BREEDING PRIZE STOCK. 145 



So moulding other animals to his will is a mysterious 

 approach, though in a lower degree, to the Divine operation 

 shown in the development of species, It is a similar though 

 lesser example of the power of intelligent Will to modify 

 both the inorganic world and the forms of life which 

 inhabit it. 



CHAPTER IX. 



BREEDING AND REARING OF PRIZE STOCK. 



IN purchasing stock to commence breeding, if the reader be 

 inexperienced, he should, if it be possible, secure the 

 assistance of some friend upon whose judgment he can 

 thoroughly rely ; failing this, he should endeavour, not only 

 by studying the descriptions, but by frequenting good 

 shows, and seeing and comparing the live birds themselves, 

 to become acquainted with the main points of the breed 

 to which his preference inclines. To buy of unknown 

 advertisers is a risk, and it will generally be found more 

 economical in the long run to apply, in the first place, to 

 known and eminent exhibiters whose character stands too 

 high to admit the suspicion of any wilful deception. Such 

 breeders, it is true, will generally demand high prices for 

 really good stock ; but then the stock will be good, which 

 is by far the most important point. Birds may also be 

 purchased at shows; and good specimens may often be 

 picked up at a very moderate price, especially out of the 

 large "selling-classes"* at the Crystal Palace or Birming- 

 ham. A beginner should, however, if possible, get some 

 experienced friend to help m such selections, and even then 

 one cannot always escape loss ; for some very old birds will 



* Selling-classes are classes in which prizes are given for fowls entered 

 for sale at prices not exceeding fixed moderate sums, generally 2 to 

 3 per pair. 

 K 



