362 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



The first step, the selection of candidates by casual observa- 

 tion, usually at a distance, is followed by an examination which 

 should involve the closest and most critical scrutiny, section 

 by section, as to their conformity with the requirements of the 

 Standard of Perfection. 



Mental processes, even with the best trained minds, are 

 too restricted to attempt to accomplish this as a whole or in 

 one operation. The specimen must be examined carefully, 

 section by section, for both color and shape, beginning with 

 symmetry and ending with legs and toes, forgetting none. 

 Both the merits and defects of each must be accurately weighed, 

 the defects because they count against the specimen, the merits 

 because upon these depend its position in the awards. The 

 examiner must expect to find both merits and defects. These 

 are two qualities that all birds possess. None are perfect, 

 and no well-bred specimen is entirely devoid of merit. Unusual 

 merit in one or more sections will offset defects in others. 

 Good color will offset good shape, and vice versa. In some 

 varieties good undercolor offsets to a certain extent defective 

 surface color, while in other varieties undercolor may be so 

 universally good that but little attention is paid to it in esti- 

 mating comparative merits of two or more exhibition speci- 

 mens. In still other instances, undercolor is almost wholly 

 a breeder's point, not considered very seriously in the esti- 

 mation of show merit. The actual consideration of the different 

 phases of each section of each variety obviously cannot be 

 treated in this chapter, as such consideration forms a large part 

 of the entire treatise. 



But it is in place, however, to call particular attention to 

 the chapters on common defects of plumage and the accom- 

 panying illustrations, which should be studied minutely after 

 a good mental digest of the standard requirements of the par- 

 ticular variety in question. Many other chapters in this work 

 would assist the exhibitor in selecting the strongest candi- 

 date for show honors, as there is much correlation between 

 breeding and exhibiting, and the understanding of the origin 

 and development of a breed or variety increases the capacity of 

 an individual to comprehend the trend of public opinion, which 

 as well as the Standard has its influence on the judge's con- 

 ception of what an ideal fowl of any variety should be, as it 

 has had, heretofore, its influence upon the Standard's printed 

 description of the same thing. 



