MAKIXP. OK A NEW VARIETY. 115 



pen, as silvers, would be worthless. We cite this as a case 

 which to our knowledge did actually occur many years ago, to 

 the great disappointment of the purchaser. Conversely, even 

 well-established silver-grey Dorkings, if bred from indiscrimin- 

 ately, would, by degrees, lose their distinctive colour, and go 

 back to the ordinary stock from which they first sprang. 



The coloured Dorking also exhibits very plainly the opera 

 tion of crossing. It was originally the produce of a cross be- 

 tween the original white Dorking and the large coloured Surrey 

 fowl, as is proved by the fact that whilst the white Dorking 

 long established invariably bred the fifth toe as its distinguish- 

 ing characteristic, the coloured variety was for many years 

 most uncertain in that respect, as noted in all the older poultry 

 books. Still, the fifth toe was introduced, along with the shape 

 and aptitude to fatten ; and by careful selection the colour and 

 size of the Surrey fowl have been retained, whilst the tendency 

 to only one toe behind, introduced by the cross, has been effec- 

 tually eradicated, and the coloured Dorking now breeds in this 

 particular as true as the white. 



In the same way, when a race of Game fowls had been 

 reduced in size, strength, and ferocity, by lon^l inter-breeding 

 through fear of injuring the strain, a cross of the large, strong, 

 and ferocious Malay at once restored the defective points, whilst 

 all evidences of it were removed in three or four generations. 



Perhaps, however, the most " artfully-contrived " bird, and 

 the best example of both principles combined, is to be found 

 in the well-known laced Bantams of Sir John Sebright This 

 breed was founded by crossing the old Nankin Bantam with 

 Polish fowls whose markings had a well-defined laced cha- 

 racter. Lacing was thus imported into the Bantam breed, and 

 by careful selection was developed and rendered perfect, whilst 

 by the same process the Polish crest was effectually banished. 

 This much being already accomplished, a hen-tailed Bantam 

 cock accidentally met with struck Sir John's fancy, and added 



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