214 
THE POULTllY BOOK. 
wonderfully distinct and beautiful in their markings. The saddle of the hen is 
perfectly laced with a clear unsullied ground. The feathers generally look dark 
here, because they overlap each other considerably. 
The tail in the cock should have a perfectly clear ground-colour (golden or 
silver, as the case may be) ; every feather should be laced throughout ; but 
this degree of perfection is only rarely attainable. The tail, however, must be 
perfectly hen-tailed, tipped with black, and without sickles. A clear ground-colour 
is a most important advantage in the tail of a Sebright, but very difficult to obtain 
in the male bird. In the hen, the tail somewhat longer than in other Bantams, 
the ground-colour perfectly clear, and the lacings accurately marked. In the hens 
this is much more easily attained than in the cocks. 
The breast of both sexes must be accurately laced throughout. 
The secondary quill-feathers that are visible when the wing is closed, must 
be accurately and completely laced throughout, with a perfectly clear ground ; 
perfection in this point is most important. 
The primary quills or flight-feathers should have a clear gold or silver ground, 
and be tipped with black. But in very aged fowls of the Golden-laced, they 
almost always become grizzled with white, particularly towards the roots. 
In the thighs the feathers are much darker than the body plumage ; but never- 
theless they should still show the laced margin. 
The legs and feet are entirely slate-coloured, small and well-formed, and quite 
free from feathers. 
The comb must be of a perfect double or rose shape, set firmly on the head, 
without any tendency to fall over on either side ; full of points, which are rather 
more blunted than in the Hamburgh fowls. It should end in a good peak 
behind, turning slightly upwards ; be neat, but not overgrown ; a comb that is 
raised highly from the head is called helmet-combed, and is objectionable. In the 
hen the rose-comb should be well-formed and very neat, the peak at the back well 
defined and up-turning. A depression at the back of the comb is a very common, 
but great failing, equally objectionabh', for breeding and for exhibition. In Se- 
brights of both sexes the combs are more livid in colour than in most other 
breeds. 
The wattles should be small, florid, and not hanging loosely, those of the hen 
being still more compact than they are found in the cock. 
A white ear-lobe is greatly to be preferred, if attainable without failings in 
the lacing of the plumage, but a red ear-lobe is admissible. The face is very 
neat, and a little darkened round the eyes, or gipsy-faced, as it is commonly called, 
compared with that of other fowls. In the hens the face possesses the very extreme 
of neatness, is highly expressive, and with a jaunty appearance. 
The eye is dark-red, vivacious, impatient, and sparkling; the bill uniformly 
slate-coloured. 
Y/ith regard to the selection of birds for breeding stock, Mr. Hewitt remarks : — 
At three years old the Sebright becomes what is called kite-winged ; that is, the 
