This is how the American Standard read in 1900.
Standard of Excellence
Size of Cock.In fowls of such remarkable merit for table purposes
size must be one of the considerations, and an adult bird should
not weigh less than nine pounds.
Carriage and Shape.Sufficiently long on the leg
to give a graceful carriage to the body ; fine in bone
head small, carried well back, with full flowing hackle
good wide shoulders; broad, meaty breast; fanshaped
tail, carried high, with plenty of glossy sidehangers
and two sickle feathers, some six inches or
more beyond the rest; general bearing that of an
extremely active, intelligent bird.
Comb.Red, single, straight, upright, of medium
size, fine in quaHty and evenly serrated, being free
from side sprigs.
Beak.Light to dark horn color the latter
preferredstrong, somewhat straight, well tapered,
and slightly curved at point.
Eye.Large, bright, and intelligent, and ranging in color from lightest
brown to very dark hazel, with black pupil. (Mr. Weir says some of
the imported birds had silver or pearl eyes like the Malay.)
Deaf Ear and Wattles.Brilliant red, fine in quality, and medium size.
Neck.Sufficiently large to give a symmetrical appearance to and
harmonize well with the other proportions of the body.
lT'^/;;i:5.Somewhat low in the carriage, large, and having very brilliant
coverts.
TJiii^hs and Legs.Somewhat short, yet large and full, covered with
long, rather close-fitting feathers.
Shanks.Medium, with the scales of a dark-slate color showing
between the skin under the scales of a light vivid pink, wide apart, a few
feathers running down outside the legs and the centers of the outer toes on
each foot.
Feet.The toes should be long and straight, small of bone, and, like
the shanks, a dark-slate color, with the skin between the toes and scales
a light vivid pink. (TThis vivid pink should be described rather as a quality
than a color, it being the evidence of a thin skin.) Toe-nails white, the
under part of the foot light-pinkish white ; in young birds, the part described
as vivid pink should be white.
Plummage.Dense black throughout, with brilliant beetle-green gloss
upon it. Purple or blue tinge should disqualify, as should white feathers
in adult fowls ; * the closer the plumage is, the better.
Size of Hen.Not less than seven pounds when fully grown.
Carriage and Sliape.Gracefully rounded outline ; general appearance
that of an active, intelligent bird.
Plumage. Same as cock.
Comb.Red, single, medium size, erect, fine in quality and evenly
serrated, coming somewhat to a point at the apex.
Tail.Fan-shaped and full, carried rather high.
* All black-plumage birds arc liable to throw a white feather, especially after the first
adult molt; such feather should not disqualify.
