HINTS ON BREEDING. 53 



similar effects. He thus keeps his strain in his own hands, 

 and can carry out all those further details of selection which 

 have constantly to be attended to if any high standard of 

 excellence is to be maintained. 



With the produce of the first birds selected as above de- 

 scribed, the first year's breeding comes to an end. As that 

 produce comes to maturity, or approaches it (different varieties 

 are very diverse in this respect, some taking several years to 

 mature, while others are as good the first season as ever after), 

 they will, of course, be carefully scanned. If the proportion of 

 satisfactory birds is good, it shows that the pair have not only 

 been of good breeding themselves, but have " hit " well to- 

 gether, in which case both should be kept, unless too old for 

 further breeding. In selecting the progeny, that selection 

 should be first made for the same one or two points before 

 decided upon as hardest to produce. Next to these, but never 

 avuperseding them, let selection be made for other points in 

 order of their presumed value, and paying little heed, if neces- 

 sary, to such points as can be gained at any time by a single 

 cross. If one or two birds should happily appear which not 

 only show the first one or two points in degree approaching 

 perfection, but the other desired points also, let them be 

 treasured accordingly. Some people are, when thus fortunate, 

 tempted to sell by a good price ; but this is short-sighted policy. 

 At such a stage in the history of a strain, the owner cannot 

 afford to sell such birds ; later on, and when he has the reason- 

 able prospect of producing more of the same sort, he may, but 

 he should not now. Having selected, then, the best of his first 

 year's produce, there are several ways of proceeding. (1.) They 

 may be matched for next year with their own parents ; and 

 if these are of good quality and suit them fairly, this is a 

 very good plan. (2.) They may be matched with adult 

 birds other than their own parents; and if these also have 

 bred really well, and are somewhat related in blood, this plan 



