112 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



CHAPTER IV. 



COMMON DEFECTS OF PLYMOUTH ROCK SHAPE 

 Common Defects 



The shape description already given of Plymouth Rocks, 

 from the American Standard of Perfection, is that of a perfect 

 bird, and the further original treatise found in this work is 

 merely for the purpose of clarifying and amplifying that found 

 in that more general work. Admittedly, however, no specimen, 

 male or female, is perfect, which means that every specimen is 

 defective in some way in nature and degree ; that is, two indi- 

 viduals may have defects, but of different nature, or they may 

 have the same defect, but in different degrees. One is, then, 

 more defective than another because it has more defects, or 

 because it has greater defects, as the ease may be. 



It is the purpose of this work to point out the more common 

 defects, and so explain their nature, that they may be readily 

 detected and the seriousness of their nature accurately computed ; 

 also, how to mate, according to the practices of the most success- 

 ful breeders of Plymouth Rocks, so that such and such defects 

 of the parents may be eliminated in the progeny. 



THE MALE 



Comb. The reader is advised to make himself at this point 

 familiar with the nomenclature of the comb and head points. 

 (See illustrations, plates 5 and 6.) The most noticeable feature 

 of the head is the comb. This, the high point of the head, the 

 top-piece, and, like the hat on a well dressed man or woman, 

 creates a good or poor impression according to its own quality. 

 Unless harmonious proportions between the comb and the head 

 exist, an unfavorable impression is created immediately. For 

 these reasons breeders pay more attention to it than to any other 

 adjunct of the head. The description in the Standard is clear 

 and is generally understood, but often too much importance is 

 attached to the clause which requires five points, evenly spaced, 

 with the front and rear points a little smaller than the other 

 three, and each of the right length to look proportionate to the 

 base, which should be firm, smooth, straight, free from folds, 

 wrinkles, indentures, or thumb marks. 



