256 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



mands, down to the color of the eye, the perk of the 

 tail or the feather, or the bit of down or stub on the leg of 

 a specimen, are definite, detailed, and imperative. Ex- 

 hibitors and judges alike are expected to obey them, 

 under penalty for failure which may amount to the 

 judge losing his job or the exhibitor losing his member- 

 ship in the American Poultry Association, if he have 

 one ; or his reputation, or both. 



The Association, as now conducted, has Branches all 

 over the United States and Canada; which Branches 

 may consist of one state, or of a group of states. There 

 are also District Branches, and local Associations may 

 join, under certain rules. 



The matter comprising the volume known as "The 

 Standard of Perfection " begins with a warning, fol- 

 lowed by two introductions, and a two-page address " to 

 the Poultry Associations of America." Exhibitions 

 necessarily presuppose judging of birds, and the local 

 Associations are asked by the American Poultry Associ- 

 ation to choose, as judges, preferably, those who are 

 members of the American Poultry Association. Under 

 the rules, a local Association cannot enter any protest in 

 case of a dispute about the placing of awards, except 

 when it appears that the judge has been dishonest, 

 ignorant, or careless. It is stated that any exhibitor 

 found to have shown " faked birds " shall lose his right 

 to compete, and must forfeit any prize that his fowls 

 had been awarded before the deceit was discovered. 

 Inasmuch as the word " faking " now has a standing as 

 a term used by judges and carefully defined in the 

 Standard of Perfection, the acts which it represents 

 should now become less frequent, and more possible of 



