SILVER PEXCILED WYANDOTTES. 



53 



It will be noticed In this description that slight pen- 

 ciling is allowed in the black ot the hackle feathers. We 

 think, however, that the committee in framing this descrip- 

 tion should have designated that only the lower part of 

 liackle should have this penciling, as the best- specimens 

 that we have found show the correct color until the cape 

 or lower part of hackle is reached, then the penciling be- 

 gins to show, and the last feathers, or the ones at junction 

 of back, show very nearly as much lacing as the back itself. 



Fig. 63, feather No. 1, dlluatrates the ideal hackle 

 feather as selected from about the center of neck of one 

 of the hens referred to in the St. Louis exhibit. 



Feather No. 2 was taken about half way from the 



tion we can never expect great things as a breeder. The 

 Standard describes it as "Gray with distinct dark penciling, 

 outlines of which conform to shape of feather; feathers 

 free from white shafting; under color, dark slate." 



Feather No. 1, Fig. 64, shows our ideal of a perfect 

 feather, showing the triple lacing with about the right 

 amount ot black and silvery white. A back showing color 

 like this should pass without discount. 



Feather No. 2 has the right number of lines, but they 

 are poorly divided — zigzag in shape — and should be dis- 

 counted 1 point. 



Feather No. 3 is uneven in lacing, one side showing 

 fairly well in the black, while the white is quite defective, 



junction of the head and shows a slight tracing of white in 

 the black center. This lacing is somewhat indistinct — the 

 black and white mingle together and should be discounted 

 %point. 



Feather No. 3 was taken from near the junction of 

 back and shows too much white in under color and tracing 

 of penciling not distinct enough. This feather should be 

 discounted 1 point — % for light under color and % for the 



black intermingling, and very defective on the other side 

 of shaft. A back like this should be discounted 1% points. 



Feather No. 4 fails entirely in lacing. It is simply a 

 mixed-up color of black and white, and in view ot the fact 

 that both the black and white ar defective should be dis- 

 counted 3 points. 



Feather No. 5 is better in lacing than No. 4, but is en- 

 tirely too dark at the points, making a dark surface that 



Fig. 65. 



mingling of black and white, failing in the distinct lines. 



Feather No. 4 is fairly good on one side, but breaks 

 up too much on the other, and should be discounted 2 

 points. 



Feather No. 5 is entirely too dark. The outside lacmg 

 is almost entirely lacking, the black running to the surface, 

 making a dark ring around the neck. A neck showing 

 plumage like this should be discounted 3 points. 



Back. 



This is a very important section from a color as well 

 as a shape standpoint— in fact, it is the keynote of the 

 structure. Without good color and good shape m this sec- 



is objectionable from the fancier's standpoint- and color 

 that would be discarded by an experienced breeder from 

 either a cockerel or pullet-mated pen. A feather like this 

 should be discounted 2% points. 



Breast. 



This section has a valuation of ten points, and is 

 equally divided — iive for shape and five for color. In color, 

 it should be the same as that of the back — gray, with dis- 

 tinct dark penciling, outline of which conforms to shape 

 of feather — and this color should be carried well up under 

 throat; under color, dark slate. 



Feather No. 1, Fig. 65, conforms to our idea of a 



