t 62 
The Illustrated Book of Plgeons. 
A few remarks as to the correct application of this table may be useful. In the ground-colour, 
we allot two out of the three points for the rump, because we know if that is right all the body will 
be, and it only remains to give the other point to the neck and shoulders, which are also important. 
Thus, a bird cannot win all points for ground unless good on neck and shoulders. Both points for 
flights should be reckoned to the bird nearest alike on each side in the break of feather ; and a 
bird having a Kite feather on either of the three outside flights should lose one of the two points, 
and if it had this fault on both sides should not be reckoned any points for flights, but lose both 
(it must be remembered we are here considering both young birds under twelve months old, 
as shown against each other). Some consider a white feather a worse fault than a Kite feather ; 
but we would consider them both alike. If the faulty feather was in the fifth or sixth flight we 
would let it pass, especially if a white one, as it can only be seen when handled. Of the three 
points for tail, we would reckon one for ground-colour, and two points for regularity and standard 
quality of markings on each feather ; so that a bird good in either point could not lose more than 
two out of the three points. Thus, no bird which is good only in one colour-point could rank high, 
but must really have several good qualities to make a high average for colour. 
The six points for shape and carriage must be fairly estimated. This will be, perhaps, the most 
difficult task, giving a bird not first-class in this property, but still having some merit, two, three, 
four, or five points in lieu of six, as it deserved. We might, perhaps, divide this property, as three 
points for full breast with head thrown far back, two for trailing of the flights, and one for the rise 
or fulness on the rump, which gives a finished look and shows off the plumage. 
The points for beak need little explanation. A beak both coarse and long will lose three 
points. There would have been no need to divide the beak-wattle, but that the making of the beak 
sometimes checks the growth of the wattle, and keeps that fine. We believe this is akvays the 
reason of a fine wattle on a coarse beak, whenever it occurs ; but, as wc cannot positively say it is 
so in every case, we give one point for this property, which will not be enough to overpower a bird 
really better in other points. 
As regards the head, we must say that if we knew it to be honest we would give it the same 
value as shape and carriage ; but knowing how few are so, and that others can be made to deceive 
the most skilful judges, we think it best to give only four, which we have found quite enough to 
correctly rank the birds, while it docs not allow so much advantage to an artificial bird over an 
honest one. 
Of the two points for eye, one should be reckoned for roundness.. Some birds have oval eyes. 
Such would lose one point ; but an eye bad in colour should lose both points. Legs and feet 
need no remark. 
The only difference wc would make in the adult bird, would be to add two points more for 
proper break or spangling of the body-feather, and count two points less for tail ; since no old bird 
can have a really “standard” tail, and should not therefore be allowed to beat another for it by 
more than one point. On the other hand, a bird two, three, or four years old, and showing little 
or no break or spangling of feather, would lose three points for the want of this pretty property, as 
we think it fairly deserves to do, since it will then exhibit this point if it is ever going to do so, 
and no old bird looks well without it. 
