I20 The Illustrated Boo/v of Poultry. 



or less, in many cases, tliough perhaps seldom in so full a degree as we have mentioned. For 

 taking two birds — say Buff Cochin cocks — let us suppose one has been reared by an amateur with 

 a small yard, and who can only keep and rear very few ; who, therefore, keeps only the best, and 

 after years of care succeeds in getting his magnificent show specimens out of two dozen chickens. 

 Let us suppose the other to have been bred by a man who has acres of ground, and to be the 

 produce of very ordinary stock, but to be the " chance" best of three hundred chickens. The first 

 bird, well-mated, will stamp his own character upon a large part of his progeny, and be therefore 

 valuable, while the second bird may breed anything, because he has no fixed characters at all. 



If we have succeeded in making ourselves understood, it will now be seen that a thoroughly 

 good strain of fowls can only be the result of art, care, study, and even of time. It cannot be 

 attained all at once, except by adopting some one else's ready-made ; and requires a real and steady 

 interest and some perseverance. Without these qualifications it is impossible ever to arrive at it ; 

 but assuming the intending fancier to possess them, we will now say how in our opinion he ought 

 to proceed. 



And first, if he have no friend on whose judgment he can rely, but be left entirely to his own 

 resources, the great object for some little time must be, not to snatch any sudden success, but to 

 acquire knowledge, and more particularly the special knowledge of the particular breed preferred. 

 Such study of the breed is the first great essential to success, and should in all cases be commenced 

 at once ; every possible show being visited, and particular attention being given to the variety in 

 question. This study must be thorough and systematic ; for it is not only needful to know good 

 birds when they are seen, but to know definitely ic/w/ makes them superior to others. No breed 

 can be thus " learnt" all at once, though some require much less study than others. The descriptions 

 should be carefully read and mastered, and compared point by point with the best specimens to be 

 seen in the show-pen. Most amateurs are very courteous in imparting any information in their 

 power to the beginner, and introduction should be sought to any such as opportunity offers, and 

 all possible knowledge gathered from them. Very much can be learnt in this way where there is 

 any natural aptitude for the knowledge ; and such intercourse thus begun not unfrequently lays the 

 first foundation, as it has repeatedly in our own case, for lasting and valued friendships, which in 

 their pleasant freemasomy and frank good-feeling have exemplified some of the best points of the 

 poultry-fancy and its votaries. 



Before actually meddling with very expensive stock, it is most desirable to have attained some 

 practical knowledge of fowls and success in their management by real experience with ordinary 

 birds. Where both kinds of knowledge have to be acquired together, we should advise in most 

 cases the purchase in the first instance of a few inferior specimens (as regards colour or other matters) 

 from good stock, of the variety to which the preference inclines, which can generally be obtained of 

 good breeders at a small sum. Thus the amateur will gain both the needful experience in 

 management and some practical knowledge of the breed itself at the same time ; while such stock 

 after a little may be made highly useful, by comparing first-class specimens with them, and training 

 the eye to see luhcre the great difference in show value between the two consists. Until some 

 amount of this knowledge be in one way or another acquired, large sums should not be spent 

 upon fowls, if it be desired to avoid serious mistakes and consequent loss. Such a course demands 

 patience, which many perhaps may not feel inclined to bestow ; we can only say that very little 

 time need be lost by it, while much useless expenditure may be saved. 



Sujjposing the taste to have been imbibed, as may probably be the case, at one of the great 

 winter shows, and a few birds to have been thus purchased at a moderate price, we should expect that 

 by March or April some real and discriminating knowledge of the breed had been attained. We 



