CHAPTER IX. 



COMB-LOP. 



In races having a large single comb this is usually erect in the male, 

 but in the female lops over to the right or left side of the head. This lop is 

 determined before hatching; indeed, in the male it may be ascertainable 

 only in the embryo or in the recently hatched chick. The position of the 

 comb is permanent throughout the life of the pullet and hen and, if pressed 

 to the opposite side, it quickly returns to its original position. At one time 

 I entertained the hypothesis that its position was determined by the pres- 

 sure of the foot against the head while the chick was still within the shell; 

 but after finding the comb lying both to the right and to the left when in 

 contact with the foot I abandoned this hypothesis as untenable. It seemed 

 possible that this position is hereditary, and so data were collected to test 

 this hypothesis. It is not always easy to decide definitely, even for the 

 female, as to the direction of the lop; for the anterior part of the comb 

 may lop to the right, the posterior part to the left, or vice versa. In that 

 case one selects the larger or better defined lopping portion to designate as 

 the lop. This is usually the posterior portion of the comb. However, such 

 doubtful cases may be omitted from consideration here, as there are plenty 

 of examples of well-defined lop on both sides of the head. 



Table 56. 



69 



