112 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



back' to the first or faulty points of both. Hence it is important that the cross should 

 not only be good and carefully bred, but the produce of a similar course of breeding to the 

 birds with ^^•hich it is crossed ; and we need not point out that the only sure ivay of securing this 

 is for the same breeder to have bred both, when he can tell pretty nearly the latent tendencies of 

 each. It is in this way, also, that we secure the advantages of an intelligent plan, or a definite 

 object steadily pursued without the evils of in-breeding. If three strains have been started from 

 three nearly-allied and similar pairs of birds, and the same plan of breeding pursued with all, the 

 advantages of a cross can be had for many generations, without its evils, by keeping a record of 

 pedigrees in any simple manner. Where another must breed together brother and sister, or else 

 resort to a foreign cross, a breeder thus armed can take a bird out of one of his other families, 

 which in the course of breeding has arrived at precisely the same point, and will produce similar 

 effects, yet with nearly all the advantages of a cross." 



In following out these extracts from " Pedigree Breeding " to their conclusion, as indicating 

 the general principles on which the breeder should act, we take as the illustration for the final 

 quotation the Lizard Canary, as best exemplifying the admirable instructions therein given 

 for " commencing any strain or race in which fancy points are the chief object sought." The 

 fancy point in this case is distinctive character or marking in individual feathers, and is nearly 

 on a par with that assumed as the object sought by the writer in treating of the " practical 

 details of founding a new strain of Dark Brahmas." Substituting the Lizard for the Brahma, 

 the modics operandi is nearly identical — the principle involved, and that is what we are here 

 considering, absolutely so ; and we will suppose the object desired is to found a strain of 

 well-spangled Lizards. " We would provide, then, for breeding, several hens perfectly spangled. 

 If we could only afford a couple of such birds, we would rather have them than a dozen even 

 only a little worse in this quality, since every shade iioiv saves much trouble afterwards. We 

 wish especially to show the folly of this far too common plan, which stands in the way of 

 success with scores of amateurs. Supposing the cock to be a well-bred bird, it is very likely 

 he may ' throw ' some well-spangled young ones from these poor birds ; and many people 

 think this is a gain. To a certain extent, and in a certain sense, it is ; but from a breeder's 

 point of view it is a serious loss of time and ground gained, and ' puts back ' the strain, since 

 if these birds in turn are bred from they ' throw ' back to the poor parent. Of course the 

 cocks will also be selected with all practical care. From such pairs, breeding only from well- 

 spangled birds, there will be the very first season some equally well-spangled young hens. If 

 the proportion is good, it shows that the cocks, too, are of good breeding quality, and have 

 'hit' well with the strain of the hens, in which case they should be kept. And so the first 

 season's breeding comes to an end. 



"From the produce, in due time, a few birds should be selected — still choosing the best 

 spangled. Next to this choose for caps, and, so far as can be done, also form and other good 

 properties. Having selected the hens, there are various ways of mating them. They may 

 be put with (i) their own father — and if he has proved of sterling quality, and suits them 

 fairly in other respects, this can be done ; (2) one of the other cocks — and if he has bred really 

 well, this is a good plan ; or (3) a young cock from one of the other nests. li there are 

 enough, all these plans should be adopted, and thus several pairs mated up for next year, 

 which will supply crosses enough to go on for a long while without injury. 



" Next year's breeding will show a marked advance, the proportion of well-spangled 

 birds being very good; so good, that out of them, if ordinary judgment has been employed, 

 wo can now have little difficulty in finding the few we want to breed which are also good in 



