THE IDEAL BIRD 185 



what familiar with the breed and the individual birds in 

 order to make the test a sure one. 



In the same way, a mental " unit of measure " becomes 

 the possession of the fancier who lives through many 

 months with his birds. The unit of measure is the 

 average bird. The fancier has to acquire a keen judg- 

 ment as to how each individual bird compares in value 

 with the average specimen, and also how far it is below 

 the ideal of its breed, either for the breeding pen or the 

 show room. Most fanciers would prefer the bird that 

 was pretty good in all sections to one that was exception- 

 ally good in some sections while notably poor in others. 

 The poultry publications which publish the best unre- 

 touched photographs are of much value to the Beginner, 

 because of these alone ; they offer him good birds from 

 which to make comparisons. In his own yards, he may 

 not have them because of a restricted purse ; and if he 

 has them, he cannot know it until he either exhibits or 

 studies birds of known value till he has formed a basis 

 for judgment. 



