OF PURELY "FANCY" SKLKLTIOJI. 117 



We cannot but deeply regret this. We have shown how 

 readily beauty and utility might be both secured ; and we do 

 earnestly hope that even these pages may have some effect in 

 stirring up our poultry-fanciers to the improvement in real 

 value, without by any means neglecting the beauty, of their 

 favourite breeds. The French have taught us a lesson of 

 some value in this respect. Within a comparatively recent 

 period they have produced, by crossing and selection, four new 

 varieties, which, although inferior in some points to others of 

 older standing, are all eminently valuable as table fowls ; and 

 which in one particular are superior to any English variety, 

 not even excepting the Dorking we mean the very small 

 proportion of bone and offaL This is really useful and scientific 

 breeding, brought to bear upon one definite object. Its accom- 

 plishment is probably connected with the character of the 

 judging at French poultry shows, which takes table quality 

 largely into consideration, whereas in England the awards are 

 almost entirely governed by colour and markings. It must be 

 granted that a great deal of French judging is erratic, and 

 indeed due to gross personal favouritism : and it may be freely 

 admitted that more deference to fixed standards, as in England, 

 is highly desirable. Nevertheless, this has not hindered 

 French breeders from producing Creves, La Fleche, and other 

 breeds of perfectly fixed and definite character ; and tins shows 

 that both utility and what we know in England as exhibition 

 quality, can both be secured, if points are not pushed to ex- 

 tremes. For instance, taking the Creve, which is a crested 

 fowl ; the English tendency is to demand a crest as large as 

 possible, and give that point far the greatest weight in judging. 

 The French, on the other hand, while they look for a good 

 and typical crest, are satisfied with that, and lay more 

 stress upon a fine and well- shaped body. Of two fowls in 

 competition, therefore, in France the finest fowl would 

 win; in England the finest crest on a perhaps much less 



