The head of the cock cannot be too small in proportion to
the body. Scarcely a point is of so great value as a sign of
high breeding; and as we have before remarked, we have



Chap. III.] The Pea-Comb. 69

also found that as a general rule a small head is accompanied
by fineness of flesh, which in a breed like the one in question
is a point never to be lost sight of. The top of the head
should be rather wide, causing a slight fulness over the eye,
which in the pullets causes that peculiarly arch expression
for which they are remarkable, and which the cock should
partake of to as great a degree as possible. The eyebrows
must on no account, however, be so prominent as to cause a
cruel or Malay expression. The whole head should be rather
short, a long head looking bad, and disfiguring many of the
present American birds.
The pea -comb is peculiar, but is simply described as
resembling three small combs joined into one, the centre
one being higher than the two outside. It is very difficult —
in the cock especially — ^to get this point into perfection until
a strain has been bred for years. No pure strain indeed
ought to breed a solitary comb in which the peculiar triple
character is not perfectly distinct ; but there is a constant
tendency to grow too large, or crooked, or otherwise mis-
shapen, which requires to be guarded against like any other
fault, if even tolerable symmetry be desired.
In a perfect comb the centre ridge should be absolutely
straight, and the whole so low as to be perfectly firm and
free from shaking, however quickly the bird moves his head.
