THE LANGSHAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11152, 29 December 1896, Page 3

THE LANGSHAN.

The following is tho standard of perfection of the Black Langshan issued by the Langshan Fanciers’ Association. Genekal Characteristics, cock. Head. —Small for tho size of the bird, full over the eye, carried well - hack; free from coarseness. ( ." Comb.—Single, upright ' and perfectly straight, medium size, evenly serrated and free from side sprigs; fine'in texture, and brilliant red. Wattles. —Of medium length, well rounded; fine in texture, and brilliant red. . Deaf Ears.—Smooth, pendant, and rather long; brilliant red. Beak—Strong, well tapered, and slightly curved. Eyes—Large, bright, and intelligent; light brown to dark hazel (the latter preferred), with black pupils. Face.—Fine in texture; brilliant red. Neck. —Of medium length, gracefully arched, broad at base and tapering gradually to the head; covered with rich, glossy hackle. Back.—Of medium length, broad; the saddle abundantly furnished with rich, flowing hackles, and rising gently on to the tail. Breast.— Broad, deep and prominent; a lono- breast bone, with abundance of white moat. Body.—Large, deep, well rounded, wide at shoulders, and full between the thigh joints; tho fluff fairly developed, but not so abundant as to hide tho profile of the back joints. Wings. Fairly large, neatly folded, close to tho body, but not clipped up; the coverts very brilliant. Tail.—Large, full flowing, well spread at base, and carried fairly high, but not squirrel tailed; the coverts abundant and long; plenty of glossy side hangers; two long sickles projecting beyond the tail proper several inches. Thighs.—Of medium length, well developed, and wide apart; covered with close-fitting feathers, especially close round the hocks. Shanks.—Of medium length, stout but not coarse; an even and distinct, but not abundant, fringe of feathers on the outer sides. Toes—Long, straight, and slender; four in number; well spread out; the outer toe only, slightly feathered; toe nails white; under foot a pinkish white. Skin. —White and thin; on the legs and toes showing as a pink tinge between the scales, and between the toes as a vivid pink, which grows paler as the bird ages. Plumage. —Close and smooth. Size.— Large; an adult cock should weigh from 91b to 101 b; a cockerel from 811) to 91b. Carriage.—Tall, graceful, upright, and alert; the bearing of an active, intelligent bird. / Note.—A cockerel will appear taller than an adult bird, and depth and prominence of breast, and fulness of body, are not developed till maturity is reached. liras’. (With tho following exceptions, the hen is similar to the cock.) Comb, Wattles, Deaf Ears.—Small, otherwise as cock. Back.—Of medium length, broad; a moderate cushion rising gently on to the tail. Body.—Large, deep, well rounded, wide at shoulders, and full between the thigh joints; rather heavier at the stern, giving the appearance of more fluff than in the cock. Tail.—Large, full, and well spread at base; carried gaily, but not quite so high as the cock’s; the covers long, and standing well out from the cushion. Size. —Large; an adult hen should weigh from 71b to 81b; a pullet from 61b to 71b. Carriage.—Smart, graceful and alert; the bearing of an active, intelligent bird. Note. —As is the case with a cockerel

a pullet will appear taller than an adult hen.

Colour. BLACK (BOTH SEXES). Beak.—Light to dark horn colour (the latter preferred), shading to a pinkish white near the lower edges. Legs and Feet—Dark grey or slate, vergingon black, but turning a lighter shade after the firft year; the scales rather loosely put on, thus showing the pink skin between. Plumage—Dense black throughout; the upper parts, wings, and tail glossed over with a brilliant metallic beetle-green sheen; the greener the better. Purple sheen is a great blemish. Absolute Disqualifications.

..Yellow skin; yellow at base of beak or around the eye; under foot yellow- absence of pink between the toe?; legs other colour than standard; shanks not feathered; outer toe not feathered, and showing no indication of having been feathered; five toes; permanent white in face or earlobe ; comb other than single; wrv tail; squirrel tails; size not within lib of standard weights. In Blacks.—White or coloured feathers, except in foot feathering. Serious Defects.

Feathering on middle toes; too scantily or too heavily feathered shanks or outer toes; twisted toes; short shanks; crooked breast; comb not perfectly straight or with side sprigs; tails too whip-like or too scanty; general coarseness. In Blacks. —Blue or purple sheen.

Value of Defects usr Judging. (A perfect bird to count 100 points) Deducted up to For defects in Head Properties 15 t „ Begs and Feet 10 ” M Plumage ... 15 Too much Fluff ... ... 5 Want of Size, especially in Breast ... ... ••• HJ ~ Want of Condition ... 10 „ Bad Carriage and Shape ... 10 „ Crooked Breast ... General Coarseness ... 15

An American professor professes to have discovered, from experiments made with animals, that aged people could be rejuvenated by splicing them, like the Siamese Twins, to young and vigorous persons, them.