80 



THE ASIATICS. 



breeds in the American classes, which is but to acknowledge 

 that the breeders fail in the handling? When pens of twelve 

 birds, one male and eleven females, are seen at full one 

 hundred pounds weight — thirteen pounds above adult weight 

 even, does it not present an argument for an increased stan- 

 dard weight for this breed? We have demanded for them 

 ten, eight and one-half, eight and six and one-half pounds. 



The preseDt condition of things makes the awards in our 

 exhibitions hinge solely on color, because standard weights 



Ideal Black Langshan Male, Illustrated by the Late Artist Lee, under toe 

 Direction of I. K. Felch. 



are so low that they are inoperative. It also handicaps all 

 other weight controlled breeds competing with them for 

 sweepstakes prizes, and this handicap is fully a point in 

 favor of the Langshan, giving them at least eight chances 

 in ten to win. Condition is simply a resultant which only 

 in a general way can be considered under the head of health. 

 Uncleanliness or accident from bad conditions is invariably 

 disclosed in the sections which are affected by it, so far as 

 this sectfon (condition) goes it becomes an intuitive consid- 

 eration for the judges, as an additional defect other than 

 is punished in the several sections; this double application 

 being seldom applied. 



THE COMB. 



Rather more than medium in size and longer in its reach 

 back, as compared with the whole class of single combs, 

 evenly serrated into five points so that the center one is 

 largest and stands highest. The rear point is counted with 

 the flange (the minute points at rear upon the flange are 

 not counted, nor are they mentioned, as they are almost 

 never illustrated by our artists), the whole fine in texture, 

 erect and straight upon the head, smooth at the sides, and 

 free from all wrinkles or corrugations. 



Defects. Too large; not setting firmly 

 upon the head; corrugated along the 

 sides; curved from a straight line from 

 front to rear; unevenly serrated. For 

 these cut one-half to one and one-half, 

 as in degree. Cut one point for each side 

 sprig developed. 



If twisted into a letter S shape at back, 

 or lopped in a male, the bird should be 

 condemned as a breeder and score card 

 record withheld. 



HEAD AND ITS ADJUNCTS 

 Carriage slightly forward and high, be- 

 ing medium long in skull and deep in 

 face, which is a dark shade of red; eyes 

 a dark hazel or approaching black; the 

 yellow discoloration being a defect; beak 

 fairly well curved to point and of dark 

 horn color or black, shading to light slate 

 in lower edge or rim; the lower bill of 

 the latter color. 



Barlobes well developed, hanging low 

 with well developed wattles, their lower 

 extremities hanging below lower line of 

 the earlobes, all this embellishment being 

 in color crimson red. 



Defects. Depression in front of eyes; 

 want of proper arch to upper mandible; 

 pale or yellow eyes. For these cut one- 

 half to one and one-half as in degree. 

 Diminutive size in earlobes and wattles 

 one-half to two points. In the case of 

 absence of wattles, crossed beaks or 

 enamel in earlobes, withhold a score card 

 record or prizes. 



NECK 

 Long; thereby has less apparent junc- 

 ture with head; the arch is less pro- 

 nounced than in other Asiatics; hackle 

 plumage long, covering well shoulder and 

 cape; the surface color, reaching well up 

 to the web, is a metallic black, which at 

 other than a direct angle gives off a 

 green sheen; under-'color black or dark 

 slate. 

 Defects. Head carried so far forward as to cause a too 

 straight appearance of neck and want of breast develop- 

 ment; want of sheen to hackle plumage; under-color too 

 light, approaching a gray or white; hackle short, falling in 

 a full flow over cape. For each, cut one-half to one and one- 

 half points, in degree, as they fall short of description. In 

 under-color, carry cuts to two points before disqualifying 

 for positive white. 



BACK. 



Back proper, short; cape, broad and flat; saddle, rising 

 in an inclined plane from in front of hip joints to high upon 

 tail coverts; saddle plumage long, merging with tail coverts 



