Difficulties of a Scale. 173 



not a constellated map, and let it be not q?tite so perfect in cap though still good : its place 

 is still in («) or (b), because its spangle is not of that ultra-excellence a.T to give it any chance 

 in a competition where its cap would count nil: let it compete with its fellows among nice 

 shades of approximate perfection of cap. Given a third bird, altogether superior in spangle, 

 something exceptional, colour and other points all of a high order, but the cap slightly 

 blemished, sufficiently so, however, to raise a doubt as to whether it would not interfere 

 with its winning chances : this bird represents, practically, the pivot on which the classification 

 turns. Two courses are open for it ; either to enter it in («) or {b), where its cap will be 

 measured by the degree of its merit and possibly be assessed at a low rate, or to enter it in 

 the " blemished " section {c) or (d), sinking the cap and competing on the basis of its other 

 commanding features. 



The whole matter may be briefly summed up as follows : — Absolute perfection in the cap 

 of a Lizard is so extremely rare that to insist on its invariable presence without the slightest 

 departure therefrom is, practically, to demand what does not exist. To meet this, degrees of 

 perfection must be recognised and judged according to their approximation to the perfect 

 standard. Any Lizard with a blemished cap may decline to compete in Classes {a) and {b), and 

 claim admission to (c) or {d) ; but this involves the utter and entire renunciation of the points 

 which represent cap value, to be judged for its other standard features only. 



We close with a Scale of points, in which we endeavour as nearly as we can to express our 

 estimate of the relative values of the many points of this most beautiful example of developed 

 beauties. Many difficulties present themselves in attempting this, one of the most unsatisfactory parts 

 of our task. We have seen but few scales we could not pick to pieces, our own among the number ; 

 and for each bird we have compiled at least half-a-dozen, of which no two were alike— a very cheering 

 and consolatory state of things. In every case we try to build up our bird in a mathematical sort 

 of Chinese-puzzle fashion, and there are always one or two pieces which won't fit — square pegs 

 which won't go into round holes. The most carefully-digested arrangement always results in some 

 disproportionate valuation of two or more points, and altering one of them throws the whole 

 machinery out of gear. Roughly, it is generally estimated that the spangle represents one-half of 

 the bird, and the cap the other half, wings and tail a third half, and colour a fourth, with sundry 

 small points remaining, all having their own positive values ; so that if we say let / = our Lizard, 

 then spangle = 4, cap =■. i-, wings and tail = ~ colour = 4i and we have the following interesting 



equation — 



till , 



2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + - = ^ 



or 4 / -I- ... = 2 / 

 .-. 2 / -h ... = / 



This is a plain mathematical demonstration that it requires something more than two average 

 Lizards to make one good example, which is a fact; and we cordially commend the study of the 

 above algebraical formula to any one anxious to reduce the bird to a system of figures of which 

 the sum shall be / = 100. 



We shall frame the following scale in a way differing slightly from our previous plan. Being a 

 Distinctive Plumage bird, we make that our starting-point ; and inasmuch as the effective display 

 of one of its features, spangle, is in a great measure dependent on a broad back, and cannot well 

 have much of the attributes of "size and distinctness" without the broad back and compact feather, 

 just as a wide cap cannot be present in the absence of a broad skull, we have eliminated the items 

 " Feather " and " Shape," with their separate properties as set forth in the " Norwich " scales, and 



