The Breed Standard

                   STANDARD OF PERFECTION.

  Head- Small, and taper, skin of face and throat flexible and loose. Note A:- A loose skin to the throat, to enable the cock to breathe freely when distressed in a long battle.

 Beak- Big, boxing, crooked or hawk-like, pointed, strong at the setting on. Note B:- Boxing means the upper mandible shutting tightly and closing over the lower one, a long under beak lacks holding power.

 Eyes- Large, bold, fiery and fearless.

 Comb, wattles & earlobes- of fine texture, small & thin, in undubbed chickens & hens.

 Neck-large boned, round, strong and of fair length. Neck hackle covering  the shoulders.

 Back- short, flat, broad at the shoulders, tapering to the tail.

 Breast- broad, full, prominent, with large pectoral muscles, breast bone not deep or pointed. Note C:- An important point. Strong big pectoral muscles give the cock power to fly with strength & force, & furnishes the maximum amount of breast meat for the table.

 Wings- large, long and powerful, with large strong quills, amply protecting the thighs. Note D:- Long and strong wings impart additional force to the blow when the cock strikes.

 Tail- large, up & spread, main feathers & quills, large & strong. In the hen inclined to fan shape, and  carried well up. Note E:- A high strong tail acts as a rudder, supports and balances the cock when striking , or springing backwards, and indicates courage, the first act of a coward is to lower his tail.

 Belly- small & tight. 

 Thighs- short, round, & muscular, following the line of the body or slightly curved. 

 Legs- strong, clean-boned, sinewy, close scaled, not fat & gummy like other fowls. Not stiffly upright, or too wide apart, & having a good bend, or angle at the hock. Note F :- Legs, the bend of the hock, or rather the juncture of the metatarsal bone with the tibia, may be compared to the bent hocks & muscular thighs of the hare & kangaroo, in furnishing them with such wonderful propelling power. In cocks of this perfect conformation there is nothing wasted in these bones, which are constructed to enable him to move with force & velocity commensurate with their distance from the centre of the action, this is the reason the stork-legged bird has no force in his blow; & the cock with legs set wide apart and straight thigh bones is dry heeled, his blows do not wound or kill his adversary.

 Feet- toes thin, long, straight and tapering, terminating in long, strong curved nails. Hind toe of good length and strength, extending backwards in almost a straight line. 

 Spurs- hard, fine, set low on leg.

 Plumage- hard, sound, resilient, smooth, glassy and sufficient, without much fluff. 

 Carriage - Proud, defiant, sprightly, active on his feet, ready for any emergency. Alert, agile, quick in his movements.