Crossing. 81 



by a foreign breed, may be introduced by crossing into a 

 strain it is desired to improve, and every other charac- 

 teristic of the cross be, by selection, afterwards bred out 

 again. Or one or more of these additional characteristics 

 may be also retained, and thus a new variety be established, 

 as many have been within the last few years." 



Size may be imparted to the Dorking by crossing it with 

 the Cochin, and the disposition to feather on the legs bred 

 out again by judicious selection ; and the constitution may 

 be strengthened by crossing with the Game breed. Game 

 fowls that have deteriorated in size, strength, and fierceness, 

 by a long course of breeding in-and-in, may have all these 

 qualities restored by crossing with the fierce, powerful, and 

 gigantic Malay, and his peculiarities may be afterwards 

 bred out. The size of the eggs of the Hamburg might 

 very probably be increased without decreasing, or with 

 very slightly decreasing, the number of eggs, by crossing 

 with a Houdan cock ; and the size would also be increased 

 for the table. The French breeds, Creve Coaur, Houdan, 

 and La Fleche, gain in size and hardiness by being crossed 

 with the Brahma cock. The cross between a Houdan cock 

 and a Brahma hen " produces," says the " Hen wife," " the 

 finest possible chickens for market, but not to breed from. 

 Pure Brahmas and Houdans alone must be kept for that 

 purpose; I have always found the second cross worthless." 



In crossing, the cockerels will more or less resemble the 

 male, and the pullets the hen. "Long experience," says 

 Mr. Wright, " has ascertained that the male bird has most 

 influence upon the colour of the progeny, and also upon 

 the comb, and what may be called the ' fancy points,' of 

 any breed generally; whilst the form, size, and useful 

 qualities are principally derived from the hen." 



Breed only from the strongest and healthiest fowls. In 

 the breeding of poultry it is a rule, as in all other cases of 

 organised life, that the best-shaped be used for the purpose 

 of propagation. If a cock and hen have both the same 

 defect, however trifling it may be, they should never be 

 allowed to breed together, for the object is to improve the 

 breed, not to deteriorate it, even in the slightest degree. 



