370 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
30 mingled that it is difficult to proceed in any other way. In all varieties of fowls there are found 
some strains which produce better cockerels than pullets, and vice versa. Of course, it is so in 
Hamburghs also ; and if the fancier has sufficient room no doubt he will find it to his advantage 
to breed from two sets. For instance, if he finds a pen breed capital cocks but only middling 
pullets, it will be better to keep this set of birds as they are, it being far better, and perhaps hardei, 
to breed really good birds of even one sex, than middling birds of both. It is therefore well worth 
a little patience, and when you have once got a set of birds together that produces first-class 
chickens, then stick to that set. All experience will confirm this ; and with all my own, taking 
Hamburghs as they are at the present day, I do not know that I can give any other rule, which is 
that by which I breed my own fowls. We never now breed from the Yorkshire Pheasant if we can 
possibly help it. 
“ I will now state what is my idea of a perfect Silver-spangled cock, beginning with colour, as 
that is of the most importance. The ground-colour must be a clear silvery white, perfectly free 
from yellow tinge. I speak, of course, concerning birds in full and perfect plumage ; as very 
many birds at the end of the season, if they have been exposed to the weather and sun, will become 
yellow. The spangles should be a rich satiny green-black, and their form (on all those parts of the 
body of the cock which show the full size, as, for instance, the breast ^.nd tail) as round as possible. 
The disposition of the markings is as follows : breast well and boldly spangled from the throat 
down to the thighs and fluff, black fluff being an especial abomination. The larger the spangles 
are the better, provided only that a sufficiency of white is shown, that is, if, looking at the 
breast, both black and white appear distinctly. In some the spangles are so large that they 
overlap, and give the breast the appearance of being black ; this, of course, is a fault ; the spots 
should be as large and round as possible, but so as to show the white between. The neck-hackle is 
white, but if spotted at the bottom all the better. Back and saddle-hackles should be well spotted 
with black. The bars on the wing, formed by the large spangles on the end of the primary and 
secondary wing-coverts, are two in number, and should be bold and regular ; these bars are one ol 
the most cardinal points. Above the bars, or the wing-bow as it is called, should also be well 
spotted ; it can scarcely be called spangling, as the feathers in this part of the cock are different to 
the hen’s, being long and narrow. This remark also applies to the back and saddle ; I therefore use 
the word spot to express the marking, instead of spangle (see Fig. 83). The ‘ stepping ’ on the wing 
secondaries should also be well defined — that is, each feather should have a very bold crescentic 
spangle at the end, which gives an appearance of black steps. The tail to be clear white, with a 
large bold spangle at the tips of the feathers ; though a little colour in the hanging or side-feathers 
is not objectionable, provided the sickles and secondaries are clear. The comb should be even, 
firmly set on the head, long, and moderately broad, full of ‘ work ’ or points, free from hollow in the 
centre, and ending in a long pike slightly pointing upwards. The beak should be horn-colour, 
ear-lobes a clear white, smooth, and as nearly round as possible ; face red, quite free from white ; 
and eyes, in this variety, a dark hazel. The legs are slaty blue. As regards shape and carriage, 
the neck should be nicely arched, with very full hackle falling well on to the shoulders ; the breast 
full, broad, and prominent ; back a moderate length, broad and level across, not round or up at one 
side ; tail full, the sickles Jong, broad, and well arched, and the side or furnishing feathers nicely 
arched also, the whole to be gracefully carried, not squirrel-fashion, but very slightly drooping 
behind the perpendicular line, and to be evenly set on, not carried on either side. The whole 
carriage to be graceful, jaunty, and cheerful. Size, say about five pounds, but this is not of great 
moment, provided he is not very small. 
“ The hen should be boldly and evenly spangled throughout, the spangles being round and 
