136 BREEDING AND EXHIBITION OF PRIZE POULTRY. 



Many shows now allow two or more pens to be sent in one 

 hamper, which saves considerably in carriage. In such cases, 

 the usual shape is an oblong with rounded ends, and a partition 

 in the middle. When fowls are thus sent, the greatest care 

 should be taken that the labels are so attached that there may 

 be no chance of mistake about the proper pens. At almost 

 every show there are errors of this sort, to the inevitable loss 

 of the exhibitor, who cannot expect busy officials to remedy 

 the results of his own carelessness. 



In cold weather let the hamper be well lined with canvas, 

 or straw stitched to the wicker-work. And if occupied by geese, 

 let special care be taken that their bills cannot reach either the 

 etring fastenings or the direction-labels. They have a peculiar 

 fancy for breakfasting upon those articles ; and even fowls will 

 occasionally contract the same vicious habit. 



All has now been done that can be done, and the rest 

 must be left to the decision of the judges. As a rule, 

 these are at least impartial; but some are known to have 

 certain invincible prejudices, which prevent them from 

 judging certain classes in accordance with the general rules 

 as understood by the majority. This is to be regretted, as it 

 hinders the good understanding which always ought to exist 

 between judges and exhibitors. The object of both ought to 

 be identical the promotion of the highest standard obtainable 

 in the different breeds; but it is necessary to this that the 

 breeder should know definitely and authoritatively what he is 

 to seek after. There are certain canons of excellence which 

 are now generally recognised by breeders, and by most judges ;* 

 and no individual judge has any right to depart from these 

 without, at least, sufficient public notice, or until public 

 discussion in the periodical press devoted to such matters has 



* Very complete scales of points, founded on actual analysis of modern 

 judging, have been published by the author in " The Illustrated Book of 

 Poultry." 



