54 



THE ASIATICS. 



cannot we find a perfect section for all "the sections that go 

 to make up a perfect whole in our best one of a thousand? 

 We have only to substitute perfect sections for the ones 

 found faulty in him and the trick is done, and when done 

 have you not a standard by which to compare and judge all 

 defects found? 



Apply this rule to Buff Cochins and I ask: Is your con- 

 ception of perfection in the head other than the best head 

 you ever saw? Then suppose you take the first prize male, 

 exhibited in the class of American Buff Cochins at New 

 York, 1893, that scored 96y 2 points by the score card system 

 of applying the Standard. This specimen was claimed by 

 all the judges present, to be the best ever exhibited in 

 America, which I believe is true, nor has he ever been beaten 

 since, yet his comb was not absolutely evenly serrated, hav- 

 ing but four points; while cutting one-half point for his 

 defect, how easy to describe his comb with five points so 

 graded as to make the middle one the largest and stand the 

 highest, when our work presents perfection. His back was 

 faultless in shape, but a trifle faded; what had we to do but 



An English-Bred Buff Cochin Female. 



describe his back as it was and to describe perfect color. 

 Thus, by such deduction, we easily obtain in the end a per- 

 fect standard. At the same time, note his defects, give him 

 a score card value of 96% his specific value as tried by your 

 perfetet standard. 



This bird was a grand compromise between the cham- 

 pions of full feathered and American Cochins and accepted 

 as strictly first-class, and worthy to win the "first and all 

 specials" that he did. But our pen picture of the breed must 

 be our ideal of a perfect Cochin. Any further development 

 of plumage, we believe will be at the expense of practical 

 worth, and as it is we make a partial sacrifice to exhibitors' 

 demands. 



OUR STANDARD. 



WEIGHT AND CONDITION. 



In the Cochin, as in all the other breeds of fowls, 

 the authorities have wisely left the value of weight to be 

 determined by the scales, by deducting two points to the 

 pound for all deficit of full standard weight, that being 

 eleven pounds for cocks, nine pounds for cockerels, eight 

 and one-half pounds for hens and seven pounds for pullets. 



The question of condition Becomes one of general 



health, cleanliness and breakage of plumage. The percent- 

 age of damage is left to the decision of judge, with right 

 to banish from the show room for disease. 



Defects. Puffed cheeks, watery eyes and soiled plumage 

 beyond reasonable effect of cooping. For these cut one-half 

 to one and one-half points as a reasonable per cent shall 

 dictate. In this breed an isolated feather broken should 

 be ignored, but general breakage to disfigure should be pun- 

 ished under the head of section where breakage occurs. 



As a matter of fact condition is a resultant, and 

 the utility of the unused points for the defects of condi- 

 tion always appears in some other section and becomes more 

 intelligently punished in the section where located, yet it 

 is the effect of condition. To cut such under thei head of 

 condition usually has the effect of cutting twice for the same 

 defect. 



THE COMB 



The comb is single, small as compared to size of breed, 

 should be serrated into five points, the middle one the larg- 

 est and highest; forward flanges, counting with first point, 

 rear flange and rear point counting together, leaving three 

 between top line, the top forming a line parallel with the 

 natural curve of the crown of the head. The sides smooth, 

 free from wrinkles, corrugations or side sprigs; these last 

 having a specific cut of one point for each sprig developed; 

 the whole perfectly erect and in a straight line from front 

 to rear. 



Defects. For each point less or more than five cut one- 

 half point; for turning to left or right at rear, or corruga- 

 tions along the sides, excessively large or ill-shaped, one-half 

 to one and one-half points; twisted or falling combs in fe- 

 males one-half to two points, according to degree. Combs 

 other than, single in either sex or twisted in front or falling 

 to one side in males, condemn as unworthy a score card 

 record. 



The rear flange is not uniform in males, nor do 

 the artists illustrate them correctly; some are turned 

 smooth, others have upon the flange two and three small 

 points. It is only the rear perfect point in front of flange 

 that is counted to secure the five described above or by 

 the Standard. This has been a fruitful cause of the dispar- 

 agement of scores between judges. Whether the flange be 

 smooth and rounded from its rear point, or has the scalloped 

 character that presents the three minute points is immate- 

 rial if both give a graceful finish to the rear portion of the 

 comb. 



HEAD AND ITS ADJUNCTS. 



In this breed the head is wide in skull, deep in face as a 

 whole, appears short and shows prominently in its junction 

 with the neck. Plumage a dark orange ocherous color, eyes 

 large and bright, bay or red, beak heavy at junction with 

 skull, but evenly arched to its point, being a deep yellow in 

 color. Ear-lobes well developed, especially in the male, wat- 

 tles hanging in a pendulous manner below lower point of 

 lobes. This feature when developed is much smaller in 

 proportion and more closely rounded to throat in the fe- 

 males; the whole free from ridges or coarseness in texture, 

 the head as a section carried well forward (a drop line from 

 point of beak to ground will clear the breast by an inch). 



Defects. Skull long, narrow and depressed in front of 

 eyes, beak too straight or turned slightly to one side or 

 tainted with foreign color; ear-lot>es very small, eyes other 

 than bay or red, face shriveled from disease, should be cut 

 one-half to one and one-half for each according to the de- 

 gree of the defect. Wattles in males too small or nearly 

 absent, one-half to three points. When the wattles are ab- 

 sent or merely rudimentary, the bird should be deprived of 

 score card record. 



