The Mane and Chain. 
247 
uneven. Perhaps the old fanciers were less particular in these finer points of regularity and even- 
ness than we are now ; at all events, we know from experience that no artificial means can make a 
bad bird really equal in appearance to a high-class one, in the eyes of any judge who fairly under- 
stands the variety ; and on the other hand, birds are bred now with chains so much better than in 
Moore’s time, that such operations are really not needed, plenty of stock being obtainable which 
requires nothing of the kind. These are, however, almost always short-faced ; and we have only 
seen very few indeed of the long-faced birds which were quite satisfactory in chain. 
On the other hand, some of the long-faced and otherwise faulty birds often excel in one 
point in which the short-faced are, conversely, apt to fail, viz., the inane. This is also the great 
fault of the very small specimens. The mane is formed by the feathers which grow towards the 
Fig. 55 - — Long Head, Faulty Hood, and Short Chain, showing no Mane. 
back, growing out so full, and so falling into what we may call the sweep of the chain and hood, 
as to form a full crest, in place of the notch which is seen in poorly feathered birds, formed by the 
parting of the feathers. It is not easy further to describe this feature, but we think all the fore- 
going remarks will be understood by comparing Figs. 54 and 55 ; where Fig. 54 shows the Jacobin 
points as desired, with hood, mane, and chain well developed and finished, and with a short head 
and good carriage, and Fig. 55 represents a long-headed bird, with hood not close-fitting, and no 
mane. It will be seen how the notch or hollow behind of the faulty bird is replaced in the model 
one, and in our plates, by the full crest or mane formed by the abundant growth of feathers behind. 
The more depth to the back of this mane the better, and in a first-class bird it will be as much 
sometimes as four inches from the front of the chain to the back of the mane. It is not, however, 
so hard to get sufficient depth of feather as to get the proper shape, which is termed by some, 
especially Manchester fanciers, the “ hog-mane.” It is wanted as full or convex as possible ; 
smooth and even at the crest, not ragged or irregular ; and thin, like a piece of paper folded, and 
not thick from side to side. It is strange that this grand property is oftenest seen in perfection on 
