296 OUR DOMESTIC BIRDS 



the shape of the comb will be given more attention by the 

 judge than if there were other distinguishing features. 



Silver- Laced Wyandottes are conspicuous for their color pat- 

 tern ; therefore the most important thing is that this shall be 

 well defined and uniform, the white centers clean and white and 

 the black edges intensely black. Uniformity in such markings 

 is very difficult to produce. A bird may be well marked in one 

 section and very poorly marked in another. 



In Partridge Cochins the most conspicuous character is ex- 

 treme feather development ; the next is color of plumage, which 

 differs in male and female. Feather development and the shape 

 which it produces will therefore have about equal consideration 

 with color. In color the male is black on the breast and body, 

 with a red neck and back, the feathers of the hackle and the 

 saddle having black stripes in the center ; therefore, in the male, 

 quality in color consists in blackness in the black sections, a 

 uniform red in the red sections, and clear and sharp striping 

 wherever it appears. The Partridge Cochin female has plumage 

 of brown penciled with a darker brown ; therefore to the eye of 

 a poultry fancier the beauty of her color consists in well-defined 

 penciling and a harmonious contrast in the two shades of color. 



A White-Crested Black Polish fowl is most conspicuous for 

 its large white crest ; therefore the crest is the most important 

 feature to be considered in judging this variety. But color is also 

 very important, for if the white feathers of the crest are partly 

 mixed with black, or the black of the body is dull, the effect 

 is not pleasing. 



The Fantail Pigeon is most conspicuous for its fan-shaped 

 tail; therefore this is the most important thing in judging. The 

 tail must not only be large and well shaped, but must be carried 

 in an attractive manner. It must not be too large, because then 

 the bird cannot carry it in a good position. In addition to carry- 

 ing the tail in a good position, the bird must pose so that the 

 whole attitude adds to the attractiveness of the principal feature. 



