THE POULTRY BOOK. 
245 
principal feathers of the tail and wings are greatly grizzled with white, and the 
birds are sadly deteriorated for exhibition. Frequently, however, have I found 
that in this state they produce stock far superior to those that have been reared 
from them in their pristine beauty. 
It is also found that better markings are usually produced by the union of a 
heavily-laced bird with one that is scarcely sufficiently so, than when both parents 
are perfect in this respect. “Why this should be so,” says Mr. Hewitt, “I know 
not ; but I am confident that those that are best-laced frequently produce offspring 
very far from perfect in their markings, while those formerly so successfully 
exhibited by myself were bred as stated.” 
With regard to the breeding of these birds, Mr. Hewitt has favoured us with 
the following remarks : — 
“ Of Sebright Bantams, whether Oolden or Silver-laced, I am, by dearly-bought 
experience, assured that a perfectly hen-tailed cock is rarely serviceable for brood 
purposes, however valuable he may be in the exhibition pen. I do not insist on 
the unvarying sterility of such a male bird, because a few exceptions have come 
within my knowledge ; but the general rule is that eggs laid to such a cock are 
either entirely sterile, or only one egg in many nests proves productive, — 
although as an exception the most compact hen-tailed cock I ever yet met with 
has the sole range of my yard, and the eggs of the hens (running with him) are 
in almost every instance fertilized. The ground-colour of this bird’s tail is 
perfectly clear frosted silver, the markings as complete as though laced by the hand 
of an artist, and the whole bird unexceptionable. This is the only instance I ever 
yet met with in which such a male Sebright proved a really satisfactory stock bird. 
The combined experience of many other admirers of the Sebright Bantams is 
concurrent with my own — viz. that even a very trifling disposition to sickle- 
feather in the tail brings with it proportionably increased productiveness ; and 
that, on the other hand, absolute perfection of hen-tailed character in the male 
bird as generally entails sterility. It must be remembered, these remarks apply 
to Sebrights as stock birds, and not to exhibition fowls. In the latter position, no 
one can entertain more positive approval than myself of the so-called hen-tail, 
and success in the show-pen depends exclusively on outward appearance, alto- 
gether regardless of powers of procreation ; but to introduce an entirely faultless 
cock as the progenitor of future stock, is almost always apt to lead to disappoint- 
ment. I have noticed, as a general rule, that even the slightest deviation from 
feminine character in the tail of the male Sebright — say the elongation by only 
half an inch of the two principal tail-feathers — brings with it a probability of 
fertility ; and would therefore advise Sebright amateurs desirous of breeding these 
birds, not as a rule to depend exclusively and altogether on a perfectly hen-tailed 
cock. 
“I am convinced that very much of the disappointment so generally com- 
plained of, in breeding chickens in anything like proportionate numbers to 
the eggs incubated, arises altogether from the principle of purposely selecting 
