BREED TVI'E 73 



the back aft. The neck of the male is much heavier and fuller than 

 the neck of the female, because of the longer plumage that grows 

 on the male neck. A weak bird has a long, thin neck with the 

 hackle feathers drawn up from the body, while a masculine type of 

 male has an abundant hackle flowing well over the shoulders and 

 blending with the body plumage. Early in the show season, when 

 the hackle plumage is not all in, the neck is found defective in shape, 

 but it is a shape defect that will right itself with time. 



It is particularly important that the neck of the Wyandotte 

 should be well arched to carry out the graceful curves characteristic 

 of the breed. The neck of the Rock is somewhat longer and not 

 as fully arched, and the neck of the Red is similar, the distinctive 

 character of the Ived being found in other sections. 



Wings: The wings lie at the side below the liack line and the 

 bottom line of the wings should be horizontal, carrying out the level, 

 well-balanced effect secured by a horizontal Ijack. If the wing 

 droops like a sword hanging from a belt, it is defective in shape 

 and spoils the symmetry of the profile. 



The wings of the Wyandotte are medium in size. The wings of 

 the Rhode Island Red are large and long. The wings of the Plymouth 

 Rock are as long, because the body of the bird is somewhat larger 

 than that of a Red; and it is desirable that the long flight feathers 

 of the wing should be flat and not curve inward. If the end points 

 of the wing curve in to the body, they make the bird appear shorter. 

 The wings of the Wyandotte should be slightly convexed at the 

 wing bows, but the primaries and secondaries should not pinch in 

 at the wing points, for in this breed, with its fuller development of 

 cushion, wings that pinch in spoil the sides of the bird. The sides 

 should be as smooth as possible, the cushion and wing points meetinj^ 

 without a pronounced line of demarkation. i 



The wings should be found to be well formed when the wing- 

 is opened out; the formation should be so perfect, and the muscles 

 sufficiently strong, to fold the wing back correctly and firmly. When 

 there is an open space between the primaries and secondaries when 

 the wing is opened, the defect is called a split wing. When the 

 primaries fold on the outside of the secondaries, the defect is known 

 as a twisted wing, and such a specimen is only fit for market. When 

 a single twisted feather grows in a wing, it is well to pluck it and 

 let another one grow to take its place. When a primary or secondary 

 feather is plucked because of off-color, the wing should be cut on 

 shape because of missing feather. 



Breast: When a bird is viewed from the front, there should be 

 good distance between the wings. This gives breadth to the breast. 

 The greatest deficiency in breadth of breast is found in Plymouth 

 Rocks that have been bred for length of back and in Rhode Island 

 Reds that have been bred to an elongated ideal irrespective of th? 



