Breeding Sa tine ttes. 
head markings, their efforts for some years having been directed to this point, which they have to 
a great extent accomplished. 
“ Besides the four varieties of Satinettes represented in the plate, there are also Black Satinettes 
of similar pencillings, but only of black and white colour, which have been obtained by the above 
cross. The markings of the last-named birds can be better understood by reference to the Blondi- 
nette plate, as they are similarly marked to the shoulders and tail of the Black Blondinette. 
“ The Brunettes are similar to the Satinettes, from which they only differ in colour, which in 
the Brunette is a delicate silver-grey ground tint, with dark graduating grey markings mixed with 
a buff tint, and rarely with a beautiful sulphur tint. The markings of both the illustrated specimens 
are of the ‘ dart’ shape, and lest it may be supposed that this is the rule, I refer to the plate of the 
Blondinettes, where they will see all the various wing pencillings, the same being applicable to the 
Satinettes and Brunettes. It is a question, even in their native land, which should have the pre- 
ference ; and I well remember, in the early days of my fancy there, being puzzled which to select. 
“ The Bluettes have clear, pale blue shoulders, and blue tails with the white spots or band. 
The bars of this variety are very beautiful, as they are composed of the three colours of the Satinettc, 
being white on the upper part, graduating into pink-brown, and edged with black, forming a rain- 
bow-like mixture. The white bar edged with black only is highly valued by their originators. In 
all other points they are exactly as the Satinettes. 
“ The Silverettes are of a very light silver-grey colour, with grey tails, still possessing the 
white spots. The bars are of a brown-grey-and-white colour ; the whiter the bars are the better. 
In all other points as the former. 
BREEDING OF THE SATINETTE VARIETIES. 
“ Be very particular to select the most perfectly-formed birds, with good frills and grouse 
muffs, but be sure that the birds selected are not both of the same identical shade and markings, as 
in such a case you are likely to breed too finely-pencilled birds, and eventually too light or faded. 
So far as I observe, the British fanciers desire to possess only perfect show specimens, forgetting 
that tri-coloured birds require special treatment. I am surprised they do not take this into con- 
sideration, while they have plainly before them, in another form, the very same thing in the mode 
of breeding the Almond Tumblers. Not only the pairing of finely-marked or lightly-tinted birds 
with heavily-pencilled and dark-coloured specimens is imperative, but necessarily they cross admi- 
rably with the Brunettes, and alivays with success, as they are sure to produce perfect birds of the 
one or the other colour, or one of each. 
“ The same method is applicable to the Bluettes and Silverettes, which should be crossed 
occasionally ; and though the last two are barred varieties, I have seen and I have bred perfect 
specimens from crosses of these with the Satinettes and Brunettes. But in my opinion, though I 
will not hesitate to do the same again, if I had an odd bird of each kind, I consider the barred 
varieties should not be mixed with the others unnecessarily. 
“ As these birds are not very plentiful yet in this country, and on account of the constant 
exodus not much more so in their native land at present, I advise fanciers who happen to possess 
single specimens, and are compelled to resort to some cross, never to cross them with white - tailed 
dark-shouldered birds, such as Turbits. The best cross in such a case is either a white Owl with 
dark tail (black preferred) ora pure white Owl, as in neither case are the colour or pencillings inter- 
fered with; and though you cannot expect to produce young with the perfection of the birds in 
question, because you are sure to lose part, if not all the muffs, and part of the principal shade 
of colour, still you will have beautifully formed birds with good frill, and in most cases a 
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