JUDGING 567 



Methods of judging. For determination of the relative general 

 quality of a limited number of specimens, or of particular quality 

 in few or many specimens, comparison is the natural, simple method. 

 In an exhibition where all that is required is to select and rank 

 the few best specimens in each class this method may be sufificient. 

 If classes are large and competition close, it may be so difficult to 

 decide, by observation alone, comparisons involving many charac- 

 ters, that the judge adopts some simple system of marking birds as 

 he examines them, and uses these records to assist him in reach- 

 ing his final conclusions. From this method of marking for quality 

 is developed the system of judging by score card, now in common 

 use for judging many things. 



Scoring is merely a mode of comparison which may be described 

 as formal comparison, zvith registration of estimated valri.es of 

 parts as compared. 



Whichever method is used, the actual standard of comparison is 

 the perfect form of each character as the mind of the judge sees it. 



In judging, each character is considered separately, though an 

 expert judge may make his observations so rapidly that he really 

 considers a number of related characters collectively. When the 

 number of particular characters is small, a score card may provide 

 for specific records of the estimate of the value of each. When 

 the number of characters to be considered is large, as it is in 

 judging poultry on external points, a card providing for specific 

 records of estimates of all characters is too elaborate for ordinary 

 use, and, to simplify the process of recording the score, parts are 

 grouped in sections, and all their qualities considered and their 

 values recorded together. 



Note. Theoretically, scoring (including comparison and the making of the 

 record) consists in deducting from 100, taken as the symbol of perfection, a 

 specific amount for each fault noted, the difference between 100 and the total 

 amount to be deducted giving the score of the specimen. 



On the erroneous assumption that the arbitrary symbol 100 is an expression 

 of actual value in the thing judged, the sections in which characters are grouped 

 have been assigned numerical values, the allotments being in every case so dis- 

 tributed that the aggregate of "points" gives the total too. Standard scales 

 of points are variable both as to the numbers of sections and as to the numer- 

 ical values allotted to them. The scales of points in the Standard of Perfection 

 are arranged on the theory that sections may differ in relative value in the 



