THE LEGHORNS 



the large, well-spread tail carried at an angle of 45 degrees 

 and covered with long, well curved sickles and abundant 

 coverts. The shanks and thighs are of proper length, giv- 

 ing us a bird that is truly a bird with an alert appearance 

 and graceful curves. 



The Female 



Make the same study of the female drawing. Many 

 questions are asked in regard to how a female's comb 

 should droop. You will note that the front part of the 

 blade and the first point stand erect while the rest gradu- 

 ally droops to one side. Held erect it resembles the male 

 comb in shape having five distinct points, the fourth one 

 being the highest, the others shorter as they approach the 

 front and rear. The female's comb is finer in texture than 

 the male's and same can be said of wattles. The ear-lobes 

 have the same almond-shape and are also smooth and fine 

 in texture. Note the long, rather slender and gracefully 

 arched neck coupled with the same graceful connection — 

 no break at junction — with the back, having the appear- 

 ance of being a little longer than the male, connecting 

 with a fine, well-spread tail carried at an angle of forty 

 degrees. You will note that there are seven main-tail 

 feathers on each side and that about half of each feather 

 shows when viewed from the side. Bear this in mind and 

 you will always note, at a glance, a properly spread tail. 

 The breast shows the same full, round appearance as the 

 male and with the legs of proper length we have a beauti- 

 ful, active bird of curves. 



Symmetry 



The first section shown in the scale of points is 

 Symmetry. 



Webster defines Symmetry as "A due proportion to 

 the several parts of a body to each other; or the union 

 and conformity of the members of a work as a whole." 

 Some score-cards show it as "Typical Carriage," which is 

 defined in the Standard as "expressing a characteristic, in 

 color or form, representative of a breed or variety." 

 "Representative of a breed or variety" — please remember 

 that, as it is the main point we wish to make. 



In order to show our readers that this section was dis- 

 cussed years ago, allow us to refer to Mr. B. N. Pierce's 

 book on "Wyandotte Culture." He says: "It may be well 

 to remark, that among breeders, writers and judges, a 

 great variance of opinion has been advanced relative to 

 the importance of retaining this section in the future 

 Standard. We know of no reasons, neither have any been 

 presented in the various publications, proving that the 

 symmetry section is either wrong or baneful in its in- 

 fluence on the well-being of thorough-bred poultry, or that 

 by its use an incorrect value of the merits of a specimen 

 is given." Mr. Pierce again says: "Symmetry, as a special 

 feature in connection with our system of arriving at the 

 merits of a fowl, is doing its own good work, and results 

 in holding the characteristic shape of the various breeds 

 of fowls distinct from each other, immediately detecting 

 any encroachment of the one upon the other, by reason of 

 its being a guide to the intelligent breeder as to the true 

 and complete shape of the Standard specimen, no matter 

 whether he is breeding fowls in Maine, California, Texas 

 or Rhode Island. It is the shorthand way of acquiring 

 and understanding the recognized or Standard shape of a 

 specimen of fowls." 



If we study and understand the Standard require- 

 ments of a fowl, study each section, also its general 

 outline, how the parts or sections should fit together in 

 harmony, in fact, get the ideal shape fixed in our mind as 



shown in the Standard drawings and description; the min- 

 ute we get a good look at a bird we know whether it is 

 typical of the breed it represents or has symmetry. 



In Leghorns we have a breed that is described in the 

 Standard as being a breed "of comparatively small size, 

 of great alertness and of graceful curves." It also says 

 that "decidedly short backs, short shanks and low-set 

 bodies are objectionable." 



We believe that a fowl's symmetry should be judged 

 before the bird is disturbed. Especially is this true of the 

 Leghorn. They are naturally of a nervous disposition and 

 at the first indication of fright or nervousness they will 

 draw their tail up, sometimes to a perpendicular position 

 or even farther which makes it a "squirrel tail" and dis- 

 qualifies the bird. Approach the cage carefully and look 

 at the bird before disturbing it. See if each section is well 

 developed and fits one with the other giving it a finished 

 or typical appearance. If its breast is too fell, spoiling 

 the well-rounded outline effect as shown in the chart, cut 

 one-half to three-fourths. Neck too short and thin, not 

 arched, or too long and straight, not filled, giving it a 

 scraggly appearance, cut one-half to one. Tail too high 

 and pinched making the fowl look narrow at the rear, cut 

 one to two. Tail too short, cut one-half. Legs too short 

 and close together, cut one-half. Right here we wish to 

 say that Leghorn exhibitors should put more time in 

 training their birds to stand in a natural position, when 

 the judges comes around, they will not try to fly through 

 the top of the cage. A Leghorn can be trained as well as 

 any other breed and a breeder should not expect to fall 

 back upon the excuse that they are nervous and ask the 

 judge to put them on the floor to get a good view of their 

 shape, etc. A little patience in training a Leghorn will 

 make it as tame as any fowl and save many a hard cut on 

 symmetry. The Leghorn breeders should nave no more 

 right to expect a judge to spend more time in getting a 

 proper shape on his bird than any other breeder has. 



You will soon get so that you will notice the defects 

 mentioned above, at a glance and make up your mind 

 whether the specimen should be cut one-half, one or one 

 and one-half. A successful judge must thing quickly and 

 act quickly. The minute you begin to hesitate and study 

 as to the amount of the cut you begin to fail. Any exper- 

 ienced, reliable judge will tell you that ninety-nine times 

 out of one hundred his first impression is the best. 



Remember this section is worth four points and when 

 you cut a fowl one for symmetry you mean it is, in your 

 opinion, one-fourth or twenty-five per cent, to the bad. 

 There is no system that we know of that can be success- 

 fully applied. The best way is to use your own judgment. 

 You know this section is valued at four points and when 

 you are judging symmetry, just forget that there is any 

 other section to tlie bird; no matter if some exhibitor does 

 tell you that you are cutting twice. Judge the bird as a 

 whole and deduct whatever you think is lacking from per- 

 fection. If four points represents one hundred in this sec- 

 tion, all right. If the bird is, in your judgment, twenty- 

 five per cent, off, cut it one point for symmetry. They 

 tell us "it is like a two-edged knife, cutting both ways;" 

 , one for symmetry because the bird has a bad tail or a bad 

 breast and then cutting these sections again for shape 

 when we come to them. That is not true. If symmetry is 

 worth four points and a breast is worth five for shape and 

 tail six for shape, we are not cutting twice. If you do not 

 use this section of symmetry in scoring your specimen, 

 then you should deduct your total cuts from ninety-six in- 

 stead of one hundred. 



