CHAP. iv. INFLUENCE OF PARENT BIRDS ON OFFSPRING. 6*21 



race, who have long stood at the head of the skilled breeders of the 

 world, and for whose stock enormous prices have long been, and still are 

 being, paid by those in other countries who wish to improve their 

 breeds. When England ceases to produce the skilled breeders of the 

 world, the national characteristics of dogged perseverance, determina- 

 tion not to be beaten, and hard-headed skill will be already dying out, 

 and other signs will be visible that the England of the period is a 

 poorer and feebler England than that in which I have the happiness to 

 write." 



We have said that the male parent influences the external structure 

 and characteristics, as well as the shape of the bird. The first thing, 

 therefore, is to see that the cock selected for breeding purposes shall 

 have size, and by this we mean size of frame, not merely fat and 

 feathers. A fat bird is seldom a good breeder, and there is many a 

 fluffy-feathered one that appears to be of a large size, which, when 

 taken in the hand, is found to be very light. A small bird will never 

 produce large ones, and hence the importance of the point. The bird 

 should also be examined to see if there are any grave defects, such as 

 deformity in its body or limbs, or the possession of any character- 

 istics that are regarded as blemishes in the special variety to which it 

 belongs. However good a bird might be in other respects, it would be 

 very foolish to select a bird so affected, as it would transmit its fault, 

 and probably in an intensified form, to its descendants. It may, there- 

 fore, be taken as a rule that the bird which is shapely, of good size, and 

 looks best, is really the most suited for breeding purposes. Many birds 

 with defects such as we have referred to are of no use for laying or for table 

 purposes ; but, if bred from, these defects will not only be perpetuated, 

 but so intensified that it will be very difficult to get rid of them. Some 

 breeds of fowls, which at one time were amongst the most useful of our 

 domestic poultry, have been completely ruined by fanciers, who have 

 seized upon some one point, it may be an actual defect, and by breeding 

 for it have weakened the really good qualities. In choosing a cock to 

 breed layers, we should select a bird firm and close in body, of good 

 si/e, though not abnormally big, clean and tall on leg, and active in its 

 habits ; whilst for the production of birds for table purposes, it is better 

 to pick one heavy in body, shortish on the leg, deep in the breast, and 

 not very active. 



The hen, as we saw before, affects the internal structure and the 

 vital organs. Thus it will be found that a good layer will produce good 

 layers, a good mother good mothers, and a ready fattener those most 

 suitable for table purposes, if and the "if" is an important item in 

 the calculation the male bird be selected accordingly. With respect 

 to hens, the same thing applies to the selection of shapely, well-made, 

 and good-sized birds, for though a hen may have a fault in the organs 

 or characters which she does not influence so much as the cock, yet 

 that defect will almost certainly be transmitted to a greater or less 

 degree, so that the choosing of a good bird is very essential. For 

 producing layers those birds known as good layers should alone be bred 

 from, and it is better to use non-sitting birds such as Minorcas, Leg- 



