PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AND BREED BOOK 361 



The First Step. Selection is dependent upon examination, 

 casual at first and superficial, necessarily, as it is the superficial 

 attractiveness of a bird that must first catch the eye. An ex- 

 ceptionally good comb, stylish carriage, symmetrical form, 

 strikingly handsome markings, or brilliant colors, are super- 

 ficial qualities that please and win the specimen possessing them, 

 almost instantly, a first consideration. 



"Catchy Quality." This "catchy quality" should figure 

 largely in the selection of show specimens when not accom- 

 panied by too serious faults as it means beauty, and beauty 

 coupled with utility is the keynote of the Standard. 



To explain the phrase "catchy qualities" would be difficult, 

 though to define it would be easy. It simply means beauty or 

 attractiveness. To state exactly of what it consists is prac- 

 tically impossible. However, it is a quality recognized by both 

 the professional and the amateur and must always be reckoned 

 with. Many birds with the catchy quality lack in certain 

 qualities and they become what is known as "fillers." 



"Fillers." Fillers are used, however, in the keenest com- 

 petition and one expects to take chances with a few of good 

 quality if they have characteristics to which the judge is known 

 to be partial. Fillers are, in general, birds of three classes, 

 first: birds of no more than average merit but one phenome- 

 nally good section, or quality, which, if it is located in some 

 prominent section, makes the specimen very attractive; sec- 

 ond: often, however, a specimen having such phenomenal 

 qualities in one or perhaps more sections is correspondingly 

 poor in possibly an equal number, yet it is possible that the 

 judge and even popular opinion will be overawed by the excel- 

 lence of the section of phenomenal merit, while the faulty 

 sections will be overlooked; third: the class of birds that are 

 known as good all around specimens, though they have no 

 serious defects, they are very fair in all particulars and meet 

 technical requirements very well, but they lack attractiveness. 

 While the analysis is satisfactory, the catchy qualities are decid- 

 edly lacking. Without these, it is seldom that a bird is returned 

 a winner in close competition. 



The Second Step. Close Examination. A winning speci- 

 men needs more than the power to attract admiration. It needs 

 .also the power to retain it after examination, which with one 

 who has accepted certain standards of beauty means that the 

 specimen must meet the requirements of such a standard as 

 the person who conducts such an examination has adopted. 



