yuDGiNG American Fowls. 439 



views are valued and respected by American brother fanciers, and that we have been, in point 

 of fact, expressly asked to give our views as to a " Standard " for American breeds also, by those 

 who from their official position may be assumed to represent in some sort American fanciers 

 generally. Being, then, convinced that multiples of five, arranged to sum up a total of lOO 

 points, cannot accurately represent good judging, vi^e have done our best to frame a scale in our 

 own way. This is not so diflJicult as might at first sight appear; since on the average of our scales 

 certain general proportions may readily be traced ; and moreover, breeds known to us, and similar 

 in colour or other points, afford valuable materials for analysis by comparison. These we have 

 accordingly carefully studied, also attentively weighing the value given to various points by 

 Americans themselves in these breeds, as compared with those given to well-known breeds which 

 we have already treated. Thus, partly from observation of the fowls themselves, of which we can 

 at least say what no previous English writer can, that we have actually seen and studied carefully all 

 ths varictus ; partly from analogy, or the consideration of what breeds they must from their 

 general resemblance be judged generally in accordance with ; and partly from the study and 

 analysis of the American scales themselves, we believe the following will be found fairly 

 accurate, and that even our American friends will on trial be convinced of the superiority in 

 quickness, accuracy, and definiteness of application (which, and not an apparently symmetrical 

 proportion, should be the real test of the value of a scale) of the Schedules here given. If not, 

 no harm can arise, since their own scales have already been given for use if preferred. 



SCHEDULE FOR JUDGING LEGHORNS. 



General Characteristics of Cock. — Head and A't'c^'— General appearance of head resembling Spanish. Beak rather 

 long and stout, but not heavy ; comb very large, single, perfectly straight and upright, of a handsome outside arch or cui-ve, with 

 serrations symmetrically formed and disposed, and free from excrescences ; wattles long, thin, and fine in texture ; face fine in 

 texture, and nearly free from feathers ; deaf-ears well-developed and pendent, but not excessively so ; thin, smooth, free from 

 folds, and close to the head ; neck long, well furnished with hackles, aud canied upright. Body — General appearance light and 

 active, large at shoulders, and tapering towards the tail ; back rather round, and slanting to the tail ; wings large, but tightly 

 carried ; breast full, round, and carried forward. Legs a7id Feet- — Legs and thighs rather long ; shanks slender, perfectly free from 

 feathers ; hocks clear ; toes thin and well spread. Tail — Large, with full and sweeping sickles, carried high. [Some American 



breeders consider the tail should be upright, or even squirrel fashion ; but we consider this spoils the fowl completely.] Size 



Medium, averaging about six to seven pounds. General Shape — Rather light and slender, otherwise like Spanith. Carriage 



Very alert and sprir;htly. 



General Characteristics of Hen. — In all respects resembling those of the cock, with the usual sexual differences, 

 excepting that her comb falls over to one side, hiding one side of the face. 



Colour of White Leghorns.— /« both Sexes — Beak a bright yellow. Comb, face, and wattles, brilliant scarlet red. Deaf- 

 ears pure soft white, resembling white kid. ,Eyes red or pearl (red preferable, being a better constitution, and brighter looking). 

 Legs a brilliant yellow. Plumage all over a pure and perfect white, the straw-colour allowed in the cock by the American 

 Standard being very objectionable. 



Colour of Brown Leghorns.— /« bolh .J^jtw- Beak, comb, face, wattles, deaf-ears, and shanks as in White Leghorns. 

 Ej'es bright red. Colour of Cof/i— Head and hackle rich red, which may be striped with black towards the bottom. Back, 

 shoulder-coverts, and wing-bow deep violet or crimson-red, occasionally with a shade of orange. Wing-coverts a rich green black, 

 forming a bar across the wing. Primaries black, with a bay edging to lower web. Secondaries deep bay on outer web, which is 

 all that appears when wing is closed, and black on inner web ; end of every feather black, forming a black edge to corner of the 

 wing on upper side. Saddle red, ranging from bright red to rich deep red, with black stripes in the feathers — these not imperative. 

 (See our previous opinion on this point.) Breast and under-parts rich deep black, free from brown splashes. Tail black, glossed 

 with green or purple ; coverts black edged with brown. Colour of Hen — Hackle rich golden yellow striped with black, but not 

 quite solidly. Breast a salmon-red in upper part, running off into a brownish ashy colour at the thighs. Rest of plumage a rich 

 Ijrown partridge-marking, or light brown covered over with minute dark marking, except the true tail-feathers, which are black. 

 (Tlie nearer the whole colour of the hen to the proper exhibition-colour of Black-red Game the better.) 



Colour of Dominique Leghorns.—/// loth &.r«— Beak, comb, face, wattles, deaf-ears, eyes, and shanks same as in 

 Brown Leghorns. Colour all over a ground of bluish-grey, each feather barred or pencilled across with bands of darker bluish- 

 grey, rpproachiug black. To be free from pure black, white, red, or golden feathers. 



