11G AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



skull and at the same time with the outline made by the top of 

 the serrations, and thus help to harmonize all the parts. The 

 blade may be taken as part of the base, and much that has been 

 stated about the latter is true of the former; more than that, it 

 must follow the skull somewhat to give the appearance of setting 

 on the head gracefully and it should be of such length as to bal- 

 ance with the other parts so that the comb, all in all, completes 

 its symmetrical outline. Plate 7, Figure 5, illustrates a comb 

 in which the base is too high, also the blade too deep, the points 

 too many and uneven, and the base of the serrations not in sym- 

 metrical alignment. 



Points. These should be five in number and evenly spaced. 

 The front and rear points a little smaller than the other three so 

 as to obtain a regular and symmetrical outline. 



Besides even spacing, the right proportion in length of points 

 and depth of blade should exist. Of this, the eye is the best 

 judge, rather than a mathematical calculation. As a rule, the 

 blade should be slightly deeper than the length of the points, 

 but sometimes combs that are pronounced good by competent 

 judges have points a trifle longer than the depth of the blade and 

 other good combs have points that are perceptibly shorter. Of 

 this feature, the first impression given to the practiced eye is 

 usually the correct one. Plate 7, Figure 4, illustrates a comb 

 that has too many and too long points. These points are not 

 absolutely erect, which they should be. 



A phenomenon known as the double-point occurs when the 

 serration between two points is not as deep as between the other 

 points of the same comb. Sometimes the serration referred to is 

 very shallow, which gives the appearance of one broad point. 

 This defect destroys all balance between the serrations and the 

 points, and is a most marked blemish when viewed from the 

 side. An illustration of a double-point can be seen in Plate 7, 

 Figure 3. 



In order to obtain a thorough understanding of what consti- 

 tutes an ideal single comb, one should make a careful study of 

 the life size illustration of a perfect Plymouth Rock male head, 

 Plate 5, as well as of the six figures on Plate 7. 



Other Head Adjuncts. Not nearly as much attention is paid 

 to defects of the other appurtenances of the head as to those of 

 the comb. The shape of the eyes, wattles and lobes are clearly 

 defined in the Standard, but unless they are very noticeably 

 defective in shape, little cutting is practiced. Wattles may be of 

 unequal length (see Plate 7, Figure 4), too long (Figure 5), 



