'32 The Illustka'ikd Book of Poultry. 



tlie hen has very small power over these, however, is not meant ; and, as a rule, we should consider 

 the relative influence of the two sexes regarding fancy characteristics to be about three to two. The 

 importance attached by the old Game-breeders to the quality of the hen has been almost always 

 mentioned as an exception to this rule ; but is not so in reality, the courage which was their main 

 object being a constitutional and riot a fancy quality at all. 



Closely connected with the preceding is another fact necessary to be kept in mind in selecting 

 breeding-stock, which complicates the question considerably, and the reason for which puzzled 

 ourselves for a long time. We mean that the pen of birds which breeds an amateur his best 

 cockerels, hardly ever breeds the best pullets, and vice versa; so that all old breeders have 

 what they really consider their "cockerel" and "pullet" pens; and acquiring a full knowledge 

 of this matter is one of the greatest difficulties in " working up " a new strain. We think the reason 

 of its being so may be explained as follows : — In the greater proportion of breeds, it will be found 

 that the colour is very differently arranged in the two sexes ; the light and dark being in the hen 

 generally broken up into small touches or markings, whilst in the cocks one colour at least is often 

 modified even in tone, but whether this is so or not, is almost universally arranged in large masses, 

 the darker colour usually going to the lower, and the light more to the upper parts of the body. 

 Grey Dorkings, Black-red or Duckwing Game, Partridge Cochins, or Dark Brahmas, will at once 

 occur as illustrations. Hence it follows that the most striking cocks for exhibition will be those 

 which develop the masses of colour with the greatest purity and sharpness, while the points which 

 produce this may be quite different from those which breed in perfection the smaller markings 

 of the female sex. As v.'e have never seen this subject even alluded to before, we will illustrate 

 it in preference from a breed which, as is well known, we have studied more closely than any other 

 — the Dark Brahma. In this variety the colour is in the hen broken up into small markings, 

 or pencillings of dark and light ; whilst in the cock the breast and lower parts are almost one mass 

 of black — there is a bioad band of black on the wing, and another mass of black on the tail ; 

 the rest of the body being light, and even the hackle, which is more or less striped, being much 

 lighter than that of the hen. Now the facts we have been considering govern the selection of stock 

 in this way : a black-breasted cock of fine shape, whatever his hackle may be, will show well in a pen, 

 and may probably breed very fine cockerels ; but if too light in his striped feathers, will most likely 

 fail in pullets. On the other hand, a cock with regularly-mottled breast will comparatively 

 fail in breeding striking-looking cockerels, but if his hackle and saddle -feathers are densely striped, 

 may probably produce first-class pullets, supposing him mated with judgment in other respects. It 

 is possible for a bird to combine both excellencies, but such are rare ; and until they are produced 

 by the skill of the breeder himself, we will suppose him obliged to do his best with such materials 

 as we have been considering. If our meaning has been intelligently followed, his course will now 

 be clear. He will divide his hens and pullets into two classes ; those with the most perfect and solid 

 marking be'ng reserved to mate with the male birds which have the densest hackles, with a view to 

 producing chiefly pullets ; whilst others, fine in form and size, and fairly good in general colour, but 

 wanting in marking, may probably breed him some magnificent cockerels from the btacl?^breasted 

 birds. If one of the latter be "washy" in the hackles, perfectly-pencilled pullets would, in fact, 

 be to some extent thrown away upon him, as he would not have density of colour to reproduce 

 their marking. We have, of course, been supposing more or less imperfect materials ; and it cannot, 

 be doubted that no breeder should feel satisfied with such, but should endeavour as speedily as 

 possible, by careful breeding, to combine the qualities for breeding first-class chickens of both sexes 

 in every pen, which can almost always be done in time. We say almost, because in some few 

 breeds the birds required to breed cockerels cannot themselves be shown — such as " wheaten " hens 



