306 



Mr. W. B. Tec-etmcicr on Modem 



to be firm, narrow, and closely pressed to the body, the long 

 flowing sickle tail-feathers of the male, that were formerly 

 admired, being reduced to scanty proportions. That so com- 

 plete a change should be effected in a few years is a striking 

 example of the power of the breeder to alter the type of a 

 breed by careful selection of brood-stock, — the object being 

 to produce breeds that should excel others in the conven- 

 tional fancy points, so as to be able to win prizes at compe- 

 titive shows, the sale-value of such birds for the purpose of 



Fier. 2. 



exhibition rising higher in some instances than jg50 each. It 

 is hardly necessary to remark that such birds as these re- 

 presented would be of no value in the cock -pit, as they would 

 at once be overpowered by birds of greater strength of limb. 

 The Malay breed, a young male of which in full plumage 

 is shown in figure 3, is one of much greater size than the 



