364 AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION 



and then the handicap becomes even more serious. Very often 

 birds of naturally very superior plumage are justly defeated 

 by fully matured, up-to-weight specimens. As a rule, well- 

 balanced birds, or birds of good even qualities do well in 

 score card exhibitions. High scoring birds are often those 

 whose fundamental qualities are perfect. If a specimen be fully 

 up to weight, in good plumage, in perfect health, and perfect 

 in beak, eyes, and legs, and has a nearly perfect comb, it is a 

 hard bird to score low, even if it has only fair plumage. The 

 foregoing attributes are what we term the fundamental quali- 

 ties, and the previous statement is particularly true, if, in addi- 

 tion, the specimen has good shape. 



When the Comparison System is Used. At exhibitions 

 governed by the comparison system, first impressions un- 

 doubtedly carry more weight than under the score card sys- 

 tem, which compels minute inspection, not merely invites it. 

 First impressions are, therefore, important and such birds 

 as described near the beginning of this chapter are the ones 

 which catch the eye at first glance and are good selections as 

 a rule. Not only do first impressions count more but if a speci- 

 men under the comparison system fails to "score" with the 

 first impression, that specimen is, then and there, down and 

 out. It must possess some strongly attractive feature, and it 

 must be one that impresses the judge quickly. What that fea- 

 ture must be varies widely and depends somewhat upon the 

 likes and perhaps the dislikes of this or that particular judge. 

 It might be shape or it might be color. It should be without 

 question even all-around quality. Thus it will be seen that a 

 study of judges as well as a study of standard requirements is 

 very often important in the solution of the big problem, "HOW 

 to WIN prizes." Again, the excellence of the markings of 

 one or more sections, possibly the condition or behavior of the 

 specimen in the show coop, the ability to pose, very likely will 

 have considerable weight with the judge that is just a little 

 emphatic about shape requirements. 



It would be well at this stage for the novice to take from 

 the Standard a mental or written list of all possible defects 

 for each section for color and markings. Defects of shape are 

 not so complicated and are, therefore, more quickly seen. For 

 example, if a specimen of the Buff variety was to be examined, 

 a list something like this would assist the novice: Correct 

 shade of color, form, uniform surface color, edging, mealiness, 

 shaftiness, sections too dark, sections too light, undercolor too 

 light, black or white in tail, in wing, etc. 



