ON BREEDING FOWLS. 195 



stamina to make a distinctive race, and continue a progeny 

 with the uniform or leading characteristics of its progenitors. 



High Breeding. When uniformity of plumage can be 

 effected in mixed breeds or varieties without a resort to " in 

 and in" or " close" breeding, and without sacrificing the health 

 and vigor of the race, it is desirable, and, in many instances, it 

 can be accomplished satisfactorily. In most cases, however, 

 what is called "high" breeding is a mere humbug, being 

 utterly absurd, and at variance with the fixed laws of nature, 

 and with common sense. Too often, what are called " highly- 

 bred fowls" are the deteriorated offspring of progenitors far 

 below the original stock. Most that goes under the name of 

 " high breeding," at the present day, is neither more nor less 

 than " close" breeding, for a succession of generations, back 

 towards the primal stock, generally resulting in manifest 

 degeneracy. 



Real high breeding consists in the selection of parent stock 

 of the same race, perfect in all the general characteristics, and 

 of remote consanguinity. This should be resorted to period- 

 ically, in order to secure the best results. 



The following physiological principles have an important 

 bearing on this subject, and the analogy of nature will hold 

 good in respect to domestic fowls : 



1. When animals, differing in order, genus, and species 

 cohabit, no offspring results. 



2. Where animals of the same order, differing in genus arid 

 species, resort to sexual congress, the progeny is sterile in the 

 first generation, as with the mule, the mongrel-goose, etc. 

 Occasional exceptions occur, but not enough to invalidate the 

 principle. 



3. Where animals of the same order and genus, differing in 

 species or variety only, have sexual intercourse, the progeny 

 becomes barren in the second generation, as with the mulattoes. 



