STANDARD FOR JUDGING SPANISH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 44

STANDARD FOR JUDGING SPANISH.

By request I publish the full standard of excellence of the black Spanish fowl: — GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COCK.

Head and Neck. — General appearance of head very large antl deep, though aristocratic. Skull large every way, 'but especially deep in the cheeks ; beak rather long, but not thin ; comb very large, single, perfectly straight and upright, of a handsome outside arch or curve, and with the serrations symmetrically formed and disposed ; wattles very long, fine and thin in texture; face large, bare of feather.", and fine in quality; deaf ears very long anc\ pendulous, but fiee from folds, duplicature, or wrinkles, broad and rounded on lower edge; neck long, 'carried high or well back, and with flowing hackle. Body. — General appearance light and active, large at shoulders, and tapering to tail somewhat like the game fowl ; back rather round and slanting to the tail ; wings long and well developed, but carried tightly to the body; breast rounded and carried very forward.

Legs and Feel. — Both legs and thighs long and' slender, the hocks perfectly clear; toes long and thin.

Tail. — Large, the sickles very arched and carried high, but not so high as to be squirrel fashion.

' Size. — Medium, averaging about Gib to occasionally 7lb.

General Shape. — Rather slender looking, as if thin.

Carriage. — Very upright and strutting, with much movement of the head and neck. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HEN.

In all respects resembling those of the cock, except that her comb falls over .to the side, almost, or quite hiding one side of the face.

COLOUR, OF WHITE-FACED BLACK SPANISH. .

In Both Sexes. — Beak dark horn colour; comb and .wattles- brilliant red, except the inside of upper part of the wattles and across the throat, which are white. Face or checks pure white, resembling the finest dressing and quality of white kid, the white to extend high over the eye in an archer form, reaching far back, clearly behind (or so as to encircle) the true ear, which appears as a black spot on it, and thence turning down, merges into the ear lobe, which is of the same pure and brilliant white. The face should be as free from folds or projections as possible, and leave the sight perfectly free. Legs and feet a dark leaden blue or almost black. Plumage all over pure deep black, with as much green gloss as possible, especially in the cock, when the gloss is very high it often assumes a purple tinge, especially in the cock's hackles.

COLOUR OF WHITE SPANISH.

The same as for the white-faced black Spanish, except that the plumage is a- pure spotless ■white, instead of glossy black; the beak and legs generally remaining dark in this variety. A Standard by which the Breeder can judge the value of defects in the white-faced Spanish. A bird perfect in shape, style, colour, face, and

condition to count in points 100

Bad shaped, comb . . „ , k „ t , 10 Deficiency in size of face 10 Roughness or want of quality in face . . 12 Sight obstructed 12 Ear lobe folded, wrinkled or duplicated 10 ♦ Scabs or blemishes in the face . • n 8

Too scanty hackle „ „ 4V ,", 6 Faults in plumage >, !t , >« ltil it 12 Squirrel tail » i» ,„ ... k , 9 Witof ■ " "*"

< ant 01 size ltl i. «.» • > 8 Want of general symmetry t , .» 18 Want of condition tk .. ..n tl .» 15

Disqualifications. — Cock's comb falling over, or twisted in front; or lien's eiect. Any decided red on the face. Plumage of any colour than pure black in the black breed, or pure white in the white. Legs of any colour but dark lead colour, blue, or black. Crooked backs, or any bodily deformity. Combs in any way trimmed or pierced. Trimming away of the feathers between top of face and base of the comb, or any painting pji the face.