of the comb. The 

 general shape of the comb is nearly correct. The neck is 

 a little straight in front. 



At the Chicago, 1905, show, White Leghorn Poultry 

 Yards exhibited cock No. 6, Group 2. This cock was lon<; 



feathered and had a large comb, but it was remarkably 

 straight considering its size. It is too heavy and large in 

 the rear, extending too low and close to the head'and 

 neck to please Leghorn fanciers. This is the Jargest 

 .\merican bred comb shown in this collection of lieads. 

 The ear-lobes of this bird are too thick and beefy and 

 show wrinkles and a rough surface. The wattles, con- 

 sidering their size, are well formed. 



To show the effect of producing still larger combs, we 

 have placed at the right-hand end of Group 1, No. 5, the 

 head of an English White Leghorn male shown at Hors- 

 ham, Sussex, in 1905. American fanciers would class this 

 as a Minorca, and it is much closer to the Minorca head 

 seen in this country than it is to an .American Leghorn 

 head. The coarse surface and large, thick points have 

 been avoided by Leghorn breeders 

 here in America for more than a 

 quarter of a century. The wattles are 

 very large and their front edges curl 

 backwaids as do large wattles on 

 Minorcas. In fact his comb, lobes 

 and wattles are what would be ex- 

 pected, here in America, on the Min- 



caused it to grow an angle not far below where it joins. 

 The arch of the neck is a beautiful curve and the plumage 

 has an elegant surface. 



No. 2 shows a gracefully formed mature cock with 

 neatly formed head and good expression of eye. The 

 comb has just five points, but they are not tapered enough 

 and the rear blade droops too much on top. The main 

 part of the comb is slightly dished or bent. The wattles 

 and lobes, partly on account of age, are a little rough. 



Xn. 4 is a head of characteristic Leghorn type and 

 neatness. The face is fine, round and 

 clearly defined and the eyes are in- 

 telligent. The beak is perfectly curved 

 and the comb and lobes are nicely 

 balanced. The comb, it will be ob- 

 served, possesses only four points, 

 which is unusual for a comb of such 

 regularity with the front over the 

 beak so well curved up to the first 

 point. While it is not desirable to 

 have so few points in combs, the ten- 

 dency to fineness in the head is much 

 to be preferred to any degree of 

 coarseness. There is no doubt that a 

 bird having such a head and comb 

 would prove a valuable breeder. 



Xo. 10, Group 2, shows a pose of the head often seen 

 when a bird is carrying its body too high in front to pre- 

 serve the well-balanced appearance demanded by show 

 birds. The head appears to be of good width, but is 

 drawn backward so that the rear blade appears to be more 

 slanting than it would if the head were held more nearly 

 on the level. The form of the points and serrations of the 

 comb are moderately good. The front of the comb to the 

 first point, also the front edges of the wattles, do not 

 curve smoothly but have irregular outlines. In this pose 

 the neck appears to be too straight and is not arched well 

 at the back. 



No. 12, Group 3, was the winning cock at New York 

 in 1906. He was a mature male of superior elegance and 



1905 was a red-letter year at Bos 

 ton for D. W. Young's White Leg 

 horns. Three of his male birds woi 

 first prizes. No. 1, Group 1, being th( 

 cockerel that won first at Boston that 



year. No. 2 was the cock heading oiam 



first pen and No. 4 was the first cock 



in open class. These males are of an old strain that in 

 late years has led the fashion in New York's White Leg- 

 horn classes. 



No. 1 exhibits a firmly set, medium-sized comb. The 

 front over the base of the beak is slightly wrinkled. The 

 points increase in size to the fifth instead of the fourth, 

 which should be the largest. Below the terminal point on 

 the rear blade is a nick and the fourth point shows a small 

 lump in front instead of tapering smoothly. The beak, 

 face and eyes are nicely formed, the eyes being particularly 

 round and bright. The ear-lobes and wattles are well 

 formed, the latter showing the result of an accident that 



style and reflected great credit on Mr. Young as a 

 breeder. This bird was chosen as a model for the 

 Reliable Poultry Journal's color-plate for December, 

 1906 (reproduced on the frontis page of this book.) The 

 character of the bird's graceful type is well expressed in 

 this portrait of his head and neck. The entire make-up 

 shows symmetrical proportions and the "curves" so much 

 sought by Leghorn fanciers are expressed in every line. 

 From beak over tip of points to rear point of blade, the 

 comb is beautifully curved. The large lobes form well 

 shaped oblongs; the neck and breast curve well in fron'. 

 and the arch of the neck is good. It is all true Leghorn 



