82 



THE ASIATICS. 



tips in tail proper; cutting one-half to two and one-half 

 for carriage between upright and full squirrel position of 

 same. 



Positive white beyond that allowed in all black plum- 

 age, to condemn a score card record. 



SHANKS AND FEET. 



Lower thighs and shanks long, but not crane-like; the 

 former clothed in coal black clinging plumage curved close 

 about the hock, having the line in perfect profile below the 

 lower body line. Shanks well feathered down the outside, 

 upon and covering the feet to the web and covering full 

 length of outer toes; the present demand being for plumage 

 to grow upon outer toe to the tip joint. Scales, and skin 

 a blue black, showing pink shadings or violet between scales 

 and in web of feet. Toes medium in length, straight and 

 well spread. Bottoms of feet flesh color or having a pink 

 shade to same. 



Defects. Insufficient shank and foot plumage; knees 

 turned in at hock; shanks faded to a willow color, or very 

 short in bone. For these cut one-half to one and one-half 

 points. 



Yellow bottoms to feet; outer toe not feathered to tip 

 joint, if not completely covered by shank plumage; positive 

 knock knees. Pass all such as unworthy of prizes or score 

 card record. 



Outer toes if feathered beyond the web, balance be com- 

 pletely covered by shank plumage, surely should not be cut 

 beyond one point and should save the otherwise worthy 

 specimen from disqualification. Feathering of middle toe 

 is and should be immaterial and of no value in a score card 

 record. It is folly to make feathering of middle toe a defect, 

 when if nature were to give us all outer toes feathered to 

 tip joint, she would feather all of seventy per cent of the 

 middle toes. It is folly to punish nature for that which fol- 

 lows her fulfillment of our desires. 



THE FEMALE. 



The remarks for weight and condition are fully met 

 under the description for the male. 



COMB. 



In the female, medium size; fine in texture (but it is a 

 fact that nature has furnished them rather large and thin 

 at the base, which makes it hard to secure a majority in an 

 upright position and straight upon the head). The smaller 

 we can secure them, the better, serrated into the regulation 

 five points, so graduated as to make the center one the' larg- 

 est, all being a rich scarlet color. 



Defects. Too large and thin, twisted or lopped; corru- 

 gated along the sides. For these cut one-half to one and 

 one- half points. Side sprigs cut one point for each. "We 

 do not believe in disqualifying for lopped combs in females 

 of this breed. 



HEAD. 



Apparently carried more prominently forward than in 

 the male. Skull medium in width and long. Face less 

 deep, giving less surface of red in proportion than the male. 

 Byes large, in color dark brown or hazel. Beak medium in 

 length, evenly arched to point, being fairly stout at juncture 

 with skull. Color, black or dark horn color, so-called. Ear- 

 lobes medium in size and development with wattles clearly 

 defined, but rounded close up to lobes, both scarlet red in 

 color. 



Defects. Narrow in skull; pale or light colored eyes; 

 elongated beak, the same too straight; depressed in front of 

 eyes; white in earlobes. For these cut one-half to one and 



one-half as in degree. We think, however, that white ap- 

 pearing to any extent or beaks crossed, should class the 

 specimen as unworthy and withhold the score card. 



NECK. 



Apparently long; the arch being rather a moderate 

 curve from head to cape. Plumage not especially full, but 

 long in feathers, which cover completely the cape. Surface 

 color a hard metallic black, but lustrous in a green sheen 

 in lower portion; under-color being black or a very dark 

 slate. 



Defects. Neck short; lack of green sheen; failure of 

 plumage to cover cape; under-color too light, approaching 

 gray. For these cut one-half to a full point for each. White 

 in under-'color should debar the specimen from winning and 

 score card should be withheld. 



BACK. 



Back proper, short; cape flat and medium width; the 

 plumage flowing from cape to high upon tail; so near 

 straight is the concave line as to appear more of an inclined 

 plane in outline in our best specimens; the feathers at ex- 

 treme rear of saddle, with the tail coverts, curve' downward. 

 Color, black at cape, shading into a green sheen or metallic 

 lustre toward tail and back of thighs; under-color black, 

 shading to slate color. 



Defects. Convexed or marked in a deep concave line 

 from cape to tail coverts; plumage short and straight; want 

 of the green sheen; bronze bars across feathers; dull black 

 throughout; under-color approaching gray. Each of which 

 are to be cut one-half to one full point. For crooked shell 

 bone slipped hips, under-color reaching positive white, or 

 positive white in web of feather deprive specimen of score 

 card or prizes. 



BREAST. 



Long in its sweep from throat to point of keel; quarter, 

 medium full; color a deep black, with under-color black. 



Defects. Dull or sooty black surface color; flat across 

 from wing to wing; decided wedge shape from depressed 

 quarters; under-color approaching gray. Cut one-half to 

 one point for each. White in under-color, when found, 

 should condemn specimen as unworthy. 



BODY AND FLUFF. 



Keel bone curved low, with full keel muscles; from for- 

 ward part of keel to thigh a slight concave line; plumage 

 smooth and clinging, leaving hock in profile; fluff but fairly 

 developed so as to give a slight oblong appearance to body 

 structure; color of all, coal black; under-color black or 

 dark slate. 



Defects. Dull sooty black plumage, falling down of 

 abdomen; crooked keel bone, so marked as to mar lower line 

 of body structure; too light in under-color. For these one- 

 half to one and one-half points, is the usual cut. Positive 

 White in under-color or. yellow skin in any part of body 

 should condemn the specimen as unworthy a score card 

 record. 



WINGS. 



Large in an Asiatic sense; the rose well cupped to give 

 apparent roundness to sides; fronts buried in breast plum- 

 age quite near the front, with the points well buried between 

 saddle hangers and fluff; color, fronts, primaries, upper web 

 of secondaries a coal black; rose, coverts and bay a rich 

 green over black. 



Defects. Flat in the rose; not folded smoothly; want- 

 ing in the green sheen; slaty spots in primaries and secon- 

 daries; bronze bars in surface plumage. For these make a 



