THE BALDHEAD. 101 



troduced a magic drop of Almond blood into his 

 loft. The bird selected for this experimental 

 cross was a red Agate hen, excellent in head 

 and carriage, and of Chapman's strain. This 

 hen Mr. Burchatt matched to one of his best 

 red Baldhead cocks, and the bird selected 

 from this union was a hen of grand Tumbler 

 properties, entirely red in feather except two or 

 three white flights in one wing. This hen was 

 paired to her father, and from the progeny of 

 this pair a Red hen, fine in head and carriage, 

 was selected to continue the experiment the 

 selected one having five white flight feathers in 

 each wing, and a sprinkling of white feathers on 

 the top of the head. This red-and-white hen 

 was matched back to her father, and from this 

 happy union suddenly sprang a very fine family 

 of Baldheads well-marked, of fine carriage, 

 and broad and lofty skull, with typical eye and 

 beak. 



Some time after this success Mr. Burchatt 

 was compelled, through ill-health, to dispose of 

 his birds. They were brought under the ham- 

 mer in Mr. Steven's sale-room. One or two 

 were knocked down to Mr. Stuck, a rare old 

 Fancier ; but the cream of the collection passed 

 into the lofts of Mr. Fulton. The prices ranged 



