SECTION III. 



CHAPTER I. 



STANDARD MEASUREMENTS 



THE term "Standard Measurements" refers to the relative 

 size of the different parts of a fowl and not to any definite 

 mathematical statement of length, width or circumference, 

 as no such definite standards have ever been established. This 

 may be done some time, but for the present the breeders' sole 

 guide in determining the correct measurement of sections must 

 be the eye, trained to observe correct proportions between the 

 different body parts. These proportions are established by the 

 American Standard of Perfection, and the inexperienced beginner 

 and the expert judge alike must form their estimate of the degree 

 to which a given section of any individual fowl corresponds to 

 the ideal by a careful study of such sections in comparison with 

 Standard ideal illustrations and Standard descriptions of that 

 breed and sex. 



The person who is accustomed .to thinking of animal meas- 

 urements as being determined by the use of tape, ruler or calipers 

 may find it a little difficult to accustom himself to regarding the 

 soft, pliable surface of a fowl's plumage as forming the final out- 

 line of practically all its parts. For the purpose of judging, 

 however, such outlines are as distinct and final as solid flesh, 

 assuming, of course, that the plumage is in its natural orderly 

 arrangement. 



It should be clearly understood that the use of the terms 

 '"broad," "long," "moderately long," "short," etc., does not in 

 any case involve comparison with other breeds of fowls. In all 

 instances, they refer to comparisons between the different sec- 

 tions of the bird under consideration, and with the Standard 

 illustration of the ideal bird of the same breed and sex. 



For example, the head of the Standard Plymouth Rock male 

 is described as "moderately large." This does not mean that it 

 is "moderately large" as compared with the head of a Leghorn, 

 on the one hand, or a Brahma on the other, but it means "mod- 



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