The Manchester Coppy. 255 



possessing the points already named. The reason that I prefer 

 a Coppy cock is that he can be run with two plain-head hens 

 and produce crested birds from both, whereas if a plain-head 

 cock is used you would require two Coppy hens to produce 

 crested birds from both pairs, and crested or Coppy birds 

 when good are much more expensive than plain-heads. Another 

 advantage in this plan is a saving of expense, as there is a 

 much greater risk of losing hens than cocks during breeding 

 operations, as hens frequently become egg-bound, and occa- 

 sionally ruptured in the act of laying eggs. Apart from 

 these considerations, I am of opinion that the cock bird, as a 

 rule, has the greatest influence on the progeny. A.i most of 

 the Lancashire shows they have as many as eight classes for 

 this variety of bird, which are divided as follows : 1. Clear 

 Yellow Coppy; 2. Clear Buff Coppy; 3. Clear Yellow Plain- 

 head ; 4. Clear Buff Plain-head ; 5. Ticked Yellow Coppy ; 6. 

 Ticked Buff Coppy; 7. Ticked Yellow Plain-head; 8. Ticked 

 Buff Plain-head. 



Clear and ticked yellow birds of superior quality are much 

 more difficult to obtain than good buffs, as tney are not 

 nearly so plentiful. The ticked birds are invariably the 

 best, and these are the kind that Norwich breeders should 

 purchase. 



Lancashire men, however, regard their clear birds most 

 highly; but in order to improve them in size and crest it is 

 necessary to have recourse to the ticked birds occasionally. 

 Some breeders put two ticked birds together, and keep all 

 the clear birds bred from them, and pair these with clear 

 birds again, for it is well-known that the best crests are 

 obtained by using this cross, as it is also the best for increasing 

 the size and substance of the birds. The plan mostly followed 

 is to mate a ticked Coppy with a clear plain-head, and to pair 

 the produce of these birds with clears, the ticked blood only 

 being resorted to once in two or three years, as many of the 

 Lancashire breeders are greatly averse to the ticked birds, 

 but for what reason it is difficult to say, except that clear 

 birds are most highly prized. The ticked birds have become 



