Chap. XVII. EVIL FROM INTERBREEDING. 105 



hatched from two full nests of eggs. Mr. Hewitt says that with 

 these Bantams the sterility of the male stands, with rare exceptions, 

 in the closest relation with their loss of certain secondary male 

 characters : he adds, " I have noticed, as a general rule, that even 

 " the slightest deviation from feminine character in the tail of the 

 " male Sebright — say the elongation by only half an inch of the two 

 " principal tail feathers — brings with it improved probability of 

 " increased fertility." 32 



Mr. Wright states 33 that Mr. Clark, "whose fighting-cocks were 

 " so notorious, continued to breed from his own kiud till they lost 

 " their disposition to fight, but stood to be cut up without making 

 " any resistance, and were so reduced in size as to be under those 

 " weights required for the best prizes ; but on obtaining a cross 

 " from Mr. Leighton, they again resumed their former courage and 

 " weight." It should be borne in mind that game-cocks beforo they 

 fought were always weighed, so that nothing was left to the imagi- 

 nation about any reduction or increase of weight. Mr. Clark does 

 not seem to have bred from brothers and sisters, which is the most 

 injurious kind of union ; and he found, after repeated trials, that 

 there was a greater reduction in weight in the young from a 

 father paired with his daughter, than from a mother with her son. 

 I may add that Mr. Eyton, of Eyton, the well-known ornithologist, 

 who is a large breeder of Grey Dorkings, informs me that they 

 certainly diminish in size, and become less prolific, unless a cross 

 with another strain is occasionally obtained. So it is with Malays, 

 according to Mr. Hewitt, as far as size is concerned. 31 



An experienced writer 3D remarks that the same amateur, as 

 is well known, seldom long maintains the superiority of his birds ; 

 and this, he adds, undoubtedly is due to all his stock "being 

 of the same blood;" hence it is indispensable that he should 

 occasionally procure a bird of another strain. But this is not 

 necessary with those who keep a stock of fowls at different stations. 

 Thus, Mr. Ballance, who has bred Malays for thirty years, and 

 has won more prizes with these birds than any other fancier 

 in England, says that breeding in-and-in does not necessarily 

 cause deterioration ; " but all depends upon how this is managed." 

 " My plan has been to keep about five or six distinct runs, and 

 " to rear about two hundred or three hundred chickens each year, 

 "and select the best birds from each run for crossing. I thus 

 " secure sufficient crossing to prevent deterioration." 30 



32 'The Poultry Book,' by W. B. and -in, viz., occasionally a hen with 

 Tegetmeier, 1866, p. 'J4-5. her own son ; " but they were cautious 



33 ' Journal Royal Agricult. Soc.,' not to repeat the in-and-in breeding." 

 1846, vol. vii. p. 205 ; see also Fergu- 34 'The Poultry Book,' by W. B. 

 son on the Fowl, pp. 83, 317 ; see also Tegetmeier, 1866, p. 79. 



•The Poultry Book,' by Tegetmeier, 33 'The Poultry Chroniole,' 1854, 



1866, p. 135, with respect to the vol. i. p. 43. 



extent to which cock-fighters found 3G 'The Poultry Book,' by W. B. 



that they could venture to breed in- Tegetmeier, 1866, p. 79. 



