106 



THE CALL OF THE HEN. 



FIG. 50 280-egg type hen and 265-egg type cock bird, 

 of cock is somewhat cramped for want of room. 



Tail 



out of condition at any time. There are times before the 

 male birds are a year old and while their bones are soft that 

 their abdomens will contract and expand, it depending on 

 whether they are stinted in their, feed or whether they are 

 fed liberally. Egg-type cockerels selected for breeders should 

 have the best care and food (see chapter on Selecting Cock- 

 erels for Breeding). In examining the male birds for pre- 

 potency, the reader should select them with the greatest 

 care. I cannot impress this on the reader too strongly. They 

 should be as good or better if possible than No. 1, Fig. 35, 

 and do not forget that the thumb-nail on the left hand and 

 the nail on the forefinger of the right hand (reverse the order 

 if left-handed) must be somewhat longer than the flesh, if 

 you expect to take correct measurements. 



