52 THE PRACTICAL PIGEON KEEPKB. 



of beak-wattle, but very iiregularly put on, and with little 

 '■■ eye," and resorts to B, whose birds show great beauty and 

 regularity of eye, though they have much less beak-wattle than 

 he approves of. He obviously runs two risks. If B can spare 

 him a bird large enough in wattle to " pass " with him, it 

 may be that one is the only one B has anything near the mark; 

 and if so, he loses more than the bird itself appears to justify, 

 since the progeny will tend more to the average size bred in 

 B's loft. And, secondly, because the two have pursued different 

 lines and sought different points, the mere fact of crossing 

 such distinct strains may of itself develop the old and almost 

 forgotten faults of either or both. 



From this we see why a cross should not only be good in 

 itself and " well bred," but the produce of a similar course of 

 bi-eeding to the birds which are crossed ; and the only sure way 

 of securing this is for the same individual to have bred both, 

 when he can tell the latent tendencies of each. Two fanciers, 

 who have an acquaintance of years, and know each other's lofts 

 thoroughly, can, for the same reason, often be of the greatest 

 assistance to each other, especially if their opinions pretty 

 nearly cori'cspond. Help of this kind would be more common 

 but for a foolish jealousy which is too frequently found, and 

 which leads each to expect all the benefit from a proposed 

 exchange. In all such matters there must be give as well as 

 take ; and if this were clearly recognised much more mutual 

 help might be found than is at present common. Meantime, if 

 three separate families, say, can be started from three related 

 hens, the chief advantages of a cross can be enjoyed for many 

 years without its evils, by keeping a record of pedigi-ees in any 

 effectual manner that may be preferred. Where another person 

 must either breed together a brother and sister or obtain a 

 cross, a breeder thus provided can take a bird from one of his 

 other families, which in the course of breeding has reached 

 about the same point by the same means, and will thus produce 



