380 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



select birds. Exhibition stock prices are always " a 

 matter of correspondence." Fancy values are in a 

 sense fictitious, and the character of the shows, the 

 strength of the competition, the number of buyers 

 present, etc., all have their effect on prices ; also the 

 number of birds equally good in the breeder's stock at 

 home. The bird priced at ^500 in the catalogue may 

 not get any valued place under the Judge. " Prohibi- 

 tive" prices in the Show Catalogues save the specimen 

 to its owner, while impressing the pubhc. 



In most breeds, there is a certain " run " of prices, a 

 knowledge of which will make fanciers say a certain bird 

 is " worth " about so much. Birds of small breeds have 

 lower prices than larger ones, as a rule ; breeds having 

 a " boom " on, command more exceptional prices than 

 others, even as exceptional birds always do. Two and 

 three dollars are prices freely asked for " utility stock." 

 " Fair breeders " may bring from three to five dollars, 

 stock rating as strictly high-class breeders anywhere 

 from ten to fifty dollars, this depending on the buyer's 

 needs and purse. Exhibition birds may bring any price 

 upon which the buyer and seller may agree, up to hun- 

 dreds of dollars. These are only rough statements, and 

 the law of supply and demand is not a dead letter, even 

 in the exhibition room. The winner of the " blue " in a 

 popular breed may have the "supply," but, if only one 

 buyer demands the bird, the price may fall far below that 

 possible when many buyers compete for the blue-ribbon 

 specimen. 



