The Mature Hen, 
77 
between it arc! the eye-wattle. We have, in fact, scarcely represented the eye-wattle so large as 
it really is, finding that the effect on paper, when drawn of the exact dimensions, though by rule 
correct, gave a false effect and conveyed a false impression. The eye-wattle, here ’drawn one 
inch in diameter, was in the actual bird an eighth larger, but when drawn that size produced 
such a really false effect that it had to be reduced. In regard to the texture and build of the 
eye-wattle we need not add to our previous observations on this bird, the fine gullet of which 
will also be recognised. 
In Fig. 35 we similarly represent such a head as C in Fig. 33, supposed to be fully and 
perfectly developed in all points, so as to represent a really good ideal hen. The age is supposed 
here to be four years, as it is seldom, if ever, that a hen becomes so developed in a less space of 
time. It is, indeed, very rarely that a hen, however well bred, can be seen with a beak-wattle so 
fully developed and so well formed as this, but we have had a few very nearly approaching it in 
both points; and one bird in particular, which once belonged to Mr. Wiltshire, and which was 
known amongst his acquaintances as the “ eighteen bob ” hen, on account of the ridiculously low 
price at which she had been picked up, oame so very near the drawing that we may fairly say it is 
no exaggeration, except somewhat in the perfection of beak, which, as we observed in speaking of 
the cock, can rarely be found at mature age so straight, massive, and close-fitting as we here show. 
Hens, however, come nearer to perfect beaks than cocks as a rule, and we quite expect to see 
better beaks in old birds than any yet shown. Another grand Black hen, which came fully up to 
our diagram, was the property of Mr. F. Crossley, of Yorkshire, and we never remember her being 
exhibited without winning. We have had, as already remarked, several others in our own 
possession closely resembling it ; and as for Dun hens, we have had and seen many of that colour 
which far surpassed this drawing in all but beak-wattle, and indeed possessed measurement which 
could hardly be believed without seeing the birds ; but as a rule Duns are not so perfect as 
Blacks in shape and fine proportion, so that we cannot remember seeing a Dun hen so fine in 
these points as here shown. 
On a closer examination of this mature hen’s head, the texture of the wattle of the upper 
mandible will appear finer, and showing the three divisions, B', b", and B'", less full and projecting 
than in the cock bird ; but still the same formation of the three portions can be traced, and the 
finish at the back part of the last portion, b"', is even better, if anything, than in the preceding head, 
