338 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



they are small, but does not favor milk curd, "all other 

 authorities to the contrary notwithstanding." 



The standard coloring of the Bourbon Red turkeys 

 is chiefly deep, mahogany red, with white ; the primaries 

 and secondaries and the tail being white, the neck, 

 shoulders, back, and breast the deep red tone ; also the 

 thighs. The shanks and toes partake of the general 

 coloring, being described as "reddish pink," in the Stand- 

 ard of Perfection. The highest Standard weight is 30 

 pounds, but the breeder referred to above says they range 

 upward to 36 pounds, in fact. It is not extremely ex- 

 ceptional for birds of any breed to exceed the Standard 

 weight of the breed, when that weight is comparatively 

 easy to reach. If, however, the Standard has been placed 

 where it is quite difficult for the average specimens to 

 reach it when in good condition, the case is quite differ- 

 ent. Ganders of some breeds have sometimes exceeded 

 their Standard weight by at least one half, while they 

 tell stories at the shows of almost double the Standard 

 weight being reached by old males, well covered with 

 fat. The largest known weight is never considered the 

 perfect weight, in most breeds of fowls. 



