122 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



Large or long wings are not called for by the Standard, but 

 the wing should be of moderate length, sufficient to reach the 

 saddles in the male, and a corresponding position in the female. 

 They should be well-tucked up and covered by the saddle or back 

 feathers, according to sex. An illustration of these defects are 

 seen in Figure 6. 



Drooping shoulders indicate a looseness or weakness of the 

 shoulder muscles. The unnatural effect presented by this defect 

 may be seen in Figure 7. Another and equally undesirable defect 

 is seen in Figure 8 of the high or too prominent shoulder with 

 the large wing feathers held at the wrong angle, bringing the 

 points too low. This wing is too large and the point is not 

 tucked up or covered as it should be. 



Back. This section affords an opportunity for sharp distinc- 

 tion between the breeds of the American class. Plymouth Rocks' 

 backs should be broad and of moderate length. When joined to 

 a fully feathered, correctly arched neck, and a well-furnished, 

 well-spread tail, carried at the proper angle, the back, with these 

 sections, forms a beautiful top contour. The curves connecting 

 back and neck, and back with tail, are so mild and gradual as to 

 be most graceful and finished. To obtain this pleasing effect, 

 the back must be just as it is described and portrayed in the 

 Standard. Faulty backs, and there are many of them, as it is a 

 hard section to breed as it should be bred, make obviously faulty 

 birds. The back may be too short ; this means a short body, and 

 the birds must lack true breed type. Shortness of body means 

 lack of weight or even a greater variance from true type. Too 

 long backs mean too long bodies, and a variance from true type. 

 Such birds are apt to be too flat on the sides as well as on the 

 back. They lack grace and typical carriage. As Plymouth 

 Rocks they are plain and unattractive. Too long backs usually 

 lack the curve needed, to finish a good specimen, between the 

 back and tail. They are usually too narrow and round from 

 side to side, and again are much more apt to be "roached," that 

 is, have a tendency to make the black line convex rather than 

 concave. Breadth is needed in this section to give the sturdy 

 appearance characteristic of this breed. 



The four photographs of four Buff Rock males show several 

 common faults as they appear from the top. The first, that of 

 the ideal male, the second of a male with too short a back, too 

 heavy side fluff ; a perceptible angle at juncture of back and tail 

 and a pinched tail. The third one, too narrow in back and body, 



