132 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



cross between a dark Brahma cock and white Cochin hen 

 win as a light Brahma ; it was admitted to us. All know 

 what breeding from that " light Brahma " would result in. 

 But when the same difference in breeding value extends, 

 though in perhaps less degree, to even pure-bred "prize" 

 birds matched in a breeding pen, it is important to under- 

 stand what we are about. 



The first point that appears as the result of inquiry into 

 the breeding value of a pen of birds, is that the valuable 

 pen is of u Mr. A.'s strain." Observe, not that they are 

 merely of a " prize " strain, in the sense that their parents 

 have won prizes ; but they are Mr. ASs strain. What that 

 means is the main clue to the mystery. There is no charm, 

 of course, in Mr. A.'s or any other name only by any other 

 name the birds would be as good. It is something our 

 Mr. A. has done that has made the pen from his strain 

 valuable. What that was is what we want to know.- 



The chief matter at the bottom of it is one of the very 

 barest simplicity ; and yet the phrase, " Like produces like," 

 in which it is supposed to be embodied, is not true in a 

 sense often supposed, and, if so understood, may even throw 

 a breeder off the track, by leading to that very idea of the 

 value of stock merely from " prize strains," which has been 

 denied above. Let us see what it does really involve. 



The " family likeness " of children to their parents is 

 familiar to all ; as also the fact that it is generally more 

 conspicuous to strangers than to the family. In most cases 

 it can be clearly traced, however, and it can be seen that it 

 does not lie in any one feature as a rule. In other cases 

 some very strongly-marked feature is the predominant 

 mark, and in some no obvious likeness can be traced at all, 

 while there may be obvious mental or moral resemblances. 

 Supposing the father to have a pronounced Roman nose, 

 the feature will probably be recognised in a portion of his 



