STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE. 
71 
Neck: Blue, shaded with black, rather long, and nicely- 
arched, — the hackle short and close. 
Back: Dark blue, rather short, flat, broad across the 
shoulders, and narrowing to the tail,— the stern slender and 
neat, and the saddle-feathers blue, tinged with golden-red or 
yellow, and very short and close. 
Breast and Body: Breast, broad, full and round:— Body, 
very firm and muscular, not soft or hollow on the sides, broad- 
est at the shoulders and tapering to the tail, and, in color of 
plumage, deep blue throughout. 
Wings: Of medium length and powerful, the butts and 
shoulders slightly raised, as if for a sudden spring; the re- 
mainder not drooping, but carried compactly against the sides, 
the points resting under the saddle-feathers: primaries and 
secondaries, dark blue ; wing-coverts, blue, tinged with golden- 
red or yellow. 
Tail: Dark blue, of medium length, carried well together, 
and at a moderate elevation, — tail-coverts nicely curved, and 
deep blue in color. 
Legs: Thighs, rather long, round, stout, hard and firm, and 
placed well forward on the body: — Shanks, blue-black or olive, 
rather long, bony, clean and strong, and standing well and 
evenly apart, the scales smooth and close, and the spurs set on 
low: — Feet, broad, thin and flat, the toes long, straight and 
spreading, and well furnished with strong nails; the hind-toes 
set low on the feet, standing well backwards, and flat on the 
ground, and not merely touching with the points, or duck- 
footed. 
Hardness of Feather: Body-feathers, short, hard and 
firm, — quills, very hard and strong. 
THE HEN. 
Head: Very dark blue, shaded with black, long, slender, 
tapering, and very neat in appearance : — Beak, black, or brown- 
ish-black, slightly curved, sharp at the point and stout at the base. 
