162 
THE AMERICAN 
Back: Wide, and perfectly straight, and well furnished with 
saddle-feathers, — plumage, a rich greenish-black. 
Breast and Body: Breast, broad, full, and carried well for- 
ward : — Body, long, square, and well proportioned, and a rich, 
brilliant black throughout. 
Wings: Of medium size, and smoothly folded against the 
sides; primaries and secondaries, deep black; wing-coverts, 
brilliant greenish-black. 
Tail: Full, somewhat expanded, and carried rather erect; 
sickle-feathers, long, well curved, and lustrous greenish-black; 
tail-coverts, abundant, well curved, and rich greenish-black. 
Feet and Legs: Thighs, rather short, stout, and well set 
on the body : — Shanks, black or slate-color, short, rather fine in 
bone, and free from feathers. 
Carriage : Upright and noble. 
THE HEN. 
Head : Large and globular, the protuberance of the skull 
concealed by the crest; — plumage, rich, deep black: — Beak, 
black, with horn-colored tip, well curved, with highly arched, 
broad nostrils: — Eyes, full and bright. 
Crest and Beard: Crest, large and globular, compact and 
even, the feathers inclining backwards in an unbroken mass; — 
color, rich, deep black: — Beard, full, reaching back in a hand- 
some curve behind the eyes, — color, rich black. 
Comb : Small, the less the better. 
Ear-lobes and Wattles: Ear-lobes, red, small, and hid- 
den by the crest and beard : — Wattles, bright red, very small, 
and neatly rounded. 
Keck: Thick, and well arched, — plumage, rich, deep black, 
or greenish-black. 
Back: Straight and broad, — color of plumage, rich black, or 
greenish-black. 
