46 METHODS IN JUDGING AND SELECTION 



quality, must be clearly fixed in the mind of the judge 

 before he can proceed with a continuity of decisions which 

 will stand the test of minute criticism. 



Fixed ideals of the various types, breeds, and classes of 

 animals are the foundation for uniform and correct de- 

 cisions. After a type is once established by the judge in a 

 class it should be followed closely until the animals are all 

 ranked according to their conformity to this type. It is 

 only in exceptional cases that it becomes necessary to break 

 type and in instances of this kind there must be some unusual 

 reason for so doing. If there is a specific ideal or type of 

 animal established at the head of a class, there will rarely 

 be an occasion for following it with an animal of another 

 distinct type. In judging animals it is universally recognized 

 that there is a distinct type best suited for all specialized 

 purposes. A distinct break in type would therefore be ad- 

 verse to such a principle. In a class for breeding animals 

 such a condition might arise through the presence of disease, 

 or from lack of proper constitutional development or spe- 

 cific breed attributes. An animal lacking in constitutional 

 development or one in an incipient or advanced stage of an 

 hereditary disease should not be given priority in a class 

 of breeding animals. A clear understanding of the purpose 

 for which an animal is bred, a distinct conception of the type 

 adopted for the standard, and the reasons for discarding an 

 animal which does not conform to the established type, are 

 necessary for convincing, uniform, clear-cut decisions. 



Position of Animals. In critically examining animals 

 in a class or otherwise, it is advantageous to have them all 

 headed in one direction in a uniform line on a level surface. 

 They should be lined up on a smooth, even surface, for if 

 placed otherwise the animals will usually assume an ill 

 position, appear larger or smaller according to the view- 

 point from which the examination is made, or such an 

 unnatural position may accentuate merit or hide or cover 

 defects. If the viewpoint is below the animals, they will 

 appear larger, while if it is above they will appear smaller. 

 It is very easy to deceive the eye in this respect. The animals 

 should be placed level from the broadsides view. It is 



