1 1>S ,1 MKUKL 1 .V /'(> I LTIt Y A HKOC/ATION 



curve from top to bottom which gradually merges into the line 

 of the body formed by the bottom of the keel-bone. Thus, both 

 horizontally and vertically, the outline of the breast should make 

 a broad, symmetrical curve that merges into the body without 

 breaks or apparent angles. For ideal conformation in these re- 

 spects see the cuts of ideal Plymouth Rocks. 



Body and Fluff. Technically, body does not refer to the 

 whole carcass, as in common phraseology. It refers in this con- 

 nection merely to the lower part of body extending back from 

 the front end of the keel-bone. The fluff is composed of the 

 small, soft feathers found between and to the rear of the thighs, 

 though the body feathers at rear of the thighs are often spoken 

 of as such. 



The body must have depth, breadth and length. Defects 

 in one or all of these three dimensions are common. Defects in 

 body shape are found more often in the front than in the rear. 

 Shallow breasts are often associated with shallow bodies, espe- 

 cially in front of the thigh. Very often, too, the body, in front 

 of the thighs is too short. Neither must it be too long, for the 

 body must be well balanced. Keel-bones that are too short in 

 front of the thighs carry breasts that lack in fullness. 



Besides the defects noted in back and tail shape, defects of 

 breast and body in front of thighs that frequently occur are 

 clearly illustrated and should be carefully studied. Figure 1. 

 Plate 11, shows a want of fullness in front of thigh for some dis- 

 tance because of shallowness of the fore part of the body. The 

 corresponding defect in females is seen in Figure 5, Plate 12. 

 Figure 2 also shows a break between breast and body and be- 

 tween body and thighs ; whereas, the outlines of these sections 

 should form one continuous line and merge into one another. 

 The parallel of this defect in females is shown in Figure 6. 

 Figure 3 shows a well rounded breast outline, but illustrates the 

 "cut off" appearance seen in so many specimens immediately in 

 front of thigh, due to the fact that the body is not deep enough 

 at that particular point, even though it forms the necessary 

 depth at all other points. Figure 6 shows the same defect by the 

 same cause, in females. 



Narrow bodies are generally accompanied by narrow backs 

 that are often long, flat lengthwise, and what are termed "ridgy," 

 that is, too much rounded on the sides. Plate 13 shows the rear 

 views of a narrowly built and a well built male. 



