Correct Judging of Malays. 277 



well-bred bird always will. In the cock, the outline of the hackle, back, and upper tail-feathers 

 should resemble as nearly as possible the ideal line shown in Fig. 68, which is composed of three 

 similar lines, combined at very nearly equal angles. Birds which meet this description, and are 

 of average size, and in fair condition, will, at ail events, be pretty good Malays, whatever short- 

 comings in colour they may have. 



As regards colour, white and black are of course definite enough. Brassy-winged birds are 

 als3 admissible, and in Piles of course some latitude must be allowed, as must be the case with the 

 various " Reds" which are most usually shown. Regarding these latter, all that should be required 

 is, that the colours are such as evidently show true and careful breeding, and are not the result of 

 blind chance. For example, if a cock be evidently of the Black-red type, brown feathers in his 

 breast are regarded as a great blemish ; but if evidently a Brown-red bird, his general colour should 

 harmonise with that school of colour. No other rule is practicable in a breed the admirers of 

 which are so few ; and the "Standard of Excellence" is erroneous, both on the score of too much 

 narrowness in definition, and of a laxity which is never tolerated in judging, for while it gives on 

 the one hand as the only proper "colour of Malays" (except white) cocks of the Black-red type 

 with reddish brown or cinnamon hens, on the other hand it describes the cock's breast as " black, 

 slightly mottled with reddish brown," a description of bird which would not have the slightest 

 chance of winning at all in the presence of creditable specimens. 



In giving a scale of points for Malays, we have had to depend far more upon our own indi- 

 vidual judgment than in other breeds, the materials for actual analysis being entirely wanting at 

 many shows, and competition being so very limited in all. The American " Standard of Excellence" 

 does not even allude to the breed, which is indeed scarcely known in the United States ; and the 

 English work is so hopelessly in error as to be of little use even for comparison. It does not 

 appear, in fact, to understand this breed at all ; for, in addition to the mistakes already mentioned, 

 it also states that the tail of the hen should be "carried upright," and that the eyes of both sexes 

 must be "bright fiery red ;" and this latter gross error has even been recently republished by the 

 editor, in spite of our having clearly pointed it out* years ago. There never zvas a Ma/ay with 

 red eyes ; they are invariably pearl, yellow, or daw. We have addressed a special query to the 

 Rev. A. G. Brooke, whose experience is as great as any with this breed, and he writes, " In reply 

 to yours, I have never yet seen a red eye in any variety of Malay ;" and observation at any show 

 where they are exhibited will confirm this remark. While, therefore, we can answer for our 

 descriptions, it will be understood that the scale of points is, from sheer necessity in this case, very 

 largely the result of our own individual judgment, based upon a careful consideration of the 

 slender list of decisions we have been able to collate ; a list narrowed still further by the necessary 

 elimination of such erroneous awards as we have already alluded to. 



SCHEDULE FOR JUDGING MALAYS. 



General Characteristics of Cock. — Ift-aJ and Neck — General appearance of head skinny, morose, and cruel; beak 

 heavy, strong, and hooked ; comb resembling a half strawberry or walnut, rather small, firm, and not falling over, placed well 

 forward ; wattles and deaf-ears scanty ; face and throat bare of feathers ; eyebrows heavy and projecting, adding to the sour 

 expression. Neck long, very little curved, and carried very upright ; the hackle very short and scanty. Body — General shape 

 rather long and thin, large at shoulders, and tapering to the tail ; back long, slanting, and rather convex in outline ; saddle narrow 

 and very drooping, the foatliers short and scanty like the hackle ; wings bony, very prominent at the shoulders, and rather long ; 

 breast hard, but very full, the breast-bone very deep and prominent. Legs and Feet — Thighs long, hard, and round ; the feathers 

 very short, leaving the hock perfectly exposed ; shanks very long and bony, without a vestige of feather, and beautifully scaled ; 



•* " Practical Poultry Keeper," p. 117. 



