288 
GENERAL 3IANAGEMENT 
you can find, and then talk about tlie price. But give 
what you may, within reason, they will amply repay you 
by the noble race of chickens they will raise around your 
farmstead. 
With respect to the choice of a Spanish cock, there needs 
no hurry, since any time before Christmas will do. But I 
must warn you against those small pigmy Spaniards that 
many little fanciers possess^ and over which they are very 
conceited, because they have white faces. They will tell 
you that the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth great grand- 
father of these birds cost three, four, or five guineas. All 
this may be very true, and the grandfather may have been a 
very fine bird. But what have they done ? They have bred 
them in and in with each other for so many generations, 
that, comparatively speaking, they have dwindled down to 
mere cock-sparrows. And as to their having white faces, 
what is that to you ? you are not looking after faces ; they 
may be all white, half white, or all red, for what you care. 
What you want is, a fine, dashing, large-bodied, thorough 
bred, two-year-old Spanish cock ; you care nothing about 
the colour either of his face or feather. You want him for 
size and breed, and not for fancy. Such birds may some- 
times be met with in the markets ; but at all times they 
want a round price for them, if they be not old and worn 
out. In that, of course, you exercise your judgment. 
Still there are many gentlemen who take great delight in 
breeding Spanish fowls for fancy ; and others again who 
take equal delight in breeding Dorkings. Such gentlemen 
-spare no expense in procuring the finest specimens that 
-either friendship or money can command. I have heard of 
thirty guineas being given for a brace of Dorking pullets ; 
and also a higher price for a celebrated Spanish cock, because 
he was up to the full mark of the fancy. 
These gentlemen, in the course of breeding, have many 
birds, both cocks and hens, that do not come up to the 
standard of the fancy, and are consequently cleared out from 
the stock. Now these are just the very birds for you, and 
will suit your purpose as well as the finest birds in the roost. 
It is only breed and size you want ; and I am satisfied that 
these gentlemen, knowing the purpose for which such birds 
a^re wanted, will feel a patriotic delight in benefiting their 
