PREFACE. 
As we write these words, more than eighteen years have elapsed since the commence- 
ment of the first edition of the “ Illustrated Book of Poultry.” That work was at 
the time a new departure, and it still stands alone in all important respects as a recog- 
nised exposition of Poultry Breeding and the Poultry Fancy in their various branches. 
A result so gratifying to all concerned in it was mainly due to three features, which 
were then peculiar to it, and are still very largely so. 
In the first place, the work contained honest and intelligent attempts to instruct 
the reader how to breed the different varieties of poultry treated of in it. That this was 
for the first time possible, was owing to the number and amount of the contributions 
generously placed at the disposal of the author — who had been, indeed, strongly 
entreated to undertake the task by many individuals, with the promise of such aid on 
their part, and with that aid as the express condition of the informal contract. 
In the second place, these remarks and the general treatment of the subject were 
illustrated by really faithful coloured portraits of celebrated birds. For these drawings 
the “fancy” were, and always will be, deeply indebted to Mr. J. W. Ludlow, the 
artist, for the manner in which he co-operated with us. The object, it must be under- 
stood, was not pictorial effect, which has in many cases been deliberately sacrificed ; 
the sole object has been to bring out the points of the birds. It is not too much to say 
that every artist since, even including some who have not scrupled to attack him in 
various ways, has been obviously more or less influenced in his own manner of treat- 
ment by Mr. Ludlow’s drawings, and by his idea of what a fancier s portrait of a 
fowl should be. 
Thirdly, in our schedules for judging, we made what still remains the only attempt 
to substitute for theoretical scales some actual analysis, of actual awards, by those 
who did actually judge the great bulk of poultry shows. Our scales did — as far as any 
scales can — really represent modern judging, and not empirical ideas. 
But the eighteen years which have already been alluded to, have brought many 
changes into the poultry fancy, and demanded a very thorough revision of the original 
work. We cannot enumerate all the new features, but a few of them will strike every 
reader. Artificial hatching and rearing have been entirely revolutionised, and brought 
to an everyday practical success. A new and general interest in poultry and eggs as 
British products had arisen, and had to be adequately dealt with ; and we have collected 
on this head a mass of information never previously brought together. The standards 
and types of certain breeds, such as Cochins, Brahmas, and Game, have been very 
greatly altered — not for the better, we are sorry to say — and these changes have 
