JUDGING 573 



and the total specific cut for shape or color in each section is the 

 aggregate of the cuts for the faults of that kind found. ^ 



If an obvious disqualification is noted as inspection begins, it is 

 not usual to score that specimen in competition. Under other con- 

 ditions scoring may be completed with the disqualification marked. 

 Usually a judge, as he examines each section, looks for disqualifica- 

 tions in that section. A novice in scoring should have before him 

 the Standard description of the variety he is judging, and should 

 be sure, before he passes a section, that he has duly considered 

 every specification under it. Omissions often cause faulty scores 

 and account for many mistakes in making awards by the score card. 



Ties are of common occurrence when score cards are used, — 

 more so than in comparison judging, because in using the latter 

 method a judge who finds birds equal in one or more sections may 

 make his decision on other sections. In comparison judging, two 

 or more birds are always actually under consideration. In profes- 

 sional score-card judging, each bird is independently compared 

 with a mental standard. In practice work an instructor with the 

 ideal in his mind gives the appropriate cuts for faults for certain 

 specimens or sections, and students determine cuts on other speci- 

 mens by comparison with these. In any case scoring is sure to 

 give many duplicate scores, and often birds which score alike may 

 be quite unlike, because the faults and cuts are differently distributed. 

 Ties in scoring need not be broken unless it is necessary to de- 

 termine rank for the award of prizes. The common rule for break- 

 ing ties of scored birds is to give the preference to the specimen 

 having the least cuts on shape. If a tie cannot be broken in this 

 way, comparison on any point agreed upon may be made and the 

 birds ranked accordingly. If shape cuts are equal, the specimen 

 nearest to the Standard weight may be ranked first. 



1 The judge may not actually estimate and add all cuts. Except for conspicu- 

 ous faults requiring a heavy cut he is more likely to consider shape or color in 

 each section as a whole, and mark on his estimate of the general quality of the 

 section. He could cut all faults in detail only by using smaller specific cuts than 

 J, and that would require the use of similar fractions all along the line, and a cum- 

 bersome increase of the grades of quality noted. The Standard contains a list of 

 faults for which specific cuts are recommended, but these are definite only as to 

 such things as mutilations. In most cases the range of the cuts — ^ to i-J, or 

 whatever it may be — is indicated, and the judge must decide which to use. 



