BIOLOGY OF POULTRY KEEPIXO. IO7 



The external, visible evidences of a sound constitution and a 

 possession of abundant vitality and vigor are numerous. In the 

 first place the bird of sound constitution will be in perfect 

 health. Perhaps its most striking characteristic will be an inde- 

 pendence of disposition and demeanor.' By this is not neces- 

 sarily meant aggressiveness. The bird, whether male or female, 

 which is forever picking quarrels with its fellows is by no 

 means always the bird of greatest vigor. Strange as it may 

 seem a bird may indeed be ver>^ far from a mollycoddle and yet 

 have a peaceable disposition. It may be taken as an unfailing 

 characteristic of birds of high constitutional vigor, however, 

 that they are able to take care of themselves and may not be 

 imposed upon, or bullied by their fellows, with impunity. Wdiile 

 they may not pick a quarrel, they are abundantly able to make 

 a forceful presentation of the merits of their end of any debate 

 which another bird may choose to enter upon with them. In 

 other words they have, as has been said, an independence of 

 disposition; an ability, reaching to the limits of gallinaceous 

 capacity, to meet all situations which may arise in the day's 

 work of a fowl, whether food getting, fighting, rearing young, 

 or what not. 



The bird of high constitutional vigor will have a thrifty 

 appearance with a bright eye, and clean, well kept plumage. 

 The head will be broad and relatively short, giving in its ap- 

 pearance plain indication of strength. It will show nothing of 

 the long-drawn-out, sickly, crow-like appearance of the head 

 which is all too common amongst the inhabitants of the average 

 poultry yard. The beak will be relatively short and strong, thus 

 correlating with the general conformation of the head. Comb 

 and wattles will be bright in color and present a full-blooded, 

 healthy, vigorous appearance. 



The body of the bird of high constitutional vigor will be 

 broad and deep and well meated. with a frame well knit to- 

 gether, strong in the bone but not coarse. In fowls of strong 

 constitution and great a igor all the secondary sexual differences 

 will usually be well marked. In other words the males will be 

 masculine to a degree in appearance and behavior, and the 

 females correspondingly feminine. It must be noted, however, 

 that this last is a general rule to which there are occasional 

 exceptions. 



