BREEDING FOR POINTS. 143 



especially, we part with what represents the giound we 

 have gained. 



These dark Brahmas will also illustrate for us the further 

 question we must consider, of breeding for cockerels or 

 pullets distinctively. In many breeds there are exhibition 

 points belonging to the two sexes, which are very difficult 

 to combine in one strain. Here, the desired colour for 

 pullets now is even dark pencilling all over on a clear, 

 almost dirty-white, ground, while for cockerels is sought a 

 glossy black breast and fluff, with sharply striped hackles 

 and clear wing. It will soon be found that there is a sort of 

 natural incompatibility between the two. Supposing we 

 mate with a good pullet a black-breasted cockerel whose 

 black fluff is laced with white, a number of good pullets 

 may probably result, with some too dark for present fashion; 

 but it will be found that most of the cockerels are either 

 ticked or laced on the breast feathers, and ticked or laced on 

 the fluff. This shows us that such a colour corresponds 

 with the type of pullets which is sought ; and, in fact, for 

 breeding pullets alone, these marked cockerels make the 

 best which can be had, and breed them with such ease and 

 certainty that it is best to breed in this way. It will also be 

 found that if one of the black-breasted cockerels which 

 occur is mated with one of the darker pullets, more black- 

 breasted cockerels are produced. In this way we glide into 

 cockerel-breediDg and pullet-breeding pens, which is be- 

 coming more and more general in other than self-coloured 

 varieties. But we have always felt it to be a misfortune and 

 mistake, and due solely to an artificial and false standard. 

 It really makes every so-called breed thus treated into two 

 breeds. In this case it only needs to tolerate slightly darker 

 and richer ground for the pullets, and a little lacing on the 

 fluff of the cockerels, to breed both from one pen ; or 

 contrariwise, if the clear pullet ground be insisted on, it 



