256 THE CROSSING, 4C, OF PIGEONS AND FOWLS. 



the Fowl, which, to the fancier, have their criterion of 

 excellence, in the abnormally great development of one 

 character alone, to the exclusion of the development of 

 many other characters of that species, barrenness, and 

 delicacy of constitution, are always prolific sources of 

 trouble ; and this trouble is always in proportion to the 

 degree of "improvement," which the individuals of 

 such divergent varieties attain. Of this, the "high 

 fancy breeds" of the Pigeon and of the Fowl, are 

 notable instances; — the very "improvement" of such 

 breeds, is productive of the evils which usually accom- 

 pany close-interbreeding. 



Darwin, in the following remarks, ventures very close 

 to the true law of development, and to the true reason 

 of the evils, concomitant on interbreeding. The Bantam 

 is wanting, in several characters of the Fowl species; 

 and, of course, evil is attendant upon their absence. 

 The true light seems just to glimmer, for an instant, 

 upon Darwin's mental horizon: 



"The Sebright Bantam is much less prolific" |p. 127, 

 Vol. ii, Animals and Plants, &c), "than any other breed 

 of fowl, and is descended from a cross between two 

 very distinct breeds, recrossed by a third sub-variety. 

 But, it would be extremely rash to infer, that the loss 

 of fertility was in any manner connected with its crossed 

 origin, for it may, with more probability, be attributed 

 either to long- continued close-interbreeding, or to 

 an innate tendency (/) to sterility, correlated with the 

 absence (/) of hackles, and sickle tail-feathers." 



It is strange, that, when Darwin can perceive such a 

 relation between the sterility of the Bantam, and the 

 absence of certain of the characters of its species, he 



