37 



Even if one is somewhat familiar with a breed it is well for him to 

 justify his ideas of good type by comparing them with approved 

 standards. Theoretically, the way to learn correct types would be by 

 study of the best birds, but in practice the first knowledge of what is 

 right is more surely gained by studying ideals, because forming one's 

 ideas from a model correct in all sections one avoids the common error 

 of learning to overlook readily the weak points which may be associated 

 with special excellence in the best birds they see. 



Having learned what a White Plymouth Rock should be the seeker 

 after good stock is now prepared to inspect some stock for the pur- 

 pose of buying when he finds what he wants, I advise making a per- 

 sonal inspection of the stock from which one buys and personal selection 

 of the birds bought, if that is at all possible. 



With the ideal White Rock -^Is^^ - 





imaged in his mind the buyer 

 goes into a flock of White Plym- 

 outh Rocks and begins to look for 

 specimens resembling that ideal. 

 He knows that the type he is look- 

 ing for is a rather long and deep- 

 bodied bird, full breasted, neither 

 too low nor too high on the legs 

 to look symmetrical. The picture 

 he has studied has given him an 

 idea of the general appearance 

 and carriage of the bird, and if he 

 has any eye for outline he will 

 at once single out of an ordinary 

 flock some birds as typical and 

 some as not typical. These typical 

 birds, if on closer inspection they 

 are found free from serious faults, 

 and if they are vigorous and 

 healthy looking, are the kind of 



birds he wants and he should take no others. He should pay any price 

 in reason for specimens of the right general type rather than take as 

 a gift specimens not of that type. 



The fowls being satisfactory in appearance, the buyer, naturally, 

 wants to know something of their laying capacity. For this he must 

 usually take the seller's word, but if it is convenient for him to visit the 

 place a few times before buying and notice the eggs in the nests he can 

 form a tolerably good estimate of the general laying capacity of the 

 stock, and get accurate knowledge as to how the eggs run for size, 

 shape and color. If, as may happen, he fails to find any specimens in 

 the flock that strike him as typical, the thing to do is to postpone buy- 

 ing until he can satisfy himself whether his judgment of the stock was 

 right or not. 



If he cannot buy White Rocks at home, it would be well worth his 

 while to visit yards elsewhere in his quest for stock, and not under any 

 consideration to buy until he can get what he wants. Even if he is 



'-'^^Z- 



Ideai, Single-comb Rhode Island Red, 

 Female. 



