48o 



The Illustrated Book- of Poultry. 



cock carried very far back, or arclied, but the plumage resembling the hen's, and quite free from true hackle-feathers. Pody— 

 General appearance compact, the back being very short, and the breast very full and prominent ; the wings carried very low, those 

 of the cock almost touching the ground. The cock's saddle-feathers resemble the hen's. Legs and /r^/— Thighs and legs short, 

 the shanks being slender, and perfectly free from feather. TJr//— Rather large, that of the cock being perfectly square, or hen- 

 shaped, but rather larger, and carried very high, so as nearly (often quite) to touch tlie back of his head. ^Z:^— The smaller the 

 better, but cocks under twenty-two ounces and hens under sixteen ounces are now seldom seen. Formerly birds were shown much 

 smaller than this, but the cocks have increased in size more than the hens. General Shape— ?Mox\. and deep. Can7ffj-,f— Extra- 

 ordinarily vain and strutting in the cock ; pert and inquisitive in the hen. 



VALUE OF DEFECTS IN JUDGING. 

 Points of Merit. 

 A bird, perfect in shape, style, colour, lacing, and 

 condition, and not too large, to count in 



pomls ......■• 



For an extra small bird, otherwise good, se= 

 Note ". 



a With birds in average condition, cocks weighing twenty ounces and hens seventeen ounces to be considered perfect ; over 

 that weight, one point to be deducted for the first ounce, two points (in addition) for the second, &c., as in the previous scale. 

 Under that weight, three points per ounce to be credited. 



'' This refers only to such slight elongation or curvature of the upper feathers as will not disqualify a bird from competition. 



Disqualifications. — Sickles or hackles in the cock. Single combs. Legs any ether colour than slaty-blue or black. Ground- 

 colour conspicuously spotted, or entire absence of lacing on any visible feather. Wry-tails, or any other deformity. Any fraudulent 

 dyeing, dressing, or trimming. 



We had proceeded to frame other scales, but found on comparison that they resolved them- 

 selves into the same general elements ; which is not to be wondered at, when it is considered that 

 in most cases all other Bantams are shown together. The following general scale, then, will be 

 found to judge all other Bantams with sufficient accuracy. The characteristics have been 

 sufficiently described in the text, and in most cases, in fact, can scarcely be given with the minute 

 accuracy possible in the Black, White, or Laced breeds. 



VALUE OF DEFECTS IN JUDGING OTHER BANTAMS. 



Points of Merit. 

 A bird, perfect in shape, style, colour, and con- 

 dition, and not too large, to count in points . loo 

 For an extra small bird, otherwise good, see Note ". 



" Birds in average condition, not exceeding twenty-two oimces in cocks or eighteen ounces in hens, to be considered "perfect." 

 Above that weight, deducting one point for the first ounce, two for the second (in addition), three for the third, &c. Under that 

 weight, credit two points per ounce. It is, however, as in all cases, to be the apparent sizes of birds of such weights, in average 

 condition, which are considered, and not merely absolute -weight. 



Disqualifications. — Wry-tails, or any other deformity. Foul-coloured feathers in black or white breeds, or white or black 

 feathers in coloured breeds. Deaf-ears, combs, or legs not fairly in accordance with the accepted standard of the variety. Any 

 fraudulent dyeing, dressing, or trimming 



