SELECTION OF STOCK AND PAIRING. 191 



Next to health and strength, age is to be duly considered. 

 Neither select a cock that is too old, nor one that is too young ; 

 let the age be from a year and a half to three years and a half. 

 Some cocks retain their vigor till they are even past six years 

 old ; and some make a display of unquestionable virility at the 

 premature age of five or six months. It is far better, however, 

 for the fancier ' to be sure than sorry.' Secure a young and 

 vigorous bird, at the summit of his prime ; steer equally clear 

 of premature and often deceptive developments, and of incip- 

 ient age and decrepitude ; avoid all extremes." 



CHOICE OF A HEN. 



In the opinion of Markham, the selection of a good hen is a 

 matter of even more consequence than that of the cock for her 

 companion, and he insists on " gray, grissell, speckt, or yellow- 

 ish black or brown is not amiss." This antiquated coun- 

 sel, however, is entirely out of date ; and the many varieties 

 of fowls introduced into the poultry-yard, since Markham 's 

 day, render his opinions, as to color, of little value. 



Mascall, following Columella and Stephanus, says : " The 

 signs of a good hen are these a tawny color, or a russet, are 

 accounted the chiefest colors ; and, next, those hens which 

 have the pens of their wings blackish not all black, but 

 partly so. As for the gray and the white hens, they are 

 nothing so profitable." 



This, also, was once valuable advice ; but on this subject, in 

 the present age, as each of the valuable varieties has its own 

 peculiar hue, some other criterion must be adopted for selec- 

 tion. The general aspect, size, and habits of a particular bird, 

 are chiefly to be regarded. 



In breeding game cocks, sportsmen are very particular in 

 selecting their hens; " for," says Gervase Markham, " they 

 are like birds of prey, in which the female is ever to be pre- 



