BREEDING. 217 



Bolton Greys, or Creoles, Guinea fowls, native Dominique, and 

 some few other breeds, are of this class. Any breed of fowls 

 that are black, should show no white feathers, except in the 

 case of Poland fowls that have white crests, and others of this 

 class ; the same in regard to white fowls, No black feathers 

 should appear, if they are strictly pure. 



A BREED NOT A VARIETY. When we speak of breeds, we 

 mean pure blooded fowls, and when we speak of varieties, we 

 mean crosses ; but this distinction is not always made by gentle- 

 men in writing on fowls, and it is quite doubtful whether I have 

 been able to adhere to this rule in all cases in this work, although 

 [ have endeavored to do so. The terra variety should never be 

 made to signify pure stock, of any kind. 



BREEDS OF FOWLS NOT MADE BY CROSSING. It has been 

 asserted by some writers on poultry, that a pure breed may be 

 made by crossing, and subsequently breeding for some years 

 with care, so as to establish a distinct race of fowls. I deny 

 this in toto. Every breed of fowls now in existence, has pro- 

 bably originated from races created from the beginning of the 

 world, or at least, they possess distinct blood, never produced 

 by the art of man. If a variety of fowls can be produced by 

 careful cross-breeding, that shall manifest distinctive marks, so 

 as apparently to be a pure breed, they are nevertheless a variety, 

 and should be so called. Let no man say that he has produced, 

 a pure breed of fowls from the mixture of blood, for it is not 

 in his power to do it, and the many crosses that are being 

 introduced as breeds, under new names, should receive the con- 

 demnation of the public. In this work, I have, I believe, 

 informed my readers in every case where I have spoken of' 

 crosses, that such fowls either were, or had been alleged to be 

 such, and in the absence of such information, it may be taken 

 for granted, that the fowls are pure breeds. I would observe 

 that all breeds do not "breed to a feather." The Brahma 

 Pootras, buff and red Shanghaes, <fec., throw out different 

 shades frequently, yet they may be perfectly pure in blood. So 

 it is with some distinct breeds of cattle, swine, &c. They 

 show different colors, while no one disputes the purity of their 

 blood. It is said that the speckled Dorkings originated in a' 

 cross, though in what particular cross is not fully settled, and 

 these fowls bear the name of a pure breed ; and, indeed, so 

 they appear to be, but as we have no positive evidence of their 

 being originally produced by a cross, we may safely call them 

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