Selection of Stock Birds. 155 



a bird small or of a bad sbape, no matter how good he may 

 be in other respects. It can serve no useful purpose to have 

 a bird unshapely, even though this does not influence its 

 profitable qualities ; but, whilst we should not kill a good 

 laying hen if she was mis-shapen, yet we would not breed 

 from such an one, as the weakness inherent from the 

 deformity would probably transmit itself to the chickens, 

 and thus more than counterbalance the merits of the parent. 

 As a rule, those birds are best which look best. And again, 

 it would be unwise to use for stock purposes, any bird weak, 

 or deformed in his organs of locomotion, for, though he 

 might be as good upon the table as another one, perfect in 

 these respects, his defects would be reproduced in his 

 progeny, and probably intensified. As an example of this, 

 we may mention that the breeding for white faces in Spanish 

 — though the white face is not a defect but a sport — having 

 been carried to a ridiculous extent, has so weakened the 

 breed that it is now a delicate variety, not to be recommended 

 for general purposes. In selecting a cock bird, therefore, 

 for breeding, and this equally applies to all varieties, whether 

 pure or otherwise, one should be chosen, close and firm in 

 body, not too large in size — that is, not abnormally larger 

 than the majority of his kindred, though a little larger is an 

 advantage — clean on leg, tall, and active in his habits. Such 

 a bird will not counteract, but, rather assist those qualities 

 which, in a hen, conduce to the breeding of good layers. But, 

 if a bird is wanted for breeding table fowls, one must be 

 chosen heavy in body, deep in breast, short on the leg, and, 

 perhaps, not so active, though by this we do not necessarily 

 mean a non-flying bird, as these generally develop flesh on 

 the thighs, and not on the breast. The former may be heavier 

 in weight, but the meat is not carried in the best place, and 

 is not of the same quality. A bird similar to what we have 

 described, will help forward the end we have in view, and 



