Variegated Crested Birds. 135 



erratic character of variegation generally, which, when once introduced, is apt to try hard to have 

 its own way, playing hide and seek, and turning up in places where its company is not wanted. 



We will take the two which rank highest in the Crested scale, the intermediate forms being 

 born of these spontaneously — too much so sometimes — and requiring no effort of any kind to 

 produce them. It is of no consequence which we place first, but the Evenly-marked Crested 

 is usually considered to occupy the foremost position, being the more difficult to breed. To 

 obtain these birds, the Green element is required on one side only, and in selecting the Crested 

 parent we would as soon choose a Grey, or even a Clear, Crest as any other, though good examples 

 of the latter are seldom seen, and pair it with hens neatly and exactly marked on the wings. We 

 should not, unless under special circumstances, select birds marked on the eyes, because any such 

 marking on the face of a Crested bird is fatal to its reputation. This is all that is required, and the 

 produce will most probably consist of {a) Grey Crests which, of course, will be Clear-bodied ; 

 (3) Dark Crests, also Clear-bodied ; {c) Variegated Crested, with perhaps {d) a good Evenly-marked 

 bird among them, and generally- {e) a few Plainheads, Clear or otherwise — not all in one nest, 

 certainly, but the birds we have described will constitute the average results of such a mode 

 of pairing, always bearing in mind the difference between average results such as may be 

 expected under ordinary conditions, and special results from known constituent elements 

 existing on or underneath the surface, the above being the answer we should give to an un- 

 conditional question. What should I obtain from a Grey Crest and an Evenly-marked bird .' 

 Much the same results would follow the pairing of an Evenly-marked Crested and a Clear 

 bird, though there might not be so many Grey Crests, the darker form being likely to repeat 

 itself. In both, however, we should expect to find a full average of respectable wmgs, the 

 point we wish to secure. There also might, and probably would be, if the original marking 

 were light, consisting of, say, not more than about four dark feathers in each wing, one 

 or two birds marked only on one wing — a useful form, but given to be rather obstinate. 

 Analysing these nests, we should take care of all the Grey Crests worthy of the name : they are 

 special favourites of ours and are useful in many ways ; moreover, among any number of Crests 

 of all kinds, there will be found a higher average of quality among the Greys than among the 

 darker ones, though the paler colour may not show off the shape to such advantage. These 

 Greys we should pair with the marked Plainheads, sailing as close to the wind as possible in 

 the matter of selecting the nearest approach to even and exact marking, our object being to 

 put in crest without offering any temptation to run to irregular variegation. Suitable mates 

 would probably be found among the Crested-bred young ones, in which case we should prefer 

 pairing the offspring of these various hens by the same cock to bringing in any fresh blood at 

 this early stage ; and if the sexes have been reversed in one or two of the original pairs — viz., 

 by pairing a wing-marked cock with a Grey-crested hen — there will be material sufficient for 

 any combination. The Clear-bodied Dark-crested we should pair with Clear Plainheads to 

 reproduce the same class of bird, or with wing-marked birds to procure that form. The 

 Variegated Crested and Evenly-marked Crested can be paired with Clear Plainheads in a 

 similar manner ; but we have such a wholesome dread of variegation breaking loose and running 

 riot that we should not venture to couple two wing-marked birds unless the marking were of 

 the lightest possible description and the body perfectly clear, showing little dark underflue. 

 This dark underflue is a capital guide : wherever it is found lurking, it only waits the first 

 opportunity to come to the surface, which it will do with the slightest encouragement. The 

 one-winged birds may be paired with comparative safety, and, in the case of reverse wings, with 

 advantage. 



