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THE / LLUSTRATED BOOK OF POULTRY. 
or less, in many cases, though perhaps seldom in so full a degree as we have mentioned. For 
taking two birds — say Buff Cochin cocks — let us suppose one has been reared by an amateur with 
a small yard, and who can only keep and rear very few ; who, therefore, keeps only the best, and 
after years of care succeeds in getting his magnificent show specimens out of two dozen chickens. 
Let us suppose the other to have been bred by a man who has acres of ground, and to be the 
produce of very ordinary stock, but to be the “ chance” best of three hundred chickens. The first 
bird, well mated, will stamp his own character upon a large part of his progeny, and be therefore 
valuable, while the second bird may breed anything, because he has no fixed characters at all. 
If we have succeeded in making ourselves understood, it will now be seen that a thoroughly 
good strain of fowls can only be the result of art, care, study, and even of time. It cannot be 
attained all at once, except by adopting some one else’s ready-made ; and requires a real and steady 
interest and some perseverance. Without these qualifications it is impossible ever to arrive a't it ; 
but assuming the intending fancier to possess them, we will now say how in our opinion he ought 
to proceed. 
And first, if he have no friend on whose judgment he can rely, but be left entirely to his own 
resources, the great object for some little time must be, not to snatch any sudden success, but to 
acquire knowledge, and more particularly the special knowledge of the particular breed preferred. 
Such study of the breed is the first great essential to success, and should in all cases be commenced 
at once ; every possible show being visited, and particular attention being given to the variety in 
question. This study must be thorough and systematic ; for it is not only needful to know good 
birds when they are seen, but to know definitely what makes them superior to others. No breed 
can be thus “ learnt” all at once, though some require much less study than others. The descriptions 
should be carefully read and mastered, and compared point by point with the best specimens to be 
seen in the show-pen. Most amateurs are very courteous in imparting any information in their 
power to the beginner, and introduction should be sought to any such as opportunity offers, and 
all possible knowledge gathered from them. Very much can be learnt in this way where there is 
any natural aptitude for the knowledge ; and such intercourse thus begun not unfrequently lays the 
first foundation, as it has repeatedly in our own case, for lasting and valued friendships, which in 
their pleasant freemasonry and frank good-feeling have exemplified some of the best points of the 
poultry-fancy and its votaries. 
Before actually meddling with very expensive stock, it is most desirable to have attained some 
practical knowledge of fowls and success in their management by real experience with ordinary 
birds. Where both kinds of knowledge have to be acquired together, we should advise in most 
cases the purchase in the first instance of a few inferior specimens (as regards colour or other matters) 
from good stock, of the variety to which the preference inclines, which can generally be obtained of 
good breeders at a small sum. Thus the amateur will gain both the needful experience in 
management and some practical knowledge of the breed itself at the same time ; while such stock 
after a little may be made highly useful, by comparing first-class specimens with them, and training 
the eye to see where the great difference in show value between the two consists. Until some 
amount of this knowledge be in one way or another acquired, large sums should not be spent 
upon fowls, if it be desired to avoid serious mistakes and consequent loss. Such a course demands 
patience, which many perhaps may not feel inclined to bestow ; we can only say that very little 
time need be lost by it, while much useless expenditure may be saved. 
Supposing the taste to have been imbibed, as may probably be the case, at one of the great 
winter shows, and a few birds to have been thus purchased at a moderate price, we should expect that 
by March or April some real and discriminating knowledge of the breed had been attained. We 
