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CHAPTER XXX. 



MULE-BREEDING. 



The subject of Hybrid-breeding, than which there is no more interesting and fascinating work 

 within the whole range of cage-bird pursuits, is one opening up a wide field of theory, those 

 who have studied it extensively having a mass of curious information to offer on the matter. 

 For our purpose we can take only a very circumscribed view of the subject, our horizon being 

 limited, including, at the most, what is but, to a great extent, a terra incognita, while we have 

 no intention of exploring the outlying region beyond in support of any theory which may 

 find a real or supposed solution in some other field of operation. Hybrids are one of those 

 perversions — we use the word for want of a better — of Nature's arrangements which remind us, 

 after taking one step, how futile are our efforts in the direction of new creations ; and well it 

 is, no doubt, that they cannot reproduce themselves. Touching this latter point there is some 

 contradictory evidence to be obtained, but in the face of the most trustworthy of it (and the 

 most trustworthy generally has a broken link in the chain) there exists the fact that nowhere 

 do we see living proof of the reproductive power of any hybrid ; and in the absence of this 

 evidence we dismiss this portion of our subject in as summary a way as possible, simply 

 adding our own testimony, the result of extensive observation, to the mass of proof demon- 

 strating its general if not absolute impracticability — most certainly in the case of the birds 

 we are describing, although they will manifest the most ardent natural desire, and will build, 

 lay, and sit with commendable perseverance on their tiny eggs, sometimes not much larger 

 than peas. 



The great charm of Mule-breeding is its uncertainty, and, apart from the natural difficulties 

 to be overcome, the excitement attendant upon the chance of drawing a rich prize, which is 

 about equal to that enjoyed by a speculator who finds himself the possessor of a ticket in a 

 German lottery, the initial figure of which is a nine followed by at least five digits. Life is 

 proverbially the most uncertain description of property we possess, and yet the duration of 

 that has been calculated from safe premises and made a medium of fair commercial specu- 

 lation ; but no one yet has enunciated a formula expressing the probable chances of breeding 

 a Clear Mule. We know a man who has been trying for a lifetime ; he walks with a stick 

 now, and has grandchildren, but never a good Mule. He trudges on his way manfully, 

 careworn and with a disappointed air, certainly, but buoyed up by the ruling passion which 

 this absorbing pursuit engenders. The story of the sporting pitman who, when dying, told his 

 doctor that if they met in the next world and both had wings, he would "flee him a mile, 

 just for a friendly sovereign," is only equalled by that of another who, when bidding his family 

 good-bye, regretted he could not live the summer out, "just to see whether the little Dun 

 hen would breed a Clear Mule." 



Before commencing Mule-breeding, a man should be sure he has the right sort of stuff 

 to work with. And first, his own pedigree must be as certain as that of his hens ; there 

 must be no doubtful cross in either. If he cannot go back in a direct line to the patriardi 



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